--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing is basically a job for people who…" description: "\"Writing is basically a job for people who like punching themselves in the face, I’m pretty sure.\" — Warren Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png" --- # Writing is basically a job for people who like punching… ![“Writing is basically a job for people who like punching themselves in the face, I’m pretty sure.” quote by Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png) > “Writing is basically a job for people who like punching themselves in the face, I’m pretty sure.” [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing feels like self‑inflicted hardship, yet it’s a chosen vocation for those who accept the pain. **In simple terms:** Writing is a painful but chosen job. Key Takeaway Embrace the struggle as part of the craft. Themes creativity pain dedication Mood introspective realistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - comic scripting - daily writing practice Key Concepts artistic sacrifice self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - Do you find meaning in the discomfort? - How can you mitigate self‑criticism? A Different Perspective Not all writers find pain motivating; some burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Like Punching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-punching-870438/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Punching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punching/) [Punching Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punching-face-541179/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-basically-619743/) ## Related quotes > [Lol yes there always that one kid that u feel like punching in the face ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla/lol-yes-there-always-that-one-kid-that-u-feel-like-punching-in-the/) [Kayla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla/) > [“My mom always tells me that if I feel like punching someone, first I have to say something nice to them. Out loud. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasie-west/my-mom-always-tells-me-that-if-i-feel-like-punching-someone-first-i/) [Kasie West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasie-west/) > [We all have those days when you feel like you're against the world, every little thing goes wrong and your blood pressure is up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-turner/we-all-have-those-days-when-you-feel-like-you-re-against-the-world/) [Josh Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-turner/) > [Having a debate with a modern Christian is like punching a sponge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/having-a-debate-with-a-modern-christian-is-like-punching-a-sponge/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I might try that one thing, you know, that thing people do when their eyes get all wet and stupid—what’s it called? Crying? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-might-try-that-one-thing-you-know-that-thing-people-do-when-their/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [I just like punching loudmouths in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/i-just-like-punching-loudmouths-in-the-face/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) > [“I might PUNCH you instead and trust that you won’t punch me back because of my endearing smallness. It would be like punching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-might-punch-you-instead-and-trust-that-you-won-t-punch-me-back/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [I always felt caged, closed in, like I was punching at things that weren't there. I always had too much energy for the room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-always-felt-caged-closed-in-like-i-was-punching-at-things-that/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [It hurts that, you know, the media's made me into sort of this like punching bag or cartoon character-they think that I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/it-hurts-that-you-know-the-media-s-made-me-into-sort-of-this-like/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [Talking like touching. Writing like punching somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/talking-like-touching-writing-like-punching-somebody/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [If I'm being sarcastic, please don't take offense. It's just my way of not punching you in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-being-sarcastic-please-don-t-take-offense-it-s-just-my-way-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to be in the trailer park with one glove on because I didn't have two, punching myself in the face saying, 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/i-used-to-be-in-the-trailer-park-with-one-glove-on-because-i-didn-t/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [“I heard him tell our parents, "She said no," and my melancholy deepened. Mom and Dad and Chris were downstairs together, merrily strapping on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/i-heard-him-tell-our-parents-she-said-no-and-my-melancholy-deepened/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Have you tried talking to her?" "No. We've been punching her in the face repeatedly. What? You don't think that will work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/have-you-tried-talking-to-her-no-we-ve-been-punching-her-in-the-face/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you woke up, every day, and someone punched you in the face, for the first week, you'd go, 'Why is someone punching me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/if-you-woke-up-every-day-and-someone-punched-you-in-the-face-for-the/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) ## More by Warren Ellis > [“Small things bring joy, somedays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/small-things-bring-joy-somedays/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [When I'm working in finite serials, I always think in terms of the entire book rather than the individual episode because, by far, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/when-i-m-working-in-finite-serials-i-always-think-in-terms-of-the/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“IT TOOK a conscious effort for Tallow to keep his hand off his gun as he walked up the apartment building’s stairs. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/it-took-a-conscious-effort-for-tallow-to-keep-his-hand-off-his-gun-as/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The ECTs are moving the guns in small batches," Bat said. "We're making them take so many photos that one of them asked if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-ects-are-moving-the-guns-in-small-batches-bat-said-we-re-making/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“I wish I still had that photo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-wish-i-still-had-that-photo/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Listen to the Chair Leg of Truth! It does not lie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/listen-to-the-chair-leg-of-truth-it-does-not-lie/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The two most dangerous things in the world are rich people and crazy people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-two-most-dangerous-things-in-the-world-are-rich-people-and-crazy/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Here's the thing about Apple technology: once you own a piece, you want to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/here-s-the-thing-about-apple-technology-once-you-own-a-piece-you-want/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“I feel...a terrible need to piss in a Christening font.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-feel-a-terrible-need-to-piss-in-a-christening-font/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [Journalism is just a gun. It’s only got one bullet in it, but if you aim right, that’s all you need. Aim it right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/journalism-is-just-a-gun-it-s-only-got-one-bullet-in-it-but-if-you/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“The book is almost always better than the movie. You could have no better case in point than FROM HELL, Alan Moore's best graphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-book-is-almost-always-better-than-the-movie-you-could-have-no/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“Life is something very short that happens in between deaths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/life-is-something-very-short-that-happens-in-between-deaths/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [It's a strange world. Let's keep it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/it-s-a-strange-world-let-s-keep-it-that-way/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“He tried to close a hand around the precious coffee but had to jerk his fingers away, sharply enough that his wrist popped painfully.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/he-tried-to-close-a-hand-around-the-precious-coffee-but-had-to-jerk/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [I was originally going to train as a journalist, passing a series of exams that winnowed ten thousand applicants down to one hundred places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-was-originally-going-to-train-as-a-journalist-passing-a-series-of/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) [Explore all 161 Warren Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing is basically a job for people who like punching themselves in the face, I’m pretty sure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-who-like-punching-themselves-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-who-like-punching-themselves-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/warren-ellis-2541_faces_writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-wh_1672011.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing is basically a job for people who like punching themselves in the face, I’m pretty sure.” — Warren Ellis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writing is basically a job for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-who-like-punching-themselves-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/writing-is-basically-a-job-for-people-who-like-punching-themselves-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```