--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So at 19, I faced my first blank page as…" description: "\"So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional writer.\" — Zoya Akhtar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg" --- # So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional… ![“So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional writer.” quote by Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg) > “So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional writer.” [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. At 19, I encountered my first blank page as a professional writer. **In simple terms:** First blank page at 19. Key Takeaway Start writing despite fear. Themes creativity career start challenge Mood motivational hopeful Type creative career When to use this quote - starting a novel - blogging - screenwriting Key Concepts writer’s block first projects career milestones Questions to Reflect On - What helped you fill that first page? - How do you overcome writer’s block now? A Different Perspective Blank pages can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) [Blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-page/) [Faced Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced-blank-4927742/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/page/) [Page Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/page-professional-4927743/) [Professional Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-writer/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [At some point if you're a professional writer, no matter what, it always comes down to you staring at the blank page by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-guggenheim/at-some-point-if-you-re-a-professional-writer-no-matter-what-it/) [Marc Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-guggenheim/) > [Having the great opportunity on a daily basis to sit in front of a blank page is terrifying, and at the same time really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/having-the-great-opportunity-on-a-daily-basis-to-sit-in-front-of-a/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [Look at the blank pages before you with courage. Now fill them with beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaine-hogan/look-at-the-blank-pages-before-you-with-courage-now-fill-them-with/) [Blaine Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaine-hogan/) > [Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-pagels/each-new-day-is-a-blank-page-in-the-diary-of-your-life/) [Douglas Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-pagels/) > [The blank page gives us the right to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/the-blank-page-gives-us-the-right-to-dream/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [I live for the blank page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/i-live-for-the-blank-page/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [“The blank page is God's way of letting us know how hard it is to be God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-blank-page-is-god-s-way-of-letting-us-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Night-time is when I brainstorm; last thing, when the family's asleep and I'm alone, I think about the next day's writing and plan a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/night-time-is-when-i-brainstorm-last-thing-when-the-family-s-asleep/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Your life is a blank page. You write on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/your-life-is-a-blank-page-you-write-on-it/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Every writer in this book has a slightly different process, but they all start with the same thing: a blank page.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/every-writer-in-this-book-has-a-slightly-different-process-but-they/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [You can fix anything but a blank page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-fix-anything-but-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Actually, who hasn't been through the ghastly experience of sitting in front of a blank page, with its toothless mouth grinning at you: Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/actually-who-hasn-t-been-through-the-ghastly-experience-of-sitting-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) ## More by Zoya Akhtar > [I'm obsessed with people, I'm obsessed with human behavior. I just watch people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-m-obsessed-with-people-i-m-obsessed-with-human-behavior-i-just/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I don't know what will come my way but I will continue to tell stories that excite me. I feel human beings are same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-don-t-know-what-will-come-my-way-but-i-will-continue-to-tell/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [As far as the theatrical experience is concerned, I will be highly disappointed if that goes away. I have grown up watching films in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/as-far-as-the-theatrical-experience-is-concerned-i-will-be-highly/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [When it comes to writing characters, whether men or women, I think a good writer writes good characters. I know many men who, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/when-it-comes-to-writing-characters-whether-men-or-women-i-think-a/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [The biggest piece is my family... From watching films like The Godfather on our dining room wall, to having a great relationship with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/the-biggest-piece-is-my-family-from-watching-films-like-the-godfather/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [Who will you replace Dibakar Banerjee with? There isn't another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/who-will-you-replace-dibakar-banerjee-with-there-isn-t-another-one/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I had an experience which I could not explain to myself and to others while I was on my way back from a south…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-had-an-experience-which-i-could-not-explain-to-myself-and-to-others/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I have friends and experience from everywhere; I've worked in all kinds of locations and situations and in all kinds of job profiles, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-have-friends-and-experience-from-everywhere-i-ve-worked-in-all/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I was an executive producer. I've done a lot of jobs and I think each one helps you get closer to what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-was-an-executive-producer-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-jobs-and-i-think-each/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [In 'Gully Boy', of course, Ranveer Singh's performance has largely decided what the songs will look and feel like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/in-gully-boy-of-course-ranveer-singh-s-performance-has-largely/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [You realize you have to become aware of your inner monologue. The things you say to yourself. This raised my consciousness so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/you-realize-you-have-to-become-aware-of-your-inner-monologue-the/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [We need to develop artists who are not just scoring films. I'm hoping 'Gully Boy' can help with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/we-need-to-develop-artists-who-are-not-just-scoring-films-i-m-hoping/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [At the end of my life, I want to have a body of work that has everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/at-the-end-of-my-life-i-want-to-have-a-body-of-work-that-has/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I want to make a period film, I want to make a film set in another country. I want to make a foreign film.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-want-to-make-a-period-film-i-want-to-make-a-film-set-in-another/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I have a phobia. I have a serious phobia of rodents. I don't even like white mice, hamsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-have-a-phobia-i-have-a-serious-phobia-of-rodents-i-don-t-even-like/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) [Explore all 75 Zoya Akhtar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) ## More Blank quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When I came back, they gave me blank looks. Some said, 'I don't think I've seen you for days.' Some not even that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-a-selimovi/when-i-came-back-they-gave-me-blank-looks-some-said-i-don-t-think-i/) [Meša Selimović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-a-selimovi/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) [Emily Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-shanks/) > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If men's minds were like dominoes, surely his would be the double blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/if-men-s-minds-were-like-dominoes-surely-his-would-be-the-double-blank/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [“There isn’t any way to be. I will meet you where you’ve gone. The cards are blank; the cards are empty there. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-notley/there-isn-t-any-way-to-be-i-will-meet-you-where-you-ve-gone-the-cards/) [Alice Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-notley/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) [Browse all 832 Blank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zoya Akhtar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as-a-professional-writer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blank" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as-a-professional-writer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/zoya-akhtar-9169_blank_so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as_1403874.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So at 19, I faced my first blank page as a professional writer.” — Zoya Akhtar", "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": "Zoya Akhtar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So at 19, I faced my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as-a-professional-writer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/so-at-19-i-faced-my-first-blank-page-as-a-professional-writer/#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 } } ] } ```