Maria Semple Quotes

After decades spent in rewrite rooms surrounded by other shouting writers, I discovered that I work best alone. I like being in charge of my time, working out the problems according to my own rhythms and being able to nap. That's a big one, the napping on demand!

I have to work at my own speed.

Freelancers are 'free' because they take risks - they don't like being told what to do. That's both exciting and daunting, because you have to police you.

I enjoy my time alone.

I'm as much my own master as anyone can be, without being the master of others. I can write anywhere - all I need is a couple of hours of solitude and a computer, and I can write a chapter. Since my work is portable, I can live anywhere I like.

I prefer to work at my own pace.

I'm usually - I'm working by myself.

Silence has many advantages…I write and draw in my notebook and I read anything I please.

I don't say no as much as I should. I'm an extreme workaholic. So I can be sick, and I still say yes to anything. When you are the CEO of your own company, editor of your own videos, your own writer, and you do every role yourself, you have a hard time saying no to opportunities.

When I'm driving the highway by myself is when I write best.

I don't do anything I don't want to do. There are so many opportunities that come my way, but if there's something out there that I don't want to do, I truly don't do it, because I have to maximize my time. If there's truly an opportunity to be quiet and be by myself, I do it.

I've produced my own films for twenty years now - it means I have to talk to less people.

Testing oneself is best when done alone.

And I found that when I built my own place and just shut the door, the creativity was endless.

Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, and the society of thyself.

I learned to basically pull my own weight, just do my own thing. I spent a lot of time alone and I loved it. It was actually really great because to the present day I love spending time alone. I go bicycling alone, go climbing alone and I just love being with myself and observing myself and learning something.

I think sometimes if you are alone, you are freer because your time is your own.

I'd be happy to stay single now because I've always been in relationships. For the first time ever I can do what I want, when I want, with who I want, without answering to anyone.

I had friends but I was spending a great deal of my time alone and for me that was vital because there's an awful lot you learn about yourself when you're alone.

Night time really is the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone is asleep.

I am my own secretary; I dictate, I compose, I copy all myself.

For me, I prefer to work on my own. I feel like I can tap into a more genuine place, and I feel like my best stuff comes from writing on my own in my own zone.

For this album I was determined to do it my way. Take my time. I'm gonna win, lose or draw on my own.

Being home schooled is awesome because you can make your own schedule, so as far as time management, it's up to you how much you get done and when you get it done. It's all got to get done; how you do it is up to you.

Working on my own gave me a chance to take my time and experiment a lot.