"And then I wrote my first autobiography when I - well, it was 23 years ago. And since then I've written about one book every two years"
About this Quote
Calling it her "first autobiography" is the sharper needle. Autobiography is supposed to be singular: one definitive "my life" between covers. Collins pluralizes it, casually, as if a life can be rebooted into fresh editions depending on the era and the market. The subtext is how fame forces you to narrate yourself repeatedly: as starlet, as survivor, as icon, as businesswoman. Each version is less confession than brand management, a way to keep authorship of the story before tabloids, critics, and nostalgia do it for you.
The numbers land like a quiet boast. Twenty-three years, a book every two years: that's not dabbling, that's a second career. It also frames writing as longevity strategy. Actors age in an industry that treats time like a threat; publishing turns time into inventory. Collins isn't just reminiscing - she's showing how a public life stays solvent: keep producing, keep revising the myth, keep yourself in print even when you're not on screen.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Collins, Joan. (2026, January 16). And then I wrote my first autobiography when I - well, it was 23 years ago. And since then I've written about one book every two years. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-then-i-wrote-my-first-autobiography-when-i--85855/
Chicago Style
Collins, Joan. "And then I wrote my first autobiography when I - well, it was 23 years ago. And since then I've written about one book every two years." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-then-i-wrote-my-first-autobiography-when-i--85855/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"And then I wrote my first autobiography when I - well, it was 23 years ago. And since then I've written about one book every two years." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-then-i-wrote-my-first-autobiography-when-i--85855/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.







