"I like myself better when I'm writing regularly"
About this Quote
The intent reads like self-management, almost a recovery mantra without the sanctimony: regular writing makes him more tolerable to himself. That’s a subtle pivot from “I write to make art” to “I write to stay steady.” The subtext is that the real audience isn’t the crowd, it’s the person in the mirror. When he’s not writing, something slips - not necessarily talent, but coherence. Routine becomes a kind of moral hygiene.
Context matters because Nelson’s career has always been larger than music: touring grind, public persona, the long American appetite for legends who run hot. In that world, “writing regularly” functions like ballast. It’s also a gentle rebuke to the chaos we often excuse in artists. He’s not selling suffering as fuel; he’s describing craft as a way to be less of a mess.
The line works because it’s both humble and self-protective. “Better” isn’t “perfect,” and “regularly” isn’t “constantly.” It’s a realistic prescription: keep the channel open, and you can live with yourself.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Nelson, Willie. (n.d.). I like myself better when I'm writing regularly. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-myself-better-when-im-writing-regularly-130525/
Chicago Style
Nelson, Willie. "I like myself better when I'm writing regularly." FixQuotes. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-myself-better-when-im-writing-regularly-130525/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I like myself better when I'm writing regularly." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-like-myself-better-when-im-writing-regularly-130525/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.




