"Like so many writers I started writing stories because I didn't have much time for anything else"

Tobias Wolff's quote, "Like so many writers I started writing stories because I didn't have much time for anything else", presents a paradox that speaks volumes about the nature of creativity and the writing procedure. Initially glimpse, it may seem inconsistent-- how could someone use up composing due to a lack of time, when composing itself demands time and attention? Nevertheless, the much deeper meaning can be comprehended when considering the context and the frame of mind of many authors.

For Wolff, and others who share similar sentiments, composing can function as an accessible refuge from the restraints of life's demands. Composing becomes an activity that can be participated in without the requirement for extensive resources or made complex plans-- just paper, a pen, or a typewriter. When time is limited, some find that composing in short, focused bursts-- the crafting of stories, snippets, or sketches-- fits well into small, readily available pockets of time. Wolff likely describes a period in his life where other pursuits either required more resources or were less satisfying in moments of time accessibility, making writing stories the most practical imaginative outlet.

In addition, Wolff's observation opens a window into the sense of urgency that numerous writers feel. The compulsion to write is typically driven not just by the schedule of time, however by an internal requirement to express, to catch fleeting ideas and emotions before they dissipate. This suggests that writing becomes less an activity of leisure and more an important act of expression-- one may prioritize it even when time is spare since it is profoundly satisfying and mentally nourishing.

Further, Wolff's words might resonate with those who see writing as an act of recovery of individual time and space in a chaotic world. As much as it is useful in regards to time, writing for lots of becomes a means of enforcing order on turmoil, of making sense, or informing stories, which may otherwise remain untold. In Wolff's case, developing stories was not simply the only practical activity given time restraints, but possibly the most necessary one, due to an innate drive to create and to inform stories.