It felt like the first thing, but when I first started out, I got a job adapting a book by Russell Banks called ‘Rule Of The Bone.’ I didn’t do a very good job. I didn’t really know what I was doing in general, let alone how to adapt a book.

Paul Thomas Anderson

The Quote in Other Words

Initially, it seemed like a new experience, but my first attempt at adapting a book, specifically Russell Banks’ ‘Rule Of The Bone,’ was not successful. I lacked the necessary skills and knowledge to properly execute the task.

Explanation of the Quote

This quote speaks to the experience of starting out in a new field or endeavor. The speaker admits to feeling like a novice and not knowing what they were doing. This is a common feeling when starting something new, especially when it involves a complex task like adapting a book.

However, the speaker also acknowledges that they didn’t do a very good job. This highlights the importance of learning from mistakes and failures. It’s okay to not be perfect when starting out, but it’s important to reflect on what went wrong and how to improve in the future.

Overall, this quote emphasizes the importance of perseverance and learning from mistakes when starting out in a new field. It’s okay to not know everything at first, but with time and practice, one can improve and become more confident in their abilities.