One lesson I learned the hard way, early in my career, was…
“One lesson I learned the hard way, early in my career, was that if I tried to write to be smart or to convey a theme or from some existing plan, the result was usually pretty boring. My intuitive move, whenever I'm considering writing something, is to steer towards what feels enjoyable. Another way of saying it is, you just try to avoid the "sucky." If you start to think of a story and a way to tell it, and your reaction is kind of like, Ugh, that's going to be hard, then you don't want to do that.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writing for enjoyment beats forced cleverness, producing authentic and engaging work.
In simple terms: Write for fun, not pretension.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize pleasure in creation.
Themes
creativity
authenticity
joy
Mood
playful
inspirational
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- blog posts
- screenplays
Key Concepts
writing process
intrinsic motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What feels enjoyable to write?
- When does effort become rewarding?
A Different Perspective
Avoiding enjoyment may limit originality.