Write what you know," my ass. Now, I'm not suggesting that…
““Write what you know," my ass. Now, I'm not suggesting that you write about my ass. But although you do not, in fact, know my ass, I give you permission to write about it. And if you think you need my permission to write about my ass ("What right do I have, as a male, twenty-something, single, childfree, immigrant Indonesian Buddhist, to pretend to understand the ass of an Anglo American middle-aged married female Freethinker?") or about anything, then you lack the courage, curiosity and imagination to write good fiction, so please find something else to do.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writing about the unfamiliar demands courage, curiosity, and imagination; permission isn’t required, only willingness.
In simple terms: Write beyond personal experience with bravery.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity and imagination in writing.
Themes
creativity
courage
curiosity
freedom
expression
Mood
defiant
inspirational
Type
Humor:1
Inspirational:1
Writer:0
Writing:0
Write Know:0
Know Ass:0
Write Ass:0
Ass Permission:0
Ass Suggesting:0
When to use this quote
- creative workshops
- personal essays
- fiction writing
Key Concepts
literary daring
self‑exploration
cultural empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What story have you avoided?
- How can you safely explore unfamiliar perspectives?
A Different Perspective
Fear of misunderstanding can stifle authenticity.