--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't write about things that I have…" description: "\"I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are very close to home. It just wouldn't be any adventure. It wouldn't have any vi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/ann-beattie-14884_adventure_i-don-t-write-about-things-that-i-have-t_1075286.png" --- # I don't write about things that I have the answers to or… ![“I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are very close to home. It just wouldn't be any adventure. It wouldn't have any vitality.” quote by Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/ann-beattie-14884_adventure_i-don-t-write-about-things-that-i-have-t_1075286.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/ann-beattie-14884_adventure_i-don-t-write-about-things-that-i-have-t_1075286.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/ann-beattie-14884_adventure_i-don-t-write-about-things-that-i-have-t_1075286.png) > “I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are very close to home. It just wouldn't be any adventure. It wouldn't have any vitality.” [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She avoids writing about familiar topics to keep her work adventurous and vital. **In simple terms:** She writes only about unknowns to stay lively. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in creative work. Themes creativity adventure authenticity Mood curious energetic Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - novel writing - personal essays - journalism Key Concepts risk exploration vitality Questions to Reflect On - What unknown topics could you explore? - How does distance fuel imagination? A Different Perspective Writing about familiar subjects can feel stagnant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Funny travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-travel/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Vitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vitality/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't write things that are wildly abstractly atonal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-don-t-write-things-that-are-wildly-abstractly-atonal/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I don’t write things to benefit the world. If it happens that they do, swell. I didn’t set out to do that. I set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-don-t-write-things-to-benefit-the-world-if-it-happens-that-they-do/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I am a sponge. I don't write things down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-a-sponge-i-don-t-write-things-down/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [There are days when I intentionally don't write. For instance, I never write when I'm traveling, because travel is a situation where I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perry/there-are-days-when-i-intentionally-don-t-write-for-instance-i-never/) [Thomas Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perry/) > [I think I write about things that are mysterious to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/i-think-i-write-about-things-that-are-mysterious-to-me/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [I don't write. I usually look for material by other people. Sometimes I change things or adapt things but I don't write from scratch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-don-t-write-i-usually-look-for-material-by-other-people-sometimes-i/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Force yourself to write down what is of no interest, what is most obvious, most common, most colourless...antique shops, clothes, hi-fi, etc. Don't say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-perec/force-yourself-to-write-down-what-is-of-no-interest-what-is-most/) [Georges Perec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-perec/) > [The fact is I don't write songs, per se; I've written a couple here and there, but that's not my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/the-fact-is-i-don-t-write-songs-per-se-i-ve-written-a-couple-here-and/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [If you don't write your books, nobody else will do it for you. No one else has lived your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/if-you-don-t-write-your-books-nobody-else-will-do-it-for-you-no-one/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Don't write for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/don-t-write-for-money/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [Whatever coast he's on, a man should be himself. I don't write in any particular idiom, I write Charles Mingus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/whatever-coast-he-s-on-a-man-should-be-himself-i-don-t-write-in-any/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I don't write autobiographically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-don-t-write-autobiographically/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [When you're rich you don't write checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/when-you-re-rich-you-don-t-write-checks/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [I don't write my own publicity materials, I just read 'em and give 'em the OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-don-t-write-my-own-publicity-materials-i-just-read-em-and-give-em/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I don't write for any particular kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wesley/i-don-t-write-for-any-particular-kind-of-person/) [Mary Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wesley/) ## More by Ann Beattie > [Clouds are poems, and the most moving poems linger on the blackboard so long, written in cursive so lovely, they also exist inside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/clouds-are-poems-and-the-most-moving-poems-linger-on-the-blackboard/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [If you could have a book called My Favorite Six Stories, I don't think I'd have trouble doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/if-you-could-have-a-book-called-my-favorite-six-stories-i-don-t-think/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [Nobody can assume that, to a writer, everything is off-limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/nobody-can-assume-that-to-a-writer-everything-is-off-limits/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [“This is a story, told the way you say stories should be told: Somebody grew up, fell in love, and spent a winter with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/this-is-a-story-told-the-way-you-say-stories-should-be-told-somebody/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [“This is a story, told the way you say stories should be told: Somebody grew up, fell in love, and spent a winter with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/this-is-a-story-told-the-way-you-say-stories-should-be-told-somebody-2/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [There is some reason, obviously, that you are drawn to your material, but the way in which you explore it might come to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/there-is-some-reason-obviously-that-you-are-drawn-to-your-material/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [I don't even correct people when they mispronounce my name now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/i-don-t-even-correct-people-when-they-mispronounce-my-name-now/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [Also minimalism is a term that all of us who share so little in common and who are lumped together as minimalists are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/also-minimalism-is-a-term-that-all-of-us-who-share-so-little-in/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [Italics provide a wonderful advantage: you see, right away, that the words are in a rush. When something exists at a slant, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/italics-provide-a-wonderful-advantage-you-see-right-away-that-the/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [I think I write about things that are mysterious to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/i-think-i-write-about-things-that-are-mysterious-to-me/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [Whatever one intends, the work takes on a life of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/whatever-one-intends-the-work-takes-on-a-life-of-its-own/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [I like a lot of Margaret Atwood, I like much of Alice Munro. Again, if you were to ask me about male writers, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/i-like-a-lot-of-margaret-atwood-i-like-much-of-alice-munro-again-if/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [It's not about having things figured out, or about communicating with other people, trying to make them understand what you understand. It's about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/it-s-not-about-having-things-figured-out-or-about-communicating-with/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [What will happen can't be stopped. Aim for Grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/what-will-happen-can-t-be-stopped-aim-for-grace/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [It's often been said that I'm an extremely depressing, cynical writer. I've never known what to make of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/it-s-often-been-said-that-i-m-an-extremely-depressing-cynical-writer/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) [Explore all 45 Ann Beattie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't write about things that I have the answers to or things that are very close to home. It just wouldn't be any adventure. 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