--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But when I got to SMU and decided to take…" description: "\"But when I got to SMU and decided to take a playwriting class, I said this isn't a bad idea. IfI write characters, they could be as dumb as me, and I d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/beth-henley-19402_bad-idea_but-when-i-got-to-smu-and-decided-to-tak_3233743.png" --- # But when I got to SMU and decided to take a playwriting… ![“But when I got to SMU and decided to take a playwriting class, I said this isn't a bad idea. IfI write characters, they could be as dumb as me, and I don't have to be very smart.” quote by Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/beth-henley-19402_bad-idea_but-when-i-got-to-smu-and-decided-to-tak_3233743.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/beth-henley-19402_bad-idea_but-when-i-got-to-smu-and-decided-to-tak_3233743.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/beth-henley-19402_bad-idea_but-when-i-got-to-smu-and-decided-to-tak_3233743.png) > “But when I got to SMU and decided to take a playwriting class, I said this isn't a bad idea. IfI write characters, they could be as dumb as me, and I don't have to be very smart.” [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer sees playwriting as a safe space to explore characters without needing personal brilliance, highlighting creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Playwriting lets you explore characters without being overly smart. Key Takeaway Use writing to explore without pressure. Themes creativity self‑efficacy playwriting character development humor Mood playful encouraging self‑aware Type advice creative inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - theatre classes - personal projects - creative retreats Key Concepts artistic expression self‑discovery confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How does playwriting free you? - What limits do you feel in your writing? A Different Perspective May underestimate the need for skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Bad ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-ideas/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Playwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwriting/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was dating girls who were actresses, and that was fun, so I took a playwriting class. But that was short-lived. 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Sit down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-poet-dreams-of-the-classroom-i-dreamed-i-stood-up-in-class-and-i/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## More by Beth Henley > [The most glorious thing about working in the collaborative art is when you have somebody like Susan Kingsley or Kathy Bates who are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/the-most-glorious-thing-about-working-in-the-collaborative-art-is/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [I tried to start a theatre in LA and failed miserably, but I was probably not meant to raise money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/i-tried-to-start-a-theatre-in-la-and-failed-miserably-but-i-was/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [But here's the thing: what you do as a screenwriter is you sell your copyright. 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Gives me a sense of controlling my own… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/that-s-what-i-like-about-smoking-taking-a-drag-off-of-death-mmm-gives/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [You can't just go in there and open your mouth until the cast and director feel comfortable with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/you-can-t-just-go-in-there-and-open-your-mouth-until-the-cast-and/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [In movement class, you had to lie on the floor and get your alignment in to pass the class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/in-movement-class-you-had-to-lie-on-the-floor-and-get-your-alignment/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [Somehow I got to be one of five or six actors that the directors would use as guinea pigs at this directing colloquium, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/somehow-i-got-to-be-one-of-five-or-six-actors-that-the-directors/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) [Explore all 32 Beth Henley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) ## More Bad idea quotes > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. 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They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [It's not a bad idea to call this Cthulhuism & Yog-Sothothery of mine "The Mythology of Hastur" - although it was really from Machen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-s-not-a-bad-idea-to-call-this-cthulhuism-yog-sothothery-of-mine/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [More than any other personality trait, my mother seemed to be ruled by anger and sadness. She seemed to hate being a mother. Watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-markoe/more-than-any-other-personality-trait-my-mother-seemed-to-be-ruled-by/) [Merrill Markoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrill-markoe/) > [“Sorry," he apologized. 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