--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a regular class I don't focus on the…" description: "\"In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think that focus is helpful for brainstorming and coming up with ideas quickly, especially with aut..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg" --- # In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think… ![“In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think that focus is helpful for brainstorming and coming up with ideas quickly, especially with autobiographical material.” quote by Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg) > “In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think that focus is helpful for brainstorming and coming up with ideas quickly, especially with autobiographical material.” [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker values form as a tool for rapid idea generation, especially when drawing from personal history. **In simple terms:** Form helps brainstorm ideas quickly. Key Takeaway Use structure to spark creativity. Themes creativity writing process autobiography Mood analytical inspirational Type educational creative When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal essays - creative brainstorming - teaching writing Key Concepts Narrative theory cognitive psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does structure hinder creativity? - How can personal stories enrich work? A Different Perspective Rigid forms can limit originality if over‑relied upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brainstorming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainstorming/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“What billows are ideas! How quickly they cover all that it is their mission to destroy and to bury, and how promptly they create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/what-billows-are-ideas-how-quickly-they-cover-all-that-it-is-their/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“The goals we repeatedly think about and focus on tend to materialize faster and easier. Therefore, spend time mentally visualizing or concentrating on positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-del-pe/the-goals-we-repeatedly-think-about-and-focus-on-tend-to-materialize/) [Master Del Pe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/master-del-pe/) > [“The way we think and how we focus on problems plays a role in how we live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-o-brien/the-way-we-think-and-how-we-focus-on-problems-plays-a-role-in-how-we/) [Alan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-o-brien/) > [I don't think focus is in itself ever a bad thing. But focus of the wrong kind, or managed poorly, can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/i-don-t-think-focus-is-in-itself-ever-a-bad-thing-but-focus-of-the/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [The biggest secret of focused people is that they don't think about focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-trunk/the-biggest-secret-of-focused-people-is-that-they-don-t-think-about/) [Penelope Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-trunk/) > [I think we should all focus on who we are, what we want to do, and do it. That is my way. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-think-we-should-all-focus-on-who-we-are-what-we-want-to-do-and-do/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [You become what you think about and focus on the most. See yourself attracting the things you want to accomplish. Thoughts and desires in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-toews/you-become-what-you-think-about-and-focus-on-the-most-see-yourself/) [Jonathan Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-toews/) > [Acting requires focus, too, but acting doesn't, you might say, demand focus. When you're in the ring you don't even have to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-ford/acting-requires-focus-too-but-acting-doesn-t-you-might-say-demand/) [Bette Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-ford/) > [I think I'm a focus for international attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-think-i-m-a-focus-for-international-attention/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [Whatever you consistently think about and focus upon you move toward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/whatever-you-consistently-think-about-and-focus-upon-you-move-toward/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Focus your thoughts on what you want in every area of your life...the more you think and focus on something, the more you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-basevic/focus-your-thoughts-on-what-you-want-in-every-area-of-your-life-the/) [Mike Basevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-basevic/) > [I think we have to focus,on exactly what the priorities are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-think-we-have-to-focus-on-exactly-what-the-priorities-are/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/people-think-focus-means-saying-yes-to-the-thing-you-ve-got-to-focus/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I think that always our focus is gonna be the customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-jassy/i-think-that-always-our-focus-is-gonna-be-the-customers/) [Andy Jassy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-jassy/) > [Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you think about the most or focus on the most will appear as your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/your-current-thoughts-are-creating-your-future-life-what-you-think/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) ## More by Bonnie Jo Campbell > [In fact, when I finally realized I was really going to write, when I was about thirty-four, I was working on my Ph.D. in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/in-fact-when-i-finally-realized-i-was-really-going-to-write-when-i/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [I'm of the people in the bar and the people in my stories. They are my tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-m-of-the-people-in-the-bar-and-the-people-in-my-stories-they-are-my/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [That's where I live, a junkyard in a neighborhood of junkyards. We have three tractors from the 1940s and '50s, several old pickup trucks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/that-s-where-i-live-a-junkyard-in-a-neighborhood-of-junkyards-we-have/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [A Life in Men is a joyful, ambitious novel that is also an adventure traversing three continents, as well as a meditation on love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/a-life-in-men-is-a-joyful-ambitious-novel-that-is-also-an-adventure/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [People seem to want to read more nonfiction than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/people-seem-to-want-to-read-more-nonfiction-than-fiction/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Eighty percent of all novels are bought by women, or so I've heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/eighty-percent-of-all-novels-are-bought-by-women-or-so-i-ve-heard/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Any of us who listen to the news or listen to stories our neighbors tell are accustomed to violence. We have to decide then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/any-of-us-who-listen-to-the-news-or-listen-to-stories-our-neighbors/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [My donkeys are Jack and Don Quixote. They're very smart, very cautious. Much of what people consider stubbornness in donkeys is actually cautiousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/my-donkeys-are-jack-and-don-quixote-they-re-very-smart-very-cautious/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Cocoa-buttered girls were stretched out on the public beach in apparently random alignments, but maybe if a weather satellite zoomed in on one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/cocoa-buttered-girls-were-stretched-out-on-the-public-beach-in/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [I think back when I was kind of a crappy writer, I really did know my time was better spent working and having adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-think-back-when-i-was-kind-of-a-crappy-writer-i-really-did-know-my/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [The great thing about fiction is that I don't have to settle on an answer to any troubling question, or even a solution. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/the-great-thing-about-fiction-is-that-i-don-t-have-to-settle-on-an/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Writing is so wrapped up in ego, but with math one is just trying to get it right, although you're often wrong. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/writing-is-so-wrapped-up-in-ego-but-with-math-one-is-just-trying-to/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [“She hoped Smoke was wrong about people being unknowable. She hoped that she could crack herself open like a nut and know herself, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/she-hoped-smoke-was-wrong-about-people-being-unknowable-she-hoped/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [That was a mistake, I guess, going out to California. They have these things called guidance counselors in high school. They drink a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/that-was-a-mistake-i-guess-going-out-to-california-they-have-these/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Mostly the natural landscapes work as a sounding board for my characters, so they can understand themselves, and it acts as a mirror in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/mostly-the-natural-landscapes-work-as-a-sounding-board-for-my/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) [Explore all 71 Bonnie Jo Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) ## More Brainstorming quotes > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) Robert M. Hayes > [“Osborn’s theory had great impact, and company leaders took up brainstorming with enthusiasm. To this day, it’s common for anyone who spends time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/osborn-s-theory-had-great-impact-and-company-leaders-took-up/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Generating diverse ideas requires being clear about the kind of input needed and creating multiple ways for diverse team members to share their ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/generating-diverse-ideas-requires-being-clear-about-the-kind-of-input/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [“Research tells us that brainstorming becomes more productive when it’s focused. As jazz great Charles Mingus famously said, “You can’t improvise on nothing, man;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/research-tells-us-that-brainstorming-becomes-more-productive-when-it/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [“Writing isn't black magic. You just have to come up with an idea...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/writing-isn-t-black-magic-you-just-have-to-come-up-with-an-idea/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [Two heads are definitely better than one and by sourcing ideas from each other, you have a better chance of coming up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/two-heads-are-definitely-better-than-one-and-by-sourcing-ideas-from/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-at-first-the-idea-is-not-absurd-then-there-is-no-hope-for-it/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Psychologists usually offer three explanations for the failure of group brainstorming. The first is social loafing: in a group, some individuals tend to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/psychologists-usually-offer-three-explanations-for-the-failure-of/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Don't confuse being stimulating with being blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/don-t-confuse-being-stimulating-with-being-blunt/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [We would like to believe that we are not in the business of surviving but in being good, and we do not like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/we-would-like-to-believe-that-we-are-not-in-the-business-of-surviving/) [Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/) > [“Solitary walks are great for getting new ideas. It's like you're in a video game and you pick up idea coins on the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/solitary-walks-are-great-for-getting-new-ideas-it-s-like-you-re-in-a/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [I do a lot of brainstorming with my editors. Sometimes it just comes out in the writing. I'll get an idea as I'm writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-do-a-lot-of-brainstorming-with-my-editors-sometimes-it-just-comes/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [To ask the hard question is simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/to-ask-the-hard-question-is-simple/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Natural resources have dropped out of the competitive equation. In fact, a lack of natural resources may even be an advantage. Because the industries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-thurow/natural-resources-have-dropped-out-of-the-competitive-equation-in/) [Lester Thurow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-thurow/) > [Brainstorming, for me, takes place in my bed at night between the time I turn out my lights and I finally fall asleep. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/brainstorming-for-me-takes-place-in-my-bed-at-night-between-the-time/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) [Browse all 85 Brainstorming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainstorming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think that focus is helpful for brainstorming and coming up with ideas quickly, especially with autobiographical material.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bonnie Jo Campbell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the-form-but-i-think-that-focus/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brainstorming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the-form-but-i-think-that-focus/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/bonnie-jo-campbell-9521_brainstorming_in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the_395113.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a regular class I don't focus on the form, but I think that focus is helpful for brainstorming and coming…” — Bonnie Jo Campbell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bonnie Jo Campbell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In a regular class I don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the-form-but-i-think-that-focus/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/in-a-regular-class-i-don-t-focus-on-the-form-but-i-think-that-focus/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```