--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was so naive about writing, I went to…" description: "\"I was so naive about writing, I went to the public library and checked out the only volume they had on the topic - an academic treatise about publishin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-was-so-naive-about-writing-i-went-to-t_1575076.png" --- # I was so naive about writing, I went to the public library… ![“I was so naive about writing, I went to the public library and checked out the only volume they had on the topic - an academic treatise about publishing from the WWII era.” quote by Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-was-so-naive-about-writing-i-went-to-t_1575076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-was-so-naive-about-writing-i-went-to-t_1575076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-was-so-naive-about-writing-i-went-to-t_1575076.png) > “I was so naive about writing, I went to the public library and checked out the only volume they had on the topic - an academic treatise about publishing from the WWII era.” [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on his early naïveté about writing, humorously noting he relied on an outdated academic source, highlighting the gap between theory and practice. **In simple terms:** Early writers often rely on outdated advice. Key Takeaway Combine learning with real‑world practice. Themes learning naïveté writing experience growth Mood humorous self‑aware encouraging Type memoir reflective educational When to use this quote - writing workshops - self‑study - mentor guidance - real‑world projects Key Concepts education self‑directed learning literature historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance theory and practice? - What current resources replace old manuals? A Different Perspective Relying solely on old texts can limit modern understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Era](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/era/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Public library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-library/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I wrote a book. It sucked. I wrote nine more books. They sucked, too. Meanwhile, I read every single thing I could find on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/i-wrote-a-book-it-sucked-i-wrote-nine-more-books-they-sucked-too/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [Writing went from being a calling to being a job. Business ruined things. 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