--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would say it's not as hard as writing…" description: "\"I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when you're a writer, you walk right into the pit all by yourself, but when you're a director, there a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png" --- # I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when… ![“I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when you're a writer, you walk right into the pit all by yourself, but when you're a director, there are at least 80 people who scream, 'Don't do that!' when you make a mistake.” quote by David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png) > “I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when you're a writer, you walk right into the pit all by yourself, but when you're a director, there are at least 80 people who scream, 'Don't do that!' when you make a mistake.” [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directing involves managing many voices and pressures, making mistakes more public than solitary writing. **In simple terms:** Directing is collaborative and risky. Key Takeaway Prepare for feedback and maintain confidence. Themes creativity collaboration leadership risk mistakes Mood stressful motivational Type professional creative When to use this quote - film sets - creative projects - leadership training Key Concepts film production team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism on set? - What strategies keep you focused amid many voices? A Different Perspective The pressure of many opinions can stifle creativity if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-writing/) [Pit Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pit-director-5216613/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-writer-1874273/) ## Related quotes > [Writing happened to me. I didn't decide to start writing or to be a writer. I never wanted to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/writing-happened-to-me-i-didn-t-decide-to-start-writing-or-to-be-a/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Well, the secret to writing is writing. It's only a secret to people who don't want to hear it. Writing is how you be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/well-the-secret-to-writing-is-writing-it-s-only-a-secret-to-people/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [The act of writing is either something the writer dreads or actually likes, and I actually like it. Even re-writing's fun. You're getting somewhere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/the-act-of-writing-is-either-something-the-writer-dreads-or-actually/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [If you're writing, you're a writer. If you're talking about it or thinking about it, I'm not so sure. Writing is ninety-eight percent work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/if-you-re-writing-you-re-a-writer-if-you-re-talking-about-it-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Where there is writing- there is a writer Where there is planning- there is a planner Where there is a building- there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/where-there-is-writing-there-is-a-writer-where-there-is-planning/) [Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/) > [There's less skill and more plain hard work to writing than anyone except a writer thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabel-seeley/there-s-less-skill-and-more-plain-hard-work-to-writing-than-anyone/) [Mabel Seeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabel-seeley/) > [writing about a writer's block is better than not writing at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/writing-about-a-writer-s-block-is-better-than-not-writing-at-all/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If you do everything in your power to avoid writing and still can't, then you must be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/if-you-do-everything-in-your-power-to-avoid-writing-and-still-can-t/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [When you are not writing, you are a writer too. It doesn't leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-are-not-writing-you-are-a-writer-too-it-doesn-t-leave-you/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [My best experience as a writer was working with Michael Ondaatje. He let me dismantle his novel, reimagine it, and still had dinner with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony/my-best-experience-as-a-writer-was-working-with-michael-ondaatje-he/) [Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony/) > [I didn't intend to be writing - the writer's life. I was just writing what came to me at the time, but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-didn-t-intend-to-be-writing-the-writer-s-life-i-was-just-writing/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“A real piece of writing is one in which the writer has tried to enrich not only the book, but also his understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/a-real-piece-of-writing-is-one-in-which-the-writer-has-tried-to/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-non-writing-writer-is-a-monster-courting-insanity/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Perhaps basketball and poetry have just a few things in common, but the most important is the possibility of transcendence. The opposite is labor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/perhaps-basketball-and-poetry-have-just-a-few-things-in-common-but/) [Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/) > [We don't often talk about the fact that writing is all about rhythm. When you get too up in your head, you can lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-don-t-often-talk-about-the-fact-that-writing-is-all-about-rhythm/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) ## More by David Seltzer > [I think people wanted to see some specificity in faith on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-think-people-wanted-to-see-some-specificity-in-faith-on-tv/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I'm a real soft, sentimental guy who dreams up decapitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-m-a-real-soft-sentimental-guy-who-dreams-up-decapitations/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [For some moments in life there are no words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/for-some-moments-in-life-there-are-no-words/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [When you watch television shows, as good as they are, like 'Joan of Arcadia' and 'Touched by an Angel,' everything is this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/when-you-watch-television-shows-as-good-as-they-are-like-joan-of/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I'm not afraid to say 'Jesus Christ,' and I'm not afraid to speak of those who worship him. After all, Jesus preached about love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-m-not-afraid-to-say-jesus-christ-and-i-m-not-afraid-to-speak-of/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [My role model, my idol, was Francois Truffaut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/my-role-model-my-idol-was-francois-truffaut/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I don't see myself as having a dark side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-don-t-see-myself-as-having-a-dark-side/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I think it's time to explore our relationship to the hereafter and the now and determine whether or not there is a part mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-think-it-s-time-to-explore-our-relationship-to-the-hereafter-and/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I've always been a dog owner, from the time I was a little boy in Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-ve-always-been-a-dog-owner-from-the-time-i-was-a-little-boy-in/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I have an imagination that will go in any direction it is prodded. I pride myself on being able to become enthusiastic about anything:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-have-an-imagination-that-will-go-in-any-direction-it-is-prodded-i/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [When a man tries to communicate with an animal, there's a relationship between them, and you generally find this between the dog and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/when-a-man-tries-to-communicate-with-an-animal-there-s-a-relationship/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I think the success of any movie is dependent upon it being a singular vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-think-the-success-of-any-movie-is-dependent-upon-it-being-a/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [I want to encourage the non-star, low-profile film, and maybe we've got a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-want-to-encourage-the-non-star-low-profile-film-and-maybe-we-ve-got/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [Teenagers have no advocate. I think any other minority so maligned by Hollywood would have pickets around the theater saying, 'We are not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/teenagers-have-no-advocate-i-think-any-other-minority-so-maligned-by/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [There is an inalienable law. Whenever a character on screen pities himself, the audience stops pitying him. They will cry so long as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/there-is-an-inalienable-law-whenever-a-character-on-screen-pities/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) [Explore all 22 David Seltzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) ## More Director quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [A successful director is someone who has the combination of skills that you can learn, but there's also an intuitive sensibility that they bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-heinrichs/a-successful-director-is-someone-who-has-the-combination-of-skills/) [Rick Heinrichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-heinrichs/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [During script narrations, if I feel the screenplay mood jumping abruptly, I tell the director, and they work on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/during-script-narrations-if-i-feel-the-screenplay-mood-jumping/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I've always wanted to be a director; it's just how my mind has always worked. If I hear music, I see music videos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-wells/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-director-it-s-just-how-my-mind-has-always/) [Noel Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-wells/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [Because I thought there's no point trying to second guess what people are looking for, because if I'm the right director for it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-herron/because-i-thought-there-s-no-point-trying-to-second-guess-what-people/) [Kate Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-herron/) > [Sometimes you can't even find the director on a movie set. Sometimes you don't want to find the director on a movie set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/sometimes-you-can-t-even-find-the-director-on-a-movie-set-sometimes/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [First of all the criteria that I have that goes into any career decision is whether or not I have the life experience, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/first-of-all-the-criteria-that-i-have-that-goes-into-any-career/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [As a director, people are trusting you with their lives, with their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/as-a-director-people-are-trusting-you-with-their-lives-with-their/) [Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/) > [I loved working with Stephen Frears. He's a really fantastic director. He knows what he wants and how to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-loved-working-with-stephen-frears-he-s-a-really-fantastic-director/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) [Browse all 2,786 Director quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when you're a writer, you walk right into the pit all by yourself, but when you're a director, there are at least 80 people who scream, 'Don't do that!' when you make a mistake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Seltzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing-because-when-you-re-a-writer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Director" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing-because-when-you-re-a-writer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/david-seltzer-25963_director_i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing_3074509.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would say it's not as hard as writing, because when you're a writer, you walk right into the pit all by…” — David Seltzer", "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": "David Seltzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would say it's not as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing-because-when-you-re-a-writer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/i-would-say-it-s-not-as-hard-as-writing-because-when-you-re-a-writer/#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 } } ] } ```