--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is, writing and directing are…" description: "\"The truth is, writing and directing are two very different jobs. They're not even remotely the same job. It took me a while, as a director, to understa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/drew-goddard-8422_different_the-truth-is-writing-and-directing-are-t_3090877.jpg" --- # The truth is, writing and directing are two very different… ![“The truth is, writing and directing are two very different jobs. They're not even remotely the same job. It took me a while, as a director, to understand that.” quote by Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/drew-goddard-8422_different_the-truth-is-writing-and-directing-are-t_3090877.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/drew-goddard-8422_different_the-truth-is-writing-and-directing-are-t_3090877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/drew-goddard-8422_different_the-truth-is-writing-and-directing-are-t_3090877.jpg) > “The truth is, writing and directing are two very different jobs. They're not even remotely the same job. It took me a while, as a director, to understand that.” [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing and directing require distinct skill sets; they are not interchangeable. **In simple terms:** Writing and directing are different jobs. Key Takeaway Respect each role’s unique demands. Themes creativity film career collaboration process different skillsets Mood reflective practical Type professional educational When to use this quote - directing a film - writing a screenplay - career planning - team management Key Concepts film production creative leadership Questions to Reflect On - What skills overlap between writing and directing? - How can one transition between these roles? A Different Perspective May oversimplify overlap in storytelling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Directing doesn't appeal to me. I'm much more in the world of ideas. My husband is a director, and I understand what it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/directing-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-i-m-much-more-in-the-world-of-ideas-my/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [I don't direct so that I can have an identity and so I can go on to CGI movies. I had a big identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-don-t-direct-so-that-i-can-have-an-identity-and-so-i-can-go-on-to/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [The thing that's very close in the process is writing and acting, not directing. Directing's very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/the-thing-that-s-very-close-in-the-process-is-writing-and-acting-not/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [When I am directing, it is much, much, much, much, much different. I'm a much more practical person in the world, I show up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/when-i-am-directing-it-is-much-much-much-much-much-different-i-m-a/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [During 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' I wanted to become a director, and I had the opportunity to direct an episode there. And, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-ribeiro/during-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-i-wanted-to-become-a-director-and/) [Alfonso Ribeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-ribeiro/) > [I'm going to be writing and directing my own videos, and performing in them too, and I'm super-excited about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-day/i-m-going-to-be-writing-and-directing-my-own-videos-and-performing-in/) [Mikey Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-day/) > [Acting is the most pure fun as far as jobs go, but it can be limiting in terms of freedom of expression. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/acting-is-the-most-pure-fun-as-far-as-jobs-go-but-it-can-be-limiting/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I certainly was an actor and then I drifted more towards writing and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-certainly-was-an-actor-and-then-i-drifted-more-towards-writing-and/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [The things I want to focus on are music, writing, directing, and developing stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/the-things-i-want-to-focus-on-are-music-writing-directing-and/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [Writing and directing just sort of fell into my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/writing-and-directing-just-sort-of-fell-into-my-lap/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I was a standup comedian, which is kind of like writing and directing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-was-a-standup-comedian-which-is-kind-of-like-writing-and-directing/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [ All these teachers and \[screenwriting\] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-books-mean-you-see-movies-that/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I went to film school so I have a writing and directing background, and I think a lot of the material I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-went-to-film-school-so-i-have-a-writing-and-directing-background/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) ## More by Drew Goddard > [I just don't want to make the same old movies. I'm not interested in it. Directing's hard. It takes up a lot of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-just-don-t-want-to-make-the-same-old-movies-i-m-not-interested-in/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [You don't want to make a movie just to make a movie. You better have a point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/you-don-t-want-to-make-a-movie-just-to-make-a-movie-you-better-have-a/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I think the thing I took most from game playing was just getting in the characters head. I took it really seriously. There's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-think-the-thing-i-took-most-from-game-playing-was-just-getting-in/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [A movie that's about other horror movies isn't interesting. A movie about who we are, is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/a-movie-that-s-about-other-horror-movies-isn-t-interesting-a-movie/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [That's the fun part about being a director. You get to say, 'Oh, now that I'm in charge, I can try and cast whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/that-s-the-fun-part-about-being-a-director-you-get-to-say-oh-now-that/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [Truth is, I don't like movies that are only good once; I tend to dismiss them. I like movies that get better the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/truth-is-i-don-t-like-movies-that-are-only-good-once-i-tend-to/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline-and-getting-the-skeleton-of/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I think so much of the horror film is about our primal instincts, and our primal instincts are not just towards violence. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-think-so-much-of-the-horror-film-is-about-our-primal-instincts-and/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [Some people like when it rains a lot. Some people like sunshine. The idea that there's one, all encompassing afterlife is strange. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/some-people-like-when-it-rains-a-lot-some-people-like-sunshine-the/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I've found that if you just try to make the film you want, you'll find the right audience. If you try to please everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-ve-found-that-if-you-just-try-to-make-the-film-you-want-you-ll-find/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [That's the thing about Lionsgate. They are fearless. No other studio would have made 'Hunger Games' the way they did. They're being fearless in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/that-s-the-thing-about-lionsgate-they-are-fearless-no-other-studio/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [If you worry too much about anything, you end up making bad movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/if-you-worry-too-much-about-anything-you-end-up-making-bad-movies/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I love going to horror movies - especially when they are fun. I think that they get you in touch with sort of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-love-going-to-horror-movies-especially-when-they-are-fun-i-think/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [We've always been a band who's taken forever to do things. After writing 'Persona' I think we wrote about four songs in three years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/we-ve-always-been-a-band-who-s-taken-forever-to-do-things-after/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I love TV. I've been lucky that I get to do both, and both have things I love about them, features and TV. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-love-tv-i-ve-been-lucky-that-i-get-to-do-both-and-both-have-things/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) [Explore all 81 Drew Goddard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) ## More Different quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. 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They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [One of the reasons that I do a lot of different kinds of pictures is because I learn a lot when I'm doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jason-leigh/one-of-the-reasons-that-i-do-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-pictures-is/) [Jennifer Jason Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-jason-leigh/) > [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'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Suffering did different things to different people...Some souls became tempered, unshakable in their faith, while others became twisted and mis-shapen, throwing off all connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ragen/suffering-did-different-things-to-different-people-some-souls-became/) [Naomi Ragen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ragen/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. 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Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) Browse all 28,697 Different quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The truth is, writing and directing are two very different jobs. They're not even remotely the same job. 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