--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real trouble with the writing game is…" description: "\"The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and this applies to sales as well as to writing...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg" --- # The real trouble with the writing game is that no general… ![“The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and this applies to sales as well as to writing.” quote by Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg) > “The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and this applies to sales as well as to writing.” [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) ## 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 sales lack a single universal rule; guidance must be adaptable to context. **In simple terms:** No one rule fits all in writing or sales. Key Takeaway Adapt strategies to each situation. Themes writing sales strategy Mood analytical critical Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - content creation - client pitches - editing - training Key Concepts flexibility principles process Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a rule that failed? - How can you test a rule before applying? A Different Perspective Over‑generalization can lead to ineffective tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We have always been taught that hockey is our national game, but it is only in general knowledge books and not on official papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-singh/we-have-always-been-taught-that-hockey-is-our-national-game-but-it-is/) [Sandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-singh/) > [When you're writing for a game - even if you're using very well known characters like Batman and his villains who lend themselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/when-you-re-writing-for-a-game-even-if-you-re-using-very-well-known/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Learn how to program and play lots of games. If you find yourself capable of writing a game, someday you'll be capable of writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-haslam/learn-how-to-program-and-play-lots-of-games-if-you-find-yourself/) Fred Haslam > [If you think reading a book is hard, you should try writing one. Because it's even harder. It's still not as hard as writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-wolpaw/if-you-think-reading-a-book-is-hard-you-should-try-writing-one/) Erik Wolpaw > [“The awful part of the writing game is that you can never be sure the stuff is any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/the-awful-part-of-the-writing-game-is-that-you-can-never-be-sure-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Rewriting is the essence of writing well: it's where the game is won or lost. The idea is hard to accept. We all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/rewriting-is-the-essence-of-writing-well-it-s-where-the-game-is-won/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Rewriting is the essence of writing well - where the game is won or lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/rewriting-is-the-essence-of-writing-well-where-the-game-is-won-or-lost/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [When I was a kid, we used to play this thing called 'the writing game' with our father. My brother and I would play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/when-i-was-a-kid-we-used-to-play-this-thing-called-the-writing-game/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [One area I have a huge amount of trouble in is writing about myself. I get a heavy, almost depressed feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/one-area-i-have-a-huge-amount-of-trouble-in-is-writing-about-myself-i/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [And how is clarity to be achieved? Mainly by taking trouble and by writing to serve people rather than to impress them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-l-lucas/and-how-is-clarity-to-be-achieved-mainly-by-taking-trouble-and-by/) [F. L. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-l-lucas/) > [I'm having so much trouble with writing. Maybe if I help other people, it'll be easier for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-m-having-so-much-trouble-with-writing-maybe-if-i-help-other-people/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [There's no such thing as a writer's block. If you're having trouble writing, well, pick up the pen and write. No matter what, keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-writer-s-block-if-you-re-having-trouble/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I think from a major-label perspective, if you were on the flip side of things and that's the world you were used to working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-think-from-a-major-label-perspective-if-you-were-on-the-flip-side/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“The trouble is, writing the damn thing is like unscrewing your skull and pouring the contents of your brain into an empty tank. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey-peter-gross/the-trouble-is-writing-the-damn-thing-is-like-unscrewing-your-skull/) Mike Carey & Peter Gross ## More by Erle Stanley Gardner > [“You might be interested in his economic philosophy, Mr. Mason. He believed men attached too much importance to money as such. He believed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/you-might-be-interested-in-his-economic-philosophy-mr-mason-he/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“I take it," the lawyer remarked musingly, "patience isn't one of your virtues." "I didn't know," she said, "that patience WAS a virtue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/i-take-it-the-lawyer-remarked-musingly-patience-isn-t-one-of-your/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“of the murder and whether he could possibly have been out there at the country club at the time the murder was committed. “There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/of-the-murder-and-whether-he-could-possibly-have-been-out-there-at/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [I have never stuck up for any criminal. I have merely asked for the orderly administration of an impartial justice...Due legal process is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/i-have-never-stuck-up-for-any-criminal-i-have-merely-asked-for-the/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“Every eight years, the people swallow some politician hook, line, and sinker and make him president. They hold him on the political stomach for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/every-eight-years-the-people-swallow-some-politician-hook-line-and/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [I like what I like and not what I'm supposed to like because of mass rating. And I very much dislike the things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/i-like-what-i-like-and-not-what-i-m-supposed-to-like-because-of-mass/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“Dear Editor: It's a damn good story. If you have any comments, write them on the back of a check. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/dear-editor-it-s-a-damn-good-story-if-you-have-any-comments-write/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“reason I am telling you all of this is that, according to Harrod, Fern Driscoll”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/reason-i-am-telling-you-all-of-this-is-that-according-to-harrod-fern/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“will-have a tendency to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/will-have-a-tendency-to/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“If you ask me, this younger generation is altogether too careless about their morals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/if-you-ask-me-this-younger-generation-is-altogether-too-careless/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“A nurse,” I said, “would be wearing a starched uniform, and she’d have a fever thermometer ready to jab into a patient’s mouth at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/a-nurse-i-said-would-be-wearing-a-starched-uniform-and-she-d-have-a/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“Della Street, Perry Mason’s confidential secretary, said, “A couple of lovebirds have strayed into the office without an appointment. They insist it’s a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/della-street-perry-mason-s-confidential-secretary-said-a-couple-of/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“Events are like telephone poles, streaming back past the observation platform of a speeding train.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/events-are-like-telephone-poles-streaming-back-past-the-observation/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [It's a damn good story. If you have any comments, write them on the back of a check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/it-s-a-damn-good-story-if-you-have-any-comments-write-them-on-the/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) > [“We have graft today. A hundred years ago we had graft. We probably have more today than we had a hundred years ago. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/we-have-graft-today-a-hundred-years-ago-we-had-graft-we-probably-have/) [Erle Stanley Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) [Explore all 31 Erle Stanley Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/) ## More Games quotes > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [You just can't let the outside world affect your game.You can't hold anything back. You can't play a different game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/you-just-can-t-let-the-outside-world-affect-your-game-you-can-t-hold/) [Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [You got to harden yourself. Make, like, a shell around you. But not everyone can do it. If they got nothing to hang on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/you-got-to-harden-yourself-make-like-a-shell-around-you-but-not/) [Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/) > [Playing video games is something I enjoy in my spare time. I'm a gamer, always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/playing-video-games-is-something-i-enjoy-in-my-spare-time-i-m-a-gamer/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) > [“Let the motherfucking games begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/let-the-motherfucking-games-begin/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 11,463 Games quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and this applies to sales as well as to writing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erle Stanley Gardner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-is-that-no-general-rule-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Games" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-is-that-no-general-rule-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/erle-stanley-gardner-20055_games_the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-i_782607.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and…” — Erle Stanley Gardner", "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": "Erle Stanley Gardner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erle-stanley-gardner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real trouble with the writing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-is-that-no-general-rule-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erle-stanley-gardner/the-real-trouble-with-the-writing-game-is-that-no-general-rule-can-be/#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 } } ] } ```