--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I write a story, I have no idea what…" description: "\"When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my readers. The whole idea of writing is this pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/etgar-keret-2656_books_when-i-write-a-story-i-have-no-idea-what_705658.png" --- # When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I… ![“When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my readers. The whole idea of writing is this place where you lose control, where you're irresponsible - it's a very liberating place.” quote by Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/etgar-keret-2656_books_when-i-write-a-story-i-have-no-idea-what_705658.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/etgar-keret-2656_books_when-i-write-a-story-i-have-no-idea-what_705658.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/etgar-keret-2656_books_when-i-write-a-story-i-have-no-idea-what_705658.png) > “When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my readers. The whole idea of writing is this place where you lose control, where you're irresponsible - it's a very liberating place.” [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is an act of surrender, letting go of control to discover authentic expression for readers. **In simple terms:** Writing is freeing when you let go of control. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty to create authentic work. Themes creativity freedom authenticity Mood excited reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journaling - fiction drafts - creative retreats Key Concepts self‑expression risk‑taking narrative honesty Questions to Reflect On - How does losing control affect your voice? - What does liberation mean in your writing? A Different Perspective The process can feel chaotic and may lack structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Remember that you don't write a story because you have an idea but because you have a believable character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-that-you-don-t-write-a-story-because-you-have-an-idea-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not saying that I don't experience people in life as evil, but writing is not a place of alienation; writing is the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-m-not-saying-that-i-don-t-experience-people-in-life-as-evil-but-2/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I write the story as it comes to me - YA is my natural voice, not a conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-write-the-story-as-it-comes-to-me-ya-is-my-natural-voice-not-a/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [No one touches me when I write my story, unless I hire you to or I allow you to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemon-andersen/no-one-touches-me-when-i-write-my-story-unless-i-hire-you-to-or-i/) [Lemon Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemon-andersen/) > [I always tell people I write songs, but I'm a writer. It's a difference. I can write songs to music, but I can write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ester-dean/i-always-tell-people-i-write-songs-but-i-m-a-writer-it-s-a-difference/) [Ester Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ester-dean/) > [Whenever I write a story, I hope it appeals to both boys and girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/whenever-i-write-a-story-i-hope-it-appeals-to-both-boys-and-girls/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Writing is almost a place of dreams for me, and I don't have to give up anything to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/writing-is-almost-a-place-of-dreams-for-me-and-i-don-t-have-to-give/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I've spent most of my life writing and developing everything that I've wanted to be in - which is why I started writing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/i-ve-spent-most-of-my-life-writing-and-developing-everything-that-i/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [“Writing is a place and getting there is the real art,” Otto Cristóbal Almeida.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-zamarripa/writing-is-a-place-and-getting-there-is-the-real-art-otto-crist-bal/) Samuel Zamarripa > [Writing is the place where I can do it all and get away with it. You can't do that in the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/writing-is-the-place-where-i-can-do-it-all-and-get-away-with-it-you/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [For a man who no longer has a homeland, writing becomes a place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/for-a-man-who-no-longer-has-a-homeland-writing-becomes-a-place-to-live/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [Writing is the only place I can be myself and not feel judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcmillan/writing-is-the-only-place-i-can-be-myself-and-not-feel-judged/) [Terry McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcmillan/) > [I might be writing what people expect me to write, writing from that place where I might be ruled by economic considerations. To overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-might-be-writing-what-people-expect-me-to-write-writing-from-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [Writing about a place is, of course, one good way of feeling close to it, feeling you have made something out of your interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-michael-wilson/writing-about-a-place-is-of-course-one-good-way-of-feeling-close-to/) [Sean Michael Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-michael-wilson/) > [“Writing is the place where I can be as bold and compassionate and wise as I choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bowes/writing-is-the-place-where-i-can-be-as-bold-and-compassionate-and/) [Richard Bowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bowes/) ## More by Etgar Keret > [“There should be an age limit for patients, he thinks as he takes off his shoes. You just have to say to them, "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/there-should-be-an-age-limit-for-patients-he-thinks-as-he-takes-off/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I usually start writing stories from tone and not from content - kind of like people who create music and invent the lyrics later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-usually-start-writing-stories-from-tone-and-not-from-content-kind/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Rabbits are played. Nowadays it's all about the turtles. Tell them it's a ninja, they'll freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/rabbits-are-played-nowadays-it-s-all-about-the-turtles-tell-them-it-s/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“She said I should pick the hall and the date and whatever I want, because it really doesn’t matter to her. That isn’t the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/she-said-i-should-pick-the-hall-and-the-date-and-whatever-i-want/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I like smoking pot, but I'm not the kind of guy who smokes every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-like-smoking-pot-but-i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who-smokes-every-day/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Often in writing programs, articulation and clarity are more important than what you actually say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/often-in-writing-programs-articulation-and-clarity-are-more-important/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I write in a slangy colloquial speech that has not been common in the Israeli tradition of writing, and that is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-write-in-a-slangy-colloquial-speech-that-has-not-been-common-in-the/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I write what needs to be written the way that seems genuinely right. If what comes out of it are stories, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-write-what-needs-to-be-written-the-way-that-seems-genuinely-right/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Collaborating with your wife is amazing because you are doing something together with a person you truly love and know and discover things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/collaborating-with-your-wife-is-amazing-because-you-are-doing/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Sometimes, when you are in a really constrained situation, it makes you more focused about what you want to say and where you're heading.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/sometimes-when-you-are-in-a-really-constrained-situation-it-makes-you/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Being published in Arabic is a strong and consistent wish I have. I live in the Middle East and want to be in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/being-published-in-arabic-is-a-strong-and-consistent-wish-i-have-i/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“And suddenly the driver remembered how he'd once promised himself that if he became God in the end, he'd be merciful and kind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/and-suddenly-the-driver-remembered-how-he-d-once-promised-himself/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [If we're a family and your brother wishes you death, it's not a very happy family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/if-we-re-a-family-and-your-brother-wishes-you-death-it-s-not-a-very/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“I think she cried at my funeral. It's not that I'm conceited or anything, but I'm pretty sure. Sometimes I can actually picture her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-think-she-cried-at-my-funeral-it-s-not-that-i-m-conceited-or/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“Dice que no la amo de verdad. Que digo que la quiero, que creo que la quiero, pero que no. He oído a más…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/dice-que-no-la-amo-de-verdad-que-digo-que-la-quiero-que-creo-que-la/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) [Explore all 150 Etgar Keret quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my readers. 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