--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong…" description: "\"It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and experience is unrivaled. N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/issa-rae-11768_bit_it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong_12450.jpg" --- # It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what… ![“It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and experience is unrivaled. Nobody knows what you know like you know what you know. The way you see things is pretty unique.” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/issa-rae-11768_bit_it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong_12450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/issa-rae-11768_bit_it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong_12450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/issa-rae-11768_bit_it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong_12450.jpg) > “It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and experience is unrivaled. Nobody knows what you know like you know what you know. The way you see things is pretty unique.” [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing from personal experience leverages unique perspective and knowledge, making content authentic and compelling even for novice writers. **In simple terms:** Authenticity beats generic advice. Key Takeaway Your lived experience is your strongest asset. Themes authenticity self-awareness confidence creativity personal growth Mood inspired confident reflective Type advice motivational personal When to use this quote - starting a blog - drafting a memoir - creating a personal brand - teaching a skill - overcoming writer's block Key Concepts experience voice uniqueness self-trust Practical Applications - content creation - storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate your personal insights into a broader audience? - What aspects of your experience differentiate your voice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Cliche Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche-wrong-371441/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge and experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-and-experience/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody/) [Nobody knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody-knows/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-knowledge-371440/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-know-371439/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm writing, I know I'm doing the thing I was born to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/when-i-m-writing-i-know-i-m-doing-the-thing-i-was-born-to-do/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [“People tell you to write what you know, but I've found that writing what you know is much harder than making it up. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/people-tell-you-to-write-what-you-know-but-i-ve-found-that-writing/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > [When I'm sitting writing, I know that something works if I've made myself cry, or laugh, or have a visceral emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/when-i-m-sitting-writing-i-know-that-something-works-if-i-ve-made/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [“Stop writing what you know and start writing what you want to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/stop-writing-what-you-know-and-start-writing-what-you-want-to-know/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [The writing about what you know thing was a huge one. Not worrying so much about what people think. Just writing for myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-temple/the-writing-about-what-you-know-thing-was-a-huge-one-not-worrying-so/) [Luke Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-temple/) > [“I feign knowledge of writing: that I know something about it, that I should have learned something after all these years, that I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/i-feign-knowledge-of-writing-that-i-know-something-about-it-that-i/) [Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/) > [Often what happens with the writing is that you know where you want to start and you know where you want to end, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/often-what-happens-with-the-writing-is-that-you-know-where-you-want/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [It's really important to visit a site you are writing about. Even if you know it well, even if you have lived there, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/it-s-really-important-to-visit-a-site-you-are-writing-about-even-if/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [“The p'int of good writing is to know when to stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/the-p-int-of-good-writing-is-to-know-when-to-stop/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I keep going;I keep writing because I know something good will happen, and I want to see it when it happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/i-keep-going-i-keep-writing-because-i-know-something-good-will-happen/) [Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/) > [You know, there's always someone in mind when I'm writing. You know, it's all comes from somewhere inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-auerbach/you-know-there-s-always-someone-in-mind-when-i-m-writing-you-know-it/) [Dan Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-auerbach/) > [I entered the literary world, really, from outside. My entire background has been in sciences; I was a biology major in college, then went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-entered-the-literary-world-really-from-outside-my-entire-background/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Writing what you know" is about as much fun as having an affair with your spouse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-highland/writing-what-you-know-is-about-as-much-fun-as-having-an-affair-with/) [Gordon Highland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-highland/) > [Nothing can be more limiting to the imagination than only writing about what you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/nothing-can-be-more-limiting-to-the-imagination-than-only-writing/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [My father probably taught me everything I know, aside from dialogue, which I think I get from my mom a lot more. He certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/my-father-probably-taught-me-everything-i-know-aside-from-dialogue/) [John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/) ## More by Issa Rae > [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm transitioning to television and film, but ultimately, I want to have a stronger presence on the web and be able to curate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-transitioning-to-television-and-film-but-ultimately-i-want-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I really want to be the black Tina Fey, where I just am able to produce my own content and produce other content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-really-want-to-be-the-black-tina-fey-where-i-just-am-able-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [You know, you have a lot of people - I've met a lot of people in the past, I've gone to private schools, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/you-know-you-have-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-the/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-personally-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-make-jokes-about-multiple/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm a social media addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-a-social-media-addict/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Especially being a woman of color, sometimes it's hard for to put our foot down. You work with a lot of men, and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/especially-being-a-woman-of-color-sometimes-it-s-hard-for-to-put-our/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“When I was a teenager, for example, others questioned my blackness because some of the life choices I made weren’t considered to be “black”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/when-i-was-a-teenager-for-example-others-questioned-my-blackness/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Sometimes if I'm stuck on something, I'll have a drink, and it'll get me inspired and ready to keep going. But the trick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/sometimes-if-i-m-stuck-on-something-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-it-ll-get/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“In high school, I developed a new love: acting. I went to a predominantly black and Latino school in Compton and, outside of television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/in-high-school-i-developed-a-new-love-acting-i-went-to-a/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I would love 'Awkward Black Girl' to be on television, with the right team of people who understand and get it. If 'Awkward Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-would-love-awkward-black-girl-to-be-on-television-with-the-right/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More Bit quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) [John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I like to think I'm a bit smarter than I sometimes let on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-bit-smarter-than-i-sometimes-let-on/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [You have a little bit of talent, a certain amount of good fortune and a lot of hard work in pursuit of whatever truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/you-have-a-little-bit-of-talent-a-certain-amount-of-good-fortune-and/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) > [I was a bit overweight as a teenager, which may be why I'm more comfortable playing with clothes than showing my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orla-brady/i-was-a-bit-overweight-as-a-teenager-which-may-be-why-i-m-more/) [Orla Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orla-brady/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I'm sure people see me as quiet and someone who keeps things to himself a little bit. I might be quiet, but there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-donald/i-m-sure-people-see-me-as-quiet-and-someone-who-keeps-things-to/) [Luke Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-donald/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [There's a difference between watching a film and watching a bit of cinema and enjoying a film as a piece of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/there-s-a-difference-between-watching-a-film-and-watching-a-bit-of/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I like a scarf with a shirt; it throws it off a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/i-like-a-scarf-with-a-shirt-it-throws-it-off-a-bit/) [Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/) > [Of course I get angry, but I want to use my brain a little bit and not just smash things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/of-course-i-get-angry-but-i-want-to-use-my-brain-a-little-bit-and-not/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [It is important to be well read, at least a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-important-to-be-well-read-at-least-a-little-bit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,403 Bit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. 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