--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think you get to good writing…" description: "\"I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings.\" — Judy Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png" --- # I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose… ![“I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings.” quote by Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png) > “I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings.” [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic writing requires vulnerability, exposing personal emotions to connect deeply with readers. **In simple terms:** Good writing needs emotional honesty. Key Takeaway Share feelings to write authentically. Themes writing vulnerability authenticity Mood introspective encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - journaling - workshop - personal essays - storytelling Key Concepts creative expression emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you back from sharing? - How can vulnerability improve your work? A Different Perspective Exposing oneself can be emotionally risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings. Deep songs don't come from the surface; they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-unless-you-expose-yourself-and-2/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [No one writes anything worth writing, unless he writes entirely for the sake of his subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/no-one-writes-anything-worth-writing-unless-he-writes-entirely-for/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [It helps to be able to be alone. 'Cuz writing is done alone, unless you collaborate, but I don't do that. Ask my ex-wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/it-helps-to-be-able-to-be-alone-cuz-writing-is-done-alone-unless-you/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [I almost never do free writing. Unless I am forcing my students to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zucker/i-almost-never-do-free-writing-unless-i-am-forcing-my-students-to-do/) [Rachel Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zucker/) > [To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk involvement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-laugh-is-to-risk-appearing-a-fool-to-weep-is-to-risk-appearing-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To reach for another is to risk involvement, to expose your feelings is to expose your true self. To love is to risk not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-reach-for-another-is-to-risk-involvement-to-expose-your-feelings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To laugh is to risk appearing a fool, to weep is to risk appearing too sentimental, to reach out for another is to risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-laugh-is-to-risk-appearing-a-fool-to-weep-is-to-risk-appearing-too/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [There is no royal path to good writing; and such paths as exist do not lead through neat critical gardens, various as they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/there-is-no-royal-path-to-good-writing-and-such-paths-as-exist-do-not/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every words that serves no function, every long word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/but-the-secret-of-good-writing-is-to-strip-every-sentence-to-its/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [I have inspiration and feelings of being alive most every day I live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-have-inspiration-and-feelings-of-being-alive-most-every-day-i-live/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [ David Mamet, Tim Kazurinsky, and Denise DeClue, who adapted \[ About Last Night\]. Between the three of them... I mean, it's always down to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/david-mamet-tim-kazurinsky-and-denise-declue-who-adapted-about-last/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [There is sometimes a feeling in crime fiction that good writing gets in the way of story. I have never felt that way. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-sometimes-a-feeling-in-crime-fiction-that-good-writing-gets/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) ## More by Judy Collins > [I have inspiration and feelings of being alive most every day I live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-have-inspiration-and-feelings-of-being-alive-most-every-day-i-live/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I have tried, in all the ways I can, to make timeless music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-have-tried-in-all-the-ways-i-can-to-make-timeless-music/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-think-people-who-are-creative-are-the-luckiest-people-on-earth-i/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/do-what-you-love-and-you-will-find-the-way-to-get-it-out-to-the-world/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [Music is always occurring. It is just a matter of marketing, attention, and many other factors, that determines whether people will hear these songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/music-is-always-occurring-it-is-just-a-matter-of-marketing-attention/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I don't know where my songs come from... If I knew, I'd know too much, more than we are allowed on this plane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-know-where-my-songs-come-from-if-i-knew-i-d-know-too-much/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [The powerful men in my life have always believed in me: my husband, my son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/the-powerful-men-in-my-life-have-always-believed-in-me-my-husband-my/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [It is true that I have had heartache and tragedy in my life. These are things none of us avoids. Suffering is the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/it-is-true-that-i-have-had-heartache-and-tragedy-in-my-life-these-are/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I think that new communications are wonderful and I am delighted to be a part of the Internet generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-think-that-new-communications-are-wonderful-and-i-am-delighted-to/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I am glad so many women singers are being heard in music today. It is healthy for music . . . healthy because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-am-glad-so-many-women-singers-are-being-heard-in-music-today-it-is/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [If I give myself a chore, for instance, when I was writing the songs for Shameless, I said to myself, Now, every day for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/if-i-give-myself-a-chore-for-instance-when-i-was-writing-the-songs/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [“For songs are the heart of our memory and they let us live the search for meaning in our lives again and again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/for-songs-are-the-heart-of-our-memory-and-they-let-us-live-the-search/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [“friend of mine says that every time I judge myself harshly, I draw a drop of blood from my heart. So easy does it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/friend-of-mine-says-that-every-time-i-judge-myself-harshly-i-draw-a/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I am thrilled to have been able to put together this new album. I listened to everything I had recorded in the 24 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-am-thrilled-to-have-been-able-to-put-together-this-new-album-i/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [I may like the Blizzard best, of all the songs I have written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-may-like-the-blizzard-best-of-all-the-songs-i-have-written/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) [Explore all 56 Judy Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judy Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-unless-you-expose-yourself-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feelings" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-unless-you-expose-yourself-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/judy-collins-12173_feelings_i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-un_2141326.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings.” — Judy Collins", "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": "Judy Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think you get to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-unless-you-expose-yourself-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-don-t-think-you-get-to-good-writing-unless-you-expose-yourself-and/#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 } } ] } ```