--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old adage is, 'Write what you know.'…" description: "\"The old adage is, 'Write what you know.' But if you only do that, your work becomes claustrophobic. I say, 'Write what you want to know.'\" — Julia Glass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/julia-glass-3667_adage_the-old-adage-is-write-what-you-know-but_610755.png" --- # The old adage is, 'Write what you know.' But if you only… ![“The old adage is, 'Write what you know.' But if you only do that, your work becomes claustrophobic. I say, 'Write what you want to know.'” quote by Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/julia-glass-3667_adage_the-old-adage-is-write-what-you-know-but_610755.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/julia-glass-3667_adage_the-old-adage-is-write-what-you-know-but_610755.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/julia-glass-3667_adage_the-old-adage-is-write-what-you-know-but_610755.png) > “The old adage is, 'Write what you know.' But if you only do that, your work becomes claustrophobic. I say, 'Write what you want to know.'” [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing only from personal experience limits perspective; expanding to what you want to learn broadens creativity and avoids narrowness. **In simple terms:** Write beyond personal experience to grow creatively. Key Takeaway Explore unfamiliar topics to enrich your work. Themes creativity growth learning Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - creative workshops - novel writing - journalism Key Concepts writing knowledge expansion artistic risk Questions to Reflect On - What subjects intrigue you beyond your comfort zone? - How can curiosity reshape your writing style? A Different Perspective Sticking to familiar topics can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adage/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I went with the old adage that you should write what you know. What I knew was 18th century Britain, so what I decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-liss/i-went-with-the-old-adage-that-you-should-write-what-you-know-what-i/) [David Liss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-liss/) > [That adage about 'Write what you know' is basically the opposite of the way I function. I write about what I'm curious to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/that-adage-about-write-what-you-know-is-basically-the-opposite-of-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [For a writer, they say write what you know. As a performer, you find it in yourself, in your heart. You relate to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uma-thurman/for-a-writer-they-say-write-what-you-know-as-a-performer-you-find-it/) [Uma Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uma-thurman/) > [“Forget what they say about “write what you know.” Write what excites your imagination, and the knowledge you need can be acquired. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kowalski/forget-what-they-say-about-write-what-you-know-write-what-excites/) Charles Kowalski > [People say to write about what you know. I'm here to tell you, no one wants to read that, cos you don't know anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/people-say-to-write-about-what-you-know-i-m-here-to-tell-you-no-one/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I grew up in a working-class family, so I guess you could say I write from what I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-grew-up-in-a-working-class-family-so-i-guess-you-could-say-i-write/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [They say, 'Write what you know.' What I know isn't cheerleader; it has a little bit of teeth to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/they-say-write-what-you-know-what-i-know-isn-t-cheerleader-it-has-a/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [My dad and mom used to always say, 'Write your vision down. Write the things that you want to happen.' I would write, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-dad-and-mom-used-to-always-say-write-your-vision-down-write-the/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [Everything that individuals ever say or write can be used against them at a later point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-achleitner/everything-that-individuals-ever-say-or-write-can-be-used-against/) [Paul Achleitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-achleitner/) > [I always say I write because I have questions, not because I have answers. It's true that you begin the conversation - that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-always-say-i-write-because-i-have-questions-not-because-i-have/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [When people say "How do you write a book, how does it all happen?" I say, you line things up, and you line them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-people-say-how-do-you-write-a-book-how-does-it-all-happen-i-say/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Do not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/do-not-do-what-someone-else-could-do-as-well-as-you-do-not-say-do-not/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Chance has something to say, even how to write a good letter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/chance-has-something-to-say-even-how-to-write-a-good-letter/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [To say, "Well, I write when I really get into it" is a bunch of bull. Put the paper in the typewriter, stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-say-well-i-write-when-i-really-get-into-it-is-a-bunch-of-bull-put/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Some writers say they cannot write in front of a window; many say they cannot function without almost perfect quiet. A writer with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/some-writers-say-they-cannot-write-in-front-of-a-window-many-say-they/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## More by Julia Glass > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In every novel, I write about something - a place, an experience, an emotion - with which I'm intimately familiar, but it's also crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-every-novel-i-write-about-something-a-place-an-experience-an/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In my head, at least, the business of spinning stories has no closing time. Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I am not opposed to e-readers. Any technology that encourages the reading of literature is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/i-am-not-opposed-to-e-readers-any-technology-that-encourages-the/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [A good novel is an out-of-self experience. It lifts you off the ground so that you have the sensation of flying. It says, 'Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/a-good-novel-is-an-out-of-self-experience-it-lifts-you-off-the-ground/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Some might have referred to Vince, Buck and Calvin as "ordinary fellows" or "salt of the earth". Such terms are merely code for men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/some-might-have-referred-to-vince-buck-and-calvin-as-ordinary-fellows/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [Call me territorial or narcissistic, but I avoid novels about people who share my vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/call-me-territorial-or-narcissistic-but-i-avoid-novels-about-people/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [Now is almost always the better choice. You never know about later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/now-is-almost-always-the-better-choice-you-never-know-about-later/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“On Thursday, the sandwiches Greenie made were pork tenderloins with chipotle mustard, the soup a puree of beets and pears with Beaujolais wine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/on-thursday-the-sandwiches-greenie-made-were-pork-tenderloins-with/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [Most inexperienced cooks believe, mistakenly, that a fine cake is less challenging to produce than a fine souffle or mousse. I know, however, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/most-inexperienced-cooks-believe-mistakenly-that-a-fine-cake-is-less/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I have struggled for decades now with the fear of and resistance to change - mostly in the realms of technology, transportation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/i-have-struggled-for-decades-now-with-the-fear-of-and-resistance-to/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“None of this Mad Mario showmanship- orange clogs and Bermuda shorts fit for Babar, sweetbreads garnished with squash blossoms stuffed with cheese from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/none-of-this-mad-mario-showmanship-orange-clogs-and-bermuda-shorts/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Bet you did not know that in Mexico they call a Palomino an Isabella. Or that George Washington's warhorse was an Arab named Magnolia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/bet-you-did-not-know-that-in-mexico-they-call-a-palomino-an-isabella/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Always more to learn, that's the pain and the pleasure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/always-more-to-learn-that-s-the-pain-and-the-pleasure/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Well, yes, there were quite a lot of books throughout, tumbling out of haphazardly placed bookshelves, stacked beneath chairs, beside beds, even in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/well-yes-there-were-quite-a-lot-of-books-throughout-tumbling-out-of/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) [Explore all 125 Julia Glass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## More Adage quotes > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It seemed too good to be true. That's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/it-seemed-too-good-to-be-true-that-s-grace/) [Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If a deal advertised on an unknown website looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/if-a-deal-advertised-on-an-unknown-website-looks-too-good-to-be-true/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [“Be very careful of anything that looks too good to be true. Because if it looks too good to be true, that’s probably because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/be-very-careful-of-anything-that-looks-too-good-to-be-true-because-if/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I knew it was too good to be true. Some things never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-it-was-too-good-to-be-true-some-things-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“All worries are less with wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/all-worries-are-less-with-wine/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [You know the old adage that the customer's always right? Well, I kind of think that the opposite is true. The customer is rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/you-know-the-old-adage-that-the-customer-s-always-right-well-i-kind/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [“Old Korean adage, "Even jade has flaws." 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