---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write it to get it out of me. I don't…"
description: "\"I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to remember it.\" — Kathy Acker"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png"
---

#  I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to…

![“I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to remember it.” quote by Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png)

> “I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to remember it.”

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writing serves as an outlet to release inner thoughts, not to preserve them for later recall.

**In simple terms:** Writing releases thoughts, not preserves them.

Key Takeaway

Write to release.

Themes

expression therapy creativity memory

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

literary personal

When to use this quote

- journaling
- creative writing
- therapy sessions

Key Concepts

psychology literature catharsis

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do you write?
- What emotions surface when you write?

A Different Perspective

Writing may not solve underlying issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't write about that which you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/don-t-write-about-that-which-you-don-t-know/)

[Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/)

> [“Write or don't write. There is only try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-smith/write-or-don-t-write-there-is-only-try/)

[Kim Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-smith/)

> [Don't write about what you don't know even if you don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/don-t-write-about-what-you-don-t-know-even-if-you-don-t-know-it/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [“Don’t write yourself off. If you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t be able to function.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/don-t-write-yourself-off-if-you-don-t-believe-in-yourself-you-won-t/)

[David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/)

> [“Write down everything you remember. You’ll want to have it written down to look back on later, when your mind sands all the sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/write-down-everything-you-remember-you-ll-want-to-have-it-written/)

[Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/)

> [Most of my work is, I get an idea, and, with the help of Wikipedia, I can write. I don't have to leave my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rich/most-of-my-work-is-i-get-an-idea-and-with-the-help-of-wikipedia-i-can/)

[Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rich/)

> [“History is what we write, not what we remember. Why should we tarnish the memory of our planet by enshrining our less then noble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/history-is-what-we-write-not-what-we-remember-why-should-we-tarnish/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [I have this belief that if you have an idea, and you have to write it down to remember it, then it can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tino-sehgal/i-have-this-belief-that-if-you-have-an-idea-and-you-have-to-write-it/)

[Tino Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tino-sehgal/)

> [“happy habits.   Each morning, write down three things you’re grateful for. Not the same three every day; find three new things to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/happy-habits-each-morning-write-down-three-things-you-re-grateful-for/)

[Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/)

> [“Some of us, I imagine, write out of anger; some out of pain; some write out of prejudice or loss, some out of passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/some-of-us-i-imagine-write-out-of-anger-some-out-of-pain-some-write/)

[R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/)

> [My sister taught me how to write my name when I was about three. I remember writing my whole name: Jacqueline Amanda Woodson. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/my-sister-taught-me-how-to-write-my-name-when-i-was-about-three-i/)

[Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/)

> [Before you write - remember that every speech has something of 'you' in the writing. Don't take that away when you write. Be yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/before-you-write-remember-that-every-speech-has-something-of-you-in/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [“I write because I die again and again at the hands of a world that cannot have me or make me fit. I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-militello/i-write-because-i-die-again-and-again-at-the-hands-of-a-world-that/)

Jennifer Militello

> [Some people write to remember, some people write to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/needa-muy/some-people-write-to-remember-some-people-write-to-forget/)

[Needa Muy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/needa-muy/)

> [When I write something, I can't remember in the end if this is a memory or if it's not - I'm talking about fiction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/when-i-write-something-i-can-t-remember-in-the-end-if-this-is-a/)

[Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/)

## More by Kathy Acker

> [I wasn't really into body piercings until I found that about half my female students had them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-wasn-t-really-into-body-piercings-until-i-found-that-about-half-my/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [“What other knowledge will my solitude and muteness bring? What other worlds?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/what-other-knowledge-will-my-solitude-and-muteness-bring-what-other/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [One of the reasons I think the ultra right-wing has such power in this country is that no one talks out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/one-of-the-reasons-i-think-the-ultra-right-wing-has-such-power-in/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [There's a backlash against womyn that's really bad right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-s-a-backlash-against-womyn-that-s-really-bad-right-now/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [i am a limitless series of natural disasters and all of these disasters have been unnaturally repressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-am-a-limitless-series-of-natural-disasters-and-all-of-these/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [My nutritionist read my pathology report and said, "There's only one way you can beat your cancer." "What's that?" "You have to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/my-nutritionist-read-my-pathology-report-and-said-there-s-only-one/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [“Every angel is terrifying. Through the darkness, they move silently... I will go down into death with you. I must go where I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/every-angel-is-terrifying-through-the-darkness-they-move-silently-i/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [There are times when the law jeopardizes those who obey it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-are-times-when-the-law-jeopardizes-those-who-obey-it/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [You create identity, you're not given identity per se. What became more and more interesting to me wasn't the I, it was text because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/you-create-identity-you-re-not-given-identity-per-se-what-became-more/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [It's all up to you, girls. You have to be strong. These are the days of post-women's liberation. You have grown up by now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/it-s-all-up-to-you-girls-you-have-to-be-strong-these-are-the-days-of/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [“Since Pussy never had thought, nor would she think, that women shouldn't have abortions, she had to come to terms with the realization that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/since-pussy-never-had-thought-nor-would-she-think-that-women-shouldn/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [We don't have a clue what it is to be male or female, or if there are intermediate genders. Male and female might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/we-don-t-have-a-clue-what-it-is-to-be-male-or-female-or-if-there-are/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [Women need to become literary criminals, break the literary laws and reinvent their own, because the established laws prevent women from presenting the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/women-need-to-become-literary-criminals-break-the-literary-laws-and/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [There must be a secret hidden in this book or else you wouldn't bother to read it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-must-be-a-secret-hidden-in-this-book-or-else-you-wouldn-t/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

[Explore all 115 Kathy Acker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

## More Get quotes

> [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/)

[Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/)

> [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

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/)

[Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/)

[Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/)

> [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/)

[Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/)

[Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/)

> [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/)

[Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/)

> [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

Browse all 15,894 Get quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to remember it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kathy Acker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-write-it-to-remember-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Get"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-write-it-to-remember-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/kathy-acker-4132_get_i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-w_1629071.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I write it to get it out of me. I don't write it to remember it.” — Kathy Acker",
                "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": "Kathy Acker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I write it to get it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-write-it-to-remember-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-write-it-to-get-it-out-of-me-i-don-t-write-it-to-remember-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
