--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that writers often try too hard…" description: "\"I think that writers often try too hard in the name of expression, when often it's just a matter of reframing what's around you or republishing a preex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg" --- # I think that writers often try too hard in the name of… ![“I think that writers often try too hard in the name of expression, when often it's just a matter of reframing what's around you or republishing a preexisting text into a new environment that makes for a successful work.” quote by Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg) > “I think that writers often try too hard in the name of expression, when often it's just a matter of reframing what's around you or republishing a preexisting text into a new environment that makes for a successful work.” [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that creative work often involves recontextualizing existing material rather than inventing anew. **In simple terms:** Good art can be repurposed ideas. Key Takeaway Explore new contexts for existing works. Themes creativity recontextualization literature Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - curatorial projects - digital remixing Key Concepts postmodernism intertextuality Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance originality with inspiration? - When is borrowing ethically acceptable? A Different Perspective Risk of plagiarism if not properly credited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-expression-2572876/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [New environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-environment/) [Reframing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reframing/) [Reframing Republishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reframing-republishing-2572877/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-work/) [Think Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-writers/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writers Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-try-2051678/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Never try to copy other writers, and never try to have a formula. It has to come from your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-try-to-copy-other-writers-and-never-try-to-have-a-formula-it/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [We have to think bigger as writers. We have to try and change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/we-have-to-think-bigger-as-writers-we-have-to-try-and-change-the-world/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [It's important for all writers to try to figure out what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-seshadri/it-s-important-for-all-writers-to-try-to-figure-out-what-they-re-doing/) [Vijay Seshadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-seshadri/) > [I like to encourage young talented writers to try and help them get published and so forth, but that's all. That's the best I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/i-like-to-encourage-young-talented-writers-to-try-and-help-them-get/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [Everyone has his own particular talent, niche and interests. Which isn't to say that you shouldn't try new genres or styles or explore forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-alexander/everyone-has-his-own-particular-talent-niche-and-interests-which-isn/) [Kevin Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-alexander/) > [There are other writers who try for subtle and minimalists effects, but I don't travel in that tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/there-are-other-writers-who-try-for-subtle-and-minimalists-effects/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Bad writers are those who try to express their own feeble ideas in the language of good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/bad-writers-are-those-who-try-to-express-their-own-feeble-ideas-in/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [“Writers, we can't please everyone, nor should we try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-e-fisher/writers-we-can-t-please-everyone-nor-should-we-try/) [R.E. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-e-fisher/) > [Natural writers will often try to force themselves into a form - novel, story, screenplay, or poem - that is not necessarily the appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-olen-butler/natural-writers-will-often-try-to-force-themselves-into-a-form-novel/) [Robert Olen Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-olen-butler/) > [Touching on universality is an important part of effective storytelling, but the problem with cliches is that they are tired and dull. And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-syjuco/touching-on-universality-is-an-important-part-of-effective/) [Miguel Syjuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-syjuco/) > [Reframing an extract as a quotation constitutes a kind of coauthorship. With no change in wording, the cited passage becomes different. I imagine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-saul-morson/reframing-an-extract-as-a-quotation-constitutes-a-kind-of/) [Gary Saul Morson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-saul-morson/) > [“Think of the things you most dislike hearing in yourselves and then put a mirror up. That is what you will get from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iben-dissing-sandahl/think-of-the-things-you-most-dislike-hearing-in-yourselves-and-then/) [Iben Dissing Sandahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iben-dissing-sandahl/) > [If history shows anything, it is that there's no better way to justify relations founded on violence, to make such relations seem moral, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/if-history-shows-anything-it-is-that-there-s-no-better-way-to-justify/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [“make your worst day is the best day in your life,because surely there's something missing within our self without it,so we can be who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiz-triumph/make-your-worst-day-is-the-best-day-in-your-life-because-surely-there/) [Faiz Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiz-triumph/) > [Change is a pesky notion. For many folks, the biggest challenge in changing their eating habits isn't money, time, or education; it's reframing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/change-is-a-pesky-notion-for-many-folks-the-biggest-challenge-in/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) ## More by Kenneth Goldsmith > [It's Twitter's combination of simplicity and complexity that is astonishing in the same way that minimalist sculpture was inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/it-s-twitter-s-combination-of-simplicity-and-complexity-that-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/if-you-work-on-something-a-little-bit-every-day-you-end-up-with/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [My books are better thought about than read. They're insanely dull and unreadable.But they're wonderful to talk about and think about, to dip in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/my-books-are-better-thought-about-than-read-they-re-insanely-dull-and/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [I think that the richer and deeper documentation is on the web, the better off we all are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-the-richer-and-deeper-documentation-is-on-the-web-the/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [I've been trolled lots on Twitter. But I understand trolls for what they are and I don't let them get to me. They take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-ve-been-trolled-lots-on-twitter-but-i-understand-trolls-for-what/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [I don’t trust painting. At least not in New York. Most painting here relies on formula and repetition, whoring itself to the market. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-don-t-trust-painting-at-least-not-in-new-york-most-painting-here/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [An updated notion of genius would have to center around one's mastery of information and its dissemination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/an-updated-notion-of-genius-would-have-to-center-around-one-s-mastery/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [Art used to make me see the world differently, think about things in a new way - it rarely does that for me anymore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/art-used-to-make-me-see-the-world-differently-think-about-things-in-a/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [New York City is just one node on the global cultural scene now. Social media reflects the state of the world, so I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/new-york-city-is-just-one-node-on-the-global-cultural-scene-now/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [I think that the special thing about radio is the off switch. If something's not pleasing you, turn it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-the-special-thing-about-radio-is-the-off-switch-if/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [Everyone complains that we can no longer intake huge chunks of text. I find that a reason to celebrate. It's something that has deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/everyone-complains-that-we-can-no-longer-intake-huge-chunks-of-text-i/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [And I think this is the real epiphany: the ways in which culture is distributed become profoundly more intriguing as a cultural artifact itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/and-i-think-this-is-the-real-epiphany-the-ways-in-which-culture-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [Language is material to shape and mold, not only a transparent or invisible medium for communication, business contracts, or telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/language-is-material-to-shape-and-mold-not-only-a-transparent-or/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [Poets think in short lines. Unless you're Samuel Beckett, Twitter might be more difficult for novelists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/poets-think-in-short-lines-unless-you-re-samuel-beckett-twitter-might/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [I never wanted my books to be mistaken for poetry or fiction books; I wanted to write reference books. But instead of referring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-never-wanted-my-books-to-be-mistaken-for-poetry-or-fiction-books-i/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) [Explore all 43 Kenneth Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) ## More Environment quotes > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-paved-paradise-and-put-up-a-parkin-lot-with-a-pink-hotel-a/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Daily life is both the subject and environment of the work I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/daily-life-is-both-the-subject-and-environment-of-the-work-i-am-making/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) [Browse all 8,669 Environment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that writers often try too hard in the name of expression, when often it's just a matter of reframing what's around you or republishing a preexisting text into a new environment that makes for a successful work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenneth Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard-in-the-name-of-expression/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard-in-the-name-of-expression/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/kenneth-goldsmith-15276_environment_i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard_2680192.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that writers often try too hard in the name of expression, when often it's just a matter of…” — Kenneth Goldsmith", "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": "Kenneth Goldsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that writers often try...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard-in-the-name-of-expression/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/i-think-that-writers-often-try-too-hard-in-the-name-of-expression/#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 } } ] } ```