--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The number-one rule of writing is write…" description: "\"The number-one rule of writing is write what you know--or something like that. So I wrote about my experiences.\" — Nikki Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/nikki-reed-8938_write_the-number-one-rule-of-writing-is-write_1369682.png" --- # The number-one rule of writing is write what you know--or… ![“The number-one rule of writing is write what you know--or something like that. So I wrote about my experiences.” quote by Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/nikki-reed-8938_write_the-number-one-rule-of-writing-is-write_1369682.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/nikki-reed-8938_write_the-number-one-rule-of-writing-is-write_1369682.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/nikki-reed-8938_write_the-number-one-rule-of-writing-is-write_1369682.png) > “The number-one rule of writing is write what you know--or something like that. So I wrote about my experiences.” [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing should stem from personal experience, providing authenticity and relatability. **In simple terms:** Write from lived experience. Key Takeaway Share your story. Themes authenticity experience writing Mood inspirational practical Type creative educational When to use this quote - memoir - fiction - blogging Key Concepts personal narrative creative process Questions to Reflect On - How to blend fact with fiction? - When is personal detail too private? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance may limit imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-know/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-write/) [Wrote Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-experiences-4712748/) ## Related quotes > [I only wrote one diary to be read by others. I went on an exchange to France, working as an au pair, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/i-only-wrote-one-diary-to-be-read-by-others-i-went-on-an-exchange-to/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [Do not copy my style! The first rule of writing is write about what you know, not what you think you know. So, think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/do-not-copy-my-style-the-first-rule-of-writing-is-write-about-what/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [Write about what you know, that's what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/write-about-what-you-know-that-s-what-i-say/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [Don't try to write what other people are writing - write what is true to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/don-t-try-to-write-what-other-people-are-writing-write-what-is-true/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There's a great freedom in writing by yourself. You can write anything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/there-s-a-great-freedom-in-writing-by-yourself-you-can-write-anything/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [“Write it. Just write it. Write it on receipts in the car while you wait for your kid to finish their piano lessons, scribble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melodie-ramone/write-it-just-write-it-write-it-on-receipts-in-the-car-while-you-wait/) [Melodie Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melodie-ramone/) > [“As someone else once said, "Write what you know". Well I know very little, so I write, and illustrate, Nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-h-tubb/as-someone-else-once-said-write-what-you-know-well-i-know-very-little/) [Paul H Tubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-h-tubb/) > [You can only really write about what you know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/you-can-only-really-write-about-what-you-know-about/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [Nowadays it seems as though people sit down to write what they know is going to be a trilogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/nowadays-it-seems-as-though-people-sit-down-to-write-what-they-know/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I'm trying to write something in which you know that it's all about sex but you never see any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-trying-to-write-something-in-which-you-know-that-it-s-all-about/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [I write about what I know, what I live, what I observe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-write-about-what-i-know-what-i-live-what-i-observe/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [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/) > [“When I write to please everybody, it falls flat. When I write what I know, fearlessly, It won't please everybody, but it doesn't fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-p-chavez/when-i-write-to-please-everybody-it-falls-flat-when-i-write-what-i/) [Ronald P. Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-p-chavez/) > [Some writing courses will advise you to write what you know. I've always thought this is very odd advice ... because it means, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/some-writing-courses-will-advise-you-to-write-what-you-know-i-ve/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [It’s not just the adage ‘write what you know,’ it’s about gathering up all of the knowledge and experience you’ve collected up to now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/it-s-not-just-the-adage-write-what-you-know-it-s-about-gathering-up/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) ## More by Nikki Reed > [Reusing and recycling our materials is the most important thing we can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/reusing-and-recycling-our-materials-is-the-most-important-thing-we/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [I have nobody. I have surrounded myself with people who are fake just because I need to talk to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/i-have-nobody-i-have-surrounded-myself-with-people-who-are-fake-just/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [I definitely think that females have a harder time. It's a lot harder to be a girl because you're always in your head. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/i-definitely-think-that-females-have-a-harder-time-it-s-a-lot-harder/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Some of the greatest moments in life come from moments that are incomplete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/some-of-the-greatest-moments-in-life-come-from-moments-that-are/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Im going to school actually while were shooting. Im talking five, but I was just told that two are unavailable so Im waiting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/im-going-to-school-actually-while-were-shooting-im-talking-five-but-i/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Right now I'm in 'Twilight' and I go around to signings and there are people screaming and crying, and it's so surreal. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/right-now-i-m-in-twilight-and-i-go-around-to-signings-and-there-are/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [I have friends come over and we read plays out loud and I make paintings and I just do things all the time just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/i-have-friends-come-over-and-we-read-plays-out-loud-and-i-make/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [In middle school, we are all so damn insecure. It was the worst time for me, really destructive, like slapping myself across the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/in-middle-school-we-are-all-so-damn-insecure-it-was-the-worst-time/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [The degradation of our environment is undeniably a direct result of our lack of regard, lack of accountability, and lack of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/the-degradation-of-our-environment-is-undeniably-a-direct-result-of/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Having people wait outside of my house sort of gives me a panic attack. I'm a believer in the concept that people should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/having-people-wait-outside-of-my-house-sort-of-gives-me-a-panic/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Follow your heart and don't question it, no matter where it tells you to go It will open up a world of experiences you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/follow-your-heart-and-don-t-question-it-no-matter-where-it-tells-you/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [I don't drink, and karaoke is something you should only do drunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/i-don-t-drink-and-karaoke-is-something-you-should-only-do-drunk/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [The frenzy of the little-girl culture is something very unique, and I can only say that because I was one. The obsession - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/the-frenzy-of-the-little-girl-culture-is-something-very-unique-and-i/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [Whenever you hear that Kevin Spacey is producing a project and he is going to be very in touch and work closely with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/whenever-you-hear-that-kevin-spacey-is-producing-a-project-and-he-is/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) > [I definitely think that females have a harder time. It's a lot harder to be a girl because you're always in your head. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-reed/i-definitely-think-that-females-have-a-harder-time-it-s-a-lot-harder-2/) [Nikki Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) [Explore all 76 Nikki Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-reed/) ## More Write 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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [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 might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [It's a shame that when you've actually lived some life and have something to write about, they're saying you're too old to come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/it-s-a-shame-that-when-you-ve-actually-lived-some-life-and-have/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. Although sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/everything-i-write-is-highly-personal-but-put-in-such-a-way-that-it-s/) [Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/) > [You make me want to write bad poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-make-me-want-to-write-bad-poetry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I write my story in my books, It show that your name filled in my books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-write-my-story-in-my-books-it-show-that-your-name-filled-in-my-books/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The midwest is great because it hasn't been entirely claimed. There's more room to write about it; it's harder to write about New York,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/the-midwest-is-great-because-it-hasn-t-been-entirely-claimed-there-s/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) [Browse all 9,848 Write quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The number-one rule of writing is write what you know--or something like that. 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