--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not as if I'm trying to write…" description: "\"It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to which one might find an answer at the back of the book or anything like that.\" — Paul Muldoon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg" --- # It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to… ![“It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to which one might find an answer at the back of the book or anything like that.” quote by Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg) > “It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to which one might find an answer at the back of the book or anything like that.” [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses the idea of writing overly simplistic, answer‑key style puzzles. **In simple terms:** Reject easy, formulaic writing. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity and ambiguity. Themes creativity literature challenge Mood reflective intellectual Type literary critical When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative writing classes - literary criticism Key Concepts postmodernism puzzle metaphor Questions to Reflect On - Do you value mystery over clarity? - How does ambiguity affect engagement? A Different Perspective May alienate readers seeking straightforward answers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Crossword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossword/) [Crosswords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosswords/) [Puzzles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzles/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Why do people do crossword puzzles? There's no reward for completing one, but some people just like the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/why-do-people-do-crossword-puzzles-there-s-no-reward-for-completing/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [I love words. Sudoku I don't get into, I'm not into numbers that much, and there are people who are hooked on that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-love-words-sudoku-i-don-t-get-into-i-m-not-into-numbers-that-much/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Some people do crossword puzzles. I do books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/some-people-do-crossword-puzzles-i-do-books/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Crossword puzzles are a big thing in the MLS community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/crossword-puzzles-are-a-big-thing-in-the-mls-community/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [“You’re sure good at that. I never have been able to work crossword puzzles.” “I’m good at it, Wanda, because my mind is brimming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-jance/you-re-sure-good-at-that-i-never-have-been-able-to-work-crossword/) [J.A. Jance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-jance/) > [“Sorry, it's all those crossword puzzles I do. I love words...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-cassidy/sorry-it-s-all-those-crossword-puzzles-i-do-i-love-words/) [Dakota Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-cassidy/) > [I'm patient with crossword puzzles and the most impatient golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-hull/i-m-patient-with-crossword-puzzles-and-the-most-impatient-golfer/) [Brett Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-hull/) > [I enjoy walking my dog and completing crossword puzzles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/i-enjoy-walking-my-dog-and-completing-crossword-puzzles/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [My activities tend to revolve around crossword puzzles, reading and playing piano and games with my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/my-activities-tend-to-revolve-around-crossword-puzzles-reading-and/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [I don't want to retire. I'm not that good at crossword puzzles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-don-t-want-to-retire-i-m-not-that-good-at-crossword-puzzles/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Good innovators like to solve business crossword puzzles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/good-innovators-like-to-solve-business-crossword-puzzles/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [I like doing the crossword puzzle in the New York Times, not watching E! on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-like-doing-the-crossword-puzzle-in-the-new-york-times-not-watching/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [There's this moment sometimes, when you do a crossword puzzle and you have the one really long word. And once you get that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/there-s-this-moment-sometimes-when-you-do-a-crossword-puzzle-and-you/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [Confucius does his crossword with a pen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/confucius-does-his-crossword-with-a-pen/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I think that, at the end of the day, I'm drawn to a certain level of ambiguous storytelling that requires hard thought and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-think-that-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-m-drawn-to-a-certain-level-of/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) ## More by Paul Muldoon > [Of course, you can't legislate for how people are going to read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/of-course-you-can-t-legislate-for-how-people-are-going-to-read/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [Living at that pitch, on that edge, is something which many poets engage in to some extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/living-at-that-pitch-on-that-edge-is-something-which-many-poets/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [If the poem has no obvious destination, there's a chance that we'll be all setting off on an interesting ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/if-the-poem-has-no-obvious-destination-there-s-a-chance-that-we-ll-be/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [Form is a straitjacket in the way that a straitjacket was a straitjacket for Houdini,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/form-is-a-straitjacket-in-the-way-that-a-straitjacket-was-a/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [The other side of it is that, despite all that, people reach out to poetry at the key moments in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/the-other-side-of-it-is-that-despite-all-that-people-reach-out-to/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [One will never again look at a birch tree, after the Robert Frost poem, in exactly the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/one-will-never-again-look-at-a-birch-tree-after-the-robert-frost-poem/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [That's one of the great things about poetry; one realises that one does one's little turn - that you're just part of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/that-s-one-of-the-great-things-about-poetry-one-realises-that-one/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [We simply have not kept in touch with poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/we-simply-have-not-kept-in-touch-with-poetry/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [Words want to find chimes with each other, things want to connect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/words-want-to-find-chimes-with-each-other-things-want-to-connect/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [There's very little of the intentional about the business of writing poetry, as least as far as I can see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/there-s-very-little-of-the-intentional-about-the-business-of-writing/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [I suppose for whatever reason I actively welcome being put down, something which perhaps goes back to my upbringing - that accusation of not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/i-suppose-for-whatever-reason-i-actively-welcome-being-put-down/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [I live in New Jersey now, which always gets a bad rap here and there, but I must say, I enjoy living here too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/i-live-in-new-jersey-now-which-always-gets-a-bad-rap-here-and-there/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [It seems to me the structure of the Quartets is too imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/it-seems-to-me-the-structure-of-the-quartets-is-too-imposed/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [Confusion is what we're living with - not being able to make sense of what's happening to us from day to day. Whereas making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/confusion-is-what-we-re-living-with-not-being-able-to-make-sense-of/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [What I try to do is to go into a poem - and one writes them, of course, poem by poem - to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-go-into-a-poem-and-one-writes-them-of-course/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) [Explore all 30 Paul Muldoon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to which one might find an answer at the back of the book or anything like that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Muldoon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-crossword-puzzles-to-which-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-crossword-puzzles-to-which-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/paul-muldoon-20767_answers_it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-cross_234145.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not as if I'm trying to write crossword puzzles to which one might find an answer at the back of the…” — Paul Muldoon", "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": "Paul Muldoon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not as if I'm trying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-crossword-puzzles-to-which-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/it-s-not-as-if-i-m-trying-to-write-crossword-puzzles-to-which-one/#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 } } ] } ```