--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had neither expert aid nor advice. I…" description: "\"I had neither expert aid nor advice. I studied no courses in writing; until a year or so ago, I never read a book by anybody advising writers how to wr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/robert-e-howard-3742_advice_i-had-neither-expert-aid-nor-advice-i-st_1980713.jpg" --- # I had neither expert aid nor advice. I studied no courses… ![“I had neither expert aid nor advice. I studied no courses in writing; until a year or so ago, I never read a book by anybody advising writers how to write.” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/robert-e-howard-3742_advice_i-had-neither-expert-aid-nor-advice-i-st_1980713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/robert-e-howard-3742_advice_i-had-neither-expert-aid-nor-advice-i-st_1980713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/robert-e-howard-3742_advice_i-had-neither-expert-aid-nor-advice-i-st_1980713.jpg) > “I had neither expert aid nor advice. I studied no courses in writing; until a year or so ago, I never read a book by anybody advising writers how to write.” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned writing through self‑study without formal instruction or mentors. **In simple terms:** Self‑taught writing without formal help. Key Takeaway Embrace independent learning. Themes self‑education writing creativity Mood determined reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - starting a writing practice - overcoming writer’s block - building a portfolio - seeking feedback Key Concepts autodidacticism skill development Questions to Reflect On - How can you create your own learning roadmap? - What resources can replace a mentor? A Different Perspective Lack of guidance may slow progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-studied-3380556/) [Advising Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advising-writers-3380554/) [Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aids/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Courses Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses-writing-3380555/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Read A Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-a-book/) [Writers Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-write-254639/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-year-2176365/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“If you write a half hour a day it makes a lot of writing year by year. To be sure all day and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-currey/if-you-write-a-half-hour-a-day-it-makes-a-lot-of-writing-year-by-year-2/) [Mason Currey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-currey/) > [If you write a half hour a day it makes a lot of writing year by year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/if-you-write-a-half-hour-a-day-it-makes-a-lot-of-writing-year-by-year/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I don't mean that to be egotistical, but I'm not writing fluff. I'm not writing for 8-year-olds. I'm a woman and I'm a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-brooks/i-don-t-mean-that-to-be-egotistical-but-i-m-not-writing-fluff-i-m-not/) [Meredith Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-brooks/) > [I’m not a fan of ‘write what you know.’ If you don’t know, find out. 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Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. 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Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. 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