--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess I have an aversion to writing…" description: "\"I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. The everyday has always seemed most important to me in writing, probably bec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/stephen-mccauley-22674_believe_i-guess-i-have-an-aversion-to-writing-ab_775036.jpg" --- # I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and… ![“I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. The everyday has always seemed most important to me in writing, probably because I believe people reveal themselves in how they deal with small details.” quote by Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/stephen-mccauley-22674_believe_i-guess-i-have-an-aversion-to-writing-ab_775036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/stephen-mccauley-22674_believe_i-guess-i-have-an-aversion-to-writing-ab_775036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/stephen-mccauley-22674_believe_i-guess-i-have-an-aversion-to-writing-ab_775036.jpg) > “I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. The everyday has always seemed most important to me in writing, probably because I believe people reveal themselves in how they deal with small details.” [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author values everyday moments over grand narratives, believing small details reveal true character. **In simple terms:** Focus on daily life to understand people. Key Takeaway Pay attention to small details in life. Themes writing observation human nature detail storytelling Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - creative writing - personal reflection - teaching Key Concepts character development realism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What small detail has defined a relationship for you? - How can everyday observations enrich storytelling? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on minutiae may overlook larger context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Small details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-details/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was assigned to the Waffen-SS but was never involved in any crime. 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It was all about the details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-grey/i-learned-no-detail-was-too-small-it-was-all-about-the-details/) [Brad Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-grey/) > [It makes you observe small details; even if it's just a kid playing with his dad, if you watch them closely, you can use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogo-morgado/it-makes-you-observe-small-details-even-if-it-s-just-a-kid-playing/) [Diogo Morgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogo-morgado/) > [Cut like crazy. Less is more. I've often read manuscripts - including my own - where I've got to the beginning of, say, chapter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/cut-like-crazy-less-is-more-i-ve-often-read-manuscripts-including-my/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [In futsal, you see whether a player is really talented. You notice the small details in quality, class and tactical understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavi/in-futsal-you-see-whether-a-player-is-really-talented-you-notice-the/) [Xavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavi/) > [I love 'Anna Karenina.' It's in the top five books on my list. Tolstoy is unsurpassed in combining the grand with the trivial, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-minot/i-love-anna-karenina-it-s-in-the-top-five-books-on-my-list-tolstoy-is/) [Susan Minot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-minot/) > [I find significance in all kinds of small details when I run; I'm hyper aware of my surroundings, the sensations in my body, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/i-find-significance-in-all-kinds-of-small-details-when-i-run-i-m/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [The beauty of life is in small details, not in big events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/the-beauty-of-life-is-in-small-details-not-in-big-events/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I use a little brush only for really small details. Over the years, I've started to use a much larger brush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-browne/i-use-a-little-brush-only-for-really-small-details-over-the-years-i/) [Anthony Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-browne/) > [As a defender, it's really important to communicate with the players in front of you and next to you. It makes it easier for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/as-a-defender-it-s-really-important-to-communicate-with-the-players/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [The only good writing is intuitive writing. It would be a big bore if you knew where it was going. It has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-only-good-writing-is-intuitive-writing-it-would-be-a-big-bore-if/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Living composers writing for big band are very few and far between. There are not a lot of them, and I have a talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bley/living-composers-writing-for-big-band-are-very-few-and-far-between/) [Carla Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bley/) > [When I left the theatre and turned to writing, one of the big pulls was that, unlike the theatre, I didn't have to wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dean/when-i-left-the-theatre-and-turned-to-writing-one-of-the-big-pulls/) [Debra Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dean/) ## More by Stephen McCauley > [I wrote two novels about a yoga studio in Los Angeles published by Penguin under the pen name Rain Mitchell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/i-wrote-two-novels-about-a-yoga-studio-in-los-angeles-published-by/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [If you aren't a reader and you have a kid with his face buried in books, it can be a bit threatening. My parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/if-you-aren-t-a-reader-and-you-have-a-kid-with-his-face-buried-in/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [“From what I can tell, the chief distinguishing factor between children and adults is that children hear everything while appearing not to and adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/from-what-i-can-tell-the-chief-distinguishing-factor-between-children/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [I'm not a particularly disciplined person in terms of my work habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/i-m-not-a-particularly-disciplined-person-in-terms-of-my-work-habits/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [It's hard to describe the work of the British-born Australian writer Elizabeth Jolley without somewhat misrepresenting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/it-s-hard-to-describe-the-work-of-the-british-born-australian-writer/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [I write in public libraries and sometimes coffee shops. 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His songs, with their witty lyrics and debonair style, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/ultimately-cole-porter-s-music-might-say-more-about-his-life-than-any/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [Jill Eisenstadt's comic second novel, 'Kiss Out,' is a work of such extravagant wackiness, eccentricity, and exuberance that any attempt to squeeze it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/jill-eisenstadt-s-comic-second-novel-kiss-out-is-a-work-of-such/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [One of my pleasures is observing people's behavior and pointing out the inconsistencies that we all sort of have at the center of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/one-of-my-pleasures-is-observing-people-s-behavior-and-pointing-out/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [When you're laughing aloud at David Sedaris' every sentence, it's easy to miss the more serious side of what he's up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/when-you-re-laughing-aloud-at-david-sedaris-every-sentence-it-s-easy/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [When you're sitting in the theater watching your own work be performed, you get to see people's reactions immediately. Unlike with a book, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/when-you-re-sitting-in-the-theater-watching-your-own-work-be/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [The book that made me cry hardest was 'Stoner,' by John Williams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/the-book-that-made-me-cry-hardest-was-stoner-by-john-williams/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [The experience of writing under a pseudonym was tremendously liberating; I could write what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/the-experience-of-writing-under-a-pseudonym-was-tremendously/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [I keep trying to write happy endings, but my books always end on more of a bittersweet note of ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/i-keep-trying-to-write-happy-endings-but-my-books-always-end-on-more/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [It's hard to imagine anyone accusing Lionel Shriver of being a timid writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/it-s-hard-to-imagine-anyone-accusing-lionel-shriver-of-being-a-timid/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) [Explore all 27 Stephen McCauley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess I have an aversion to writing about big events and heroic actions. 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