--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Proponents of established norms often…" description: "\"“Proponents of established norms often push rules like 'Write what you know' on new writers. In truth, everything we write is about us, whether we real..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg" --- # Proponents of established norms often push rules like… ![“Proponents of established norms often push rules like 'Write what you know' on new writers. In truth, everything we write is about us, whether we realise it or not. The texts and subtexts we create are layered with our worldview, imagination, passions, sense of humour, blind spots, biases, and…” quote by Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg) > ““Proponents of established norms often push rules like 'Write what you know' on new writers. In truth, everything we write is about us, whether we realise it or not. The texts and subtexts we create are layered with our worldview, imagination, passions, sense of humour, blind spots, biases, and fears. In my novel 'The Vorbing,' the opening vampire attack was something I only understood years later as my way of dealing with PTSD from a real violent incident, proving how our personal experiences shape our writing in ways we might not even notice.”” [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is inevitably personal; even advice like “write what you know” masks deeper self‑reflection and hidden biases. **In simple terms:** All writing reflects the author’s inner world. Key Takeaway Recognize and explore your own experiences in your work. Themes writing self‑awareness bias creative process Mood introspective thoughtful analytical Type reflective insightful motivational When to use this quote - novel drafting - creative workshops - therapy sessions - editorial feedback Key Concepts psychology subjectivity trauma storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do your hidden biases shape your stories? - What can you do to uncover blind spots? A Different Perspective Personal experience may limit perspective if not examined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Breaking rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-rules/) [Creative inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-inspiration/) [Creative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) [Overcoming fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-fear/) [Sense of humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humour/) [Subconscious mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious-mind/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-advice/) ## Related quotes > [When we tell stories about things that are important - love, fear, beauty - we change the way people think about the world. Writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/when-we-tell-stories-about-things-that-are-important-love-fear-beauty/) [Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/) > [“What a joke it is to read or hear—as I have read or heard more times than I can count—that writers ‘see more clearly’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-sorrentino/what-a-joke-it-is-to-read-or-hear-as-i-have-read-or-heard-more-times/) [Gilbert Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-sorrentino/) > [There is a rule for fantasy writers: The more truth you mix in with a lie, the stronger it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-duane/there-is-a-rule-for-fantasy-writers-the-more-truth-you-mix-in-with-a/) [Diane Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-duane/) > [To me, the creative inspiration is endless and coming in all sorts of different directions at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kreesha-turner/to-me-the-creative-inspiration-is-endless-and-coming-in-all-sorts-of/) [Kreesha Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kreesha-turner/) > [Love is the creative fire, the inspiration that keeps the torch of progress aflame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/love-is-the-creative-fire-the-inspiration-that-keeps-the-torch-of/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [There's music every day. I don't think I could write without it. Not that I listen while I'm writing. It's more hearing a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/there-s-music-every-day-i-don-t-think-i-could-write-without-it-not/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Stop waiting for creative inspiration. Start creating and inspire yourself along the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/stop-waiting-for-creative-inspiration-start-creating-and-inspire/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Silence is the great teacher and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/silence-is-the-great-teacher-and-to-learn-its-lessons-you-must-pay/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“When it comes to creative inspiration, job titles and hierarchy are meaningless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/when-it-comes-to-creative-inspiration-job-titles-and-hierarchy-are/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [That's always the most productive research - research into tone, into voice. Facts are nice, too, but facts are more raw material than creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/that-s-always-the-most-productive-research-research-into-tone-into/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [My inner guidance is there for me to call on anytime I need or want extra clarity, wisdom, knowledge, support, creative inspiration, love, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/my-inner-guidance-is-there-for-me-to-call-on-anytime-i-need-or-want/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [Depression is the flip side of creative inspiration but it can be useful. It's telling you to stop for a little bit. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-tan/depression-is-the-flip-side-of-creative-inspiration-but-it-can-be/) [Shaun Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-tan/) > [Being surrounded by artistic and musical beauty soothes the soul, bringing both quiet calm and creative inspiration. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-d-dosick/being-surrounded-by-artistic-and-musical-beauty-soothes-the-soul/) [Wayne D. Dosick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-d-dosick/) > [“We have a moment of pure creative inspiration — writing or drawing or sculpting — and it feels exhilarating in the moment. And then……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-martin/we-have-a-moment-of-pure-creative-inspiration-writing-or-drawing-or/) Courtney Martin > [“Flow isn’t about doing a particular thing as much as it is about losing ourselves in it. The rhythm of snow shoveling (yes, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-sisson/flow-isn-t-about-doing-a-particular-thing-as-much-as-it-is-about/) [Mark Sisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-sisson/) ## More by Stewart Stafford > [“If an artist can occupy the void of artistry while simultaneously parodying its iconography, they can have their metaphorical cake and cannibalise its crumbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/if-an-artist-can-occupy-the-void-of-artistry-while-simultaneously/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Leaches Ten Tall by Stewart Stafford Don't play this game with me, Predatory whelk of tide pools, Taint me as Rigoletto to a bawd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/leaches-ten-tall-by-stewart-stafford-don-t-play-this-game-with-me/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Being an immigrant is not a status but a state of mind. It doesn’t stop when you “assimilate” or “integrate” or when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/being-an-immigrant-is-not-a-status-but-a-state-of-mind-it-doesn-t/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Pathological liars lie most often to themselves about their ability to fool others. They think they're geniuses at it when most people see through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/pathological-liars-lie-most-often-to-themselves-about-their-ability/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“I've been 21 for many years now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/i-ve-been-21-for-many-years-now/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“For even in the pit of darkness, the beacon of humanity can always shine through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/for-even-in-the-pit-of-darkness-the-beacon-of-humanity-can-always/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Season's Greetings by Stewart Stafford Season's Greetings To those we are needing, While I am leading The Festive charge. Christmas love is fleeting, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/season-s-greetings-by-stewart-stafford-season-s-greetings-to-those-we/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“If anyone ever reported my death incorrectly, I'd confirm it was true on Twitter and that I was tweeting through a Ouija board.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/if-anyone-ever-reported-my-death-incorrectly-i-d-confirm-it-was-true/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Fortunately, most of our vital physiological functions are involuntary, as some amongst us would forget them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/fortunately-most-of-our-vital-physiological-functions-are-involuntary/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Life is an endless trial and death its certain verdict, but there are many recesses to enjoy before then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/life-is-an-endless-trial-and-death-its-certain-verdict-but-there-are/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“The problem with 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,' is that once the common enemy is gone, you usually end up fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/the-problem-with-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-is-that-once-the/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“The bravest thing David Bowie ever did was to go on stage after Queen at Live Aid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/the-bravest-thing-david-bowie-ever-did-was-to-go-on-stage-after-queen/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“In icy footsteps do actors tread in moonlight's chill, In crystalline depth, The players set, To entertain and do no ill. © Stewart Stafford,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/in-icy-footsteps-do-actors-tread-in-moonlight-s-chill-in-crystalline/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“Death is not the villain of the piece. It is the next phase of life in unfamiliar clothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/death-is-not-the-villain-of-the-piece-it-is-the-next-phase-of-life-in/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“An internet minute is the apparent nanosecond it takes for a breaking news story to be dubbed fake and/or a conspiracy on social media.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/an-internet-minute-is-the-apparent-nanosecond-it-takes-for-a-breaking/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) [Explore all 139 Stewart Stafford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [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/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Proponents of established norms often push rules like 'Write what you know' on new writers. In truth, everything we write is about us, whether we realise it or not. The texts and subtexts we create are layered with our worldview, imagination, passions, sense of humour, blind spots, biases, and fears. In my novel 'The Vorbing,' the opening vampire attack was something I only understood years later as my way of dealing with PTSD from a real violent incident, proving how our personal experiences shape our writing in ways we might not even notice.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stewart Stafford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/proponents-of-established-norms-often-push-rules-like-write-what-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/proponents-of-established-norms-often-push-rules-like-write-what-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91f/stewart-stafford-3104_books_proponents-of-established-norms-often-pu_777665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Proponents of established norms often push rules like 'Write what you know' on new writers. In truth…” — Stewart Stafford", "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": "Stewart Stafford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Proponents of established norms often push...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/proponents-of-established-norms-often-push-rules-like-write-what-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/proponents-of-established-norms-often-push-rules-like-write-what-you/#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 } } ] } ```