--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very common for people to recommend…" description: "\"It's very common for people to recommend something to me because they're going on what I've already written, when, what really is the case, is that you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg" --- # It's very common for people to recommend something to me… ![“It's very common for people to recommend something to me because they're going on what I've already written, when, what really is the case, is that you want to write about something you haven't written about, in ways that you haven't done before.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg) > “It's very common for people to recommend something to me because they're going on what I've already written, when, what really is the case, is that you want to write about something you haven't written about, in ways that you haven't done before.” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer urges exploring new topics and approaches rather than repeating familiar material. **In simple terms:** Encourages writing about fresh subjects and methods. Key Takeaway Seek novel ideas and techniques. Themes creativity growth innovation Mood inspirational challenging Type advice creative When to use this quote - author workshops - creative retreats Key Concepts writing process artistic risk Questions to Reflect On - What new perspective could you explore? - How to balance novelty with coherence? A Different Perspective Risk of losing audience familiarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“She’s just this character to you. Both of us are! And we always have been. You don’t know what goes on in our heads.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/she-s-just-this-character-to-you-both-of-us-are-and-we-always-have/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [I've also never written anything really in LA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/i-ve-also-never-written-anything-really-in-la/) [Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/) > [A lot of times, a bunch of songs have to be written to get to the next really good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/a-lot-of-times-a-bunch-of-songs-have-to-be-written-to-get-to-the-next/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [If you have written really well, people will swear that it happened to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/if-you-have-written-really-well-people-will-swear-that-it-happened-to/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“I do not know whether many people realize how much more than is ever written there really is in a story — how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/i-do-not-know-whether-many-people-realize-how-much-more-than-is-ever-2/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [Even when something's funny, it has to be well-written, too. So we are really aware of the craft part of pop music. We really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/even-when-something-s-funny-it-has-to-be-well-written-too-so-we-are/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [“I do not know whether many people realize how much more than is ever written there really is in a story— how many parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/i-do-not-know-whether-many-people-realize-how-much-more-than-is-ever/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [When I write, I enjoy myself so much that what is being written really needs no reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/when-i-write-i-enjoy-myself-so-much-that-what-is-being-written-really/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) > [I don't think anything I've written has been done in under six or eight drafts. Usually it takes me a few years to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/i-don-t-think-anything-i-ve-written-has-been-done-in-under-six-or/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [I write for film or, in this case, television when I haven't got a play cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-write-for-film-or-in-this-case-television-when-i-haven-t-got-a-play/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I still recommend reading travel guides as an insight to a traveller's perspective on fantasy worlds. Nearly all characters end up travelling at some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-still-recommend-reading-travel-guides-as-an-insight-to-a-traveller/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I've just been away for a week, and I dropped my BlackBerry in the sea while I was messing around with the kids, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-ve-just-been-away-for-a-week-and-i-dropped-my-blackberry-in-the-sea/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [I would not recommend a teen getting into modeling if they're not solid when it comes to their grades and school. That comes first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-would-not-recommend-a-teen-getting-into-modeling-if-they-re-not/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [I'm not just saying this because I'm in the movie, but I really would recommend 'Secretariat.' It's fun, inspiring, and it's a great movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-connolly/i-m-not-just-saying-this-because-i-m-in-the-movie-but-i-really-would/) [Kevin Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-connolly/) > [“I recommend reading #FourBloodMoons by @PastorJohnHagee // @worthypub” // #BloodMoons”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/i-recommend-reading-fourbloodmoons-by-pastorjohnhagee-worthypub/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) ## More by Tom Stoppard > [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/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [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/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's very common for people to recommend something to me because they're going on what I've already written, when, what really is the case, is that you want to write about something you haven't written about, in ways that you haven't done before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Stoppard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend-something-to-me-because-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend-something-to-me-because-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/tom-stoppard-437_about_it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend_2291168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's very common for people to recommend something to me because they're going on what I've already written…” — Tom Stoppard", "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": "Tom Stoppard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's very common for people to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend-something-to-me-because-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-very-common-for-people-to-recommend-something-to-me-because-they/#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 } } ] } ```