--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say you cant teach writing, but I…" description: "\"People say you cant teach writing, but I think thats nonsense.\" — Tracy Kidder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/tracy-kidder-8859_cant_people-say-you-cant-teach-writing-but-i_869243.jpg" --- # People say you cant teach writing, but I think thats… ![“People say you cant teach writing, but I think thats nonsense.” quote by Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/tracy-kidder-8859_cant_people-say-you-cant-teach-writing-but-i_869243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/tracy-kidder-8859_cant_people-say-you-cant-teach-writing-but-i_869243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/tracy-kidder-8859_cant_people-say-you-cant-teach-writing-but-i_869243.jpg) > “People say you cant teach writing, but I think thats nonsense.” [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching writing is possible; the belief that it cannot be taught is mistaken. **In simple terms:** Writing can be taught, contrary to belief. Key Takeaway Teach writing through practice and feedback. Themes education writing skill development learning Mood encouraging practical Type educational motivational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - workshop facilitation - online courses - self‑study Key Concepts pedagogy communication creativity Questions to Reflect On - What methods help you learn to write? - How can you foster a growth mindset in writing? A Different Perspective Some learners may resist structured instruction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cant/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Say Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-teach-511486/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-writing-934606/) [Thats Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thats-nonsense-934607/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-think/) ## Related quotes > [People say you can't teach writing, but I think that's nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/people-say-you-can-t-teach-writing-but-i-think-that-s-nonsense/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“They say you should always teach a person’s name first. 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If they're in a group, nobody can see what they're writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/it-s-much-easier-to-teach-writing-because-people-are-less-shy-about/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I don't know much about creative writing programs. But they're not telling the truth if they don't teach, one, that writing is hard work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-don-t-know-much-about-creative-writing-programs-but-they-re-not/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [When I teach writing, I always tell my students you should assume that the audience you're writing for is smarter than you. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/when-i-teach-writing-i-always-tell-my-students-you-should-assume-that/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I would love to see writing taught online because at university like Yale, there are not enough teachers who are able to teach writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/i-would-love-to-see-writing-taught-online-because-at-university-like/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [I teach writing courses and first of all, I teach my students what prosody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/i-teach-writing-courses-and-first-of-all-i-teach-my-students-what/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) ## More by Tracy Kidder > [“He sniffed, and said as others had before him and others no doubt would again, "I have learned never to say, 'Never again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/he-sniffed-and-said-as-others-had-before-him-and-others-no-doubt/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Don't worry about being worried. You're heading out on an adventure and you can always change your mind along the way and try something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/don-t-worry-about-being-worried-you-re-heading-out-on-an-adventure/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I do believe that enduring geological features are important, though I don't think I can be clear about exactly why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-that-enduring-geological-features-are-important-though-i/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“In the process Paul laid out a comprehensive theory of poverty, of a world designed by the elites of all nations to serve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/in-the-process-paul-laid-out-a-comprehensive-theory-of-poverty-of-a/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Farmer liked to tell his Harvard students that to be a good clinician you must never let a patient know that you have problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/farmer-liked-to-tell-his-harvard-students-that-to-be-a-good-clinician/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“One shouldn't expect anyone to be complete at any given moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/one-shouldn-t-expect-anyone-to-be-complete-at-any-given-moment/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I want my prose to be as clear as a pane of glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-want-my-prose-to-be-as-clear-as-a-pane-of-glass/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [What I like about non-fiction is that it covers such a huge territory. 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