--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been very afraid of writing about…" description: "\"I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures and countries. I've been worried about getting the research wrong. I ask a lot of questions. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png" --- # I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures… ![“I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures and countries. I've been worried about getting the research wrong. I ask a lot of questions. I try to visit the area. If I'm not able to do that, I search out people from that country who live elsewhere and ask questions.” quote by Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png) > “I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures and countries. I've been worried about getting the research wrong. I ask a lot of questions. I try to visit the area. If I'm not able to do that, I search out people from that country who live elsewhere and ask questions.” [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approaches cross‑cultural writing with humility: ask questions, seek direct experience, consult diaspora voices to avoid misrepresentation. **In simple terms:** Research responsibly with humility. Key Takeaway Engage, verify, respect cultures. Themes research humility cross‑cultural authenticity Mood thoughtful cautious Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - academic writing - journalism - creative nonfiction Key Concepts anthropology ethics communication Questions to Reflect On - What steps you take when direct access is impossible? - How do you verify information from diaspora sources? A Different Perspective Time and access constraints limit depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Other cultures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-cultures/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Ask questions while you read—questions that you yourself must try to answer in the course of reading.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/ask-questions-while-you-read-questions-that-you-yourself-must-try-to/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [On red carpets, as people throw questions at you, you try and answer as quickly as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/on-red-carpets-as-people-throw-questions-at-you-you-try-and-answer-as/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [One thing I tend to do is ask actors tons and tons of questions to try to get at what they're thinking but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/one-thing-i-tend-to-do-is-ask-actors-tons-and-tons-of-questions-to/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [I'm inspired by questions I have that I try to figure out the answers to through my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-m-inspired-by-questions-i-have-that-i-try-to-figure-out-the-answers/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I get asked enough questions, I try not to ask too many questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-get-asked-enough-questions-i-try-not-to-ask-too-many-questions/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [If you suspect that the doctor is going through a checklist of yes/no questions, try to get her to focus on you by adding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/if-you-suspect-that-the-doctor-is-going-through-a-checklist-of-yes-no/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [“CURIOSITY DEMANDS THAT WE ASK QUESTIONS, THAT WE TRY TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS MULTITUDE OF ASPECTS AS PERHAPS RESULTING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/curiosity-demands-that-we-ask-questions-that-we-try-to-put-things/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“I give up, sweetheart. Just answer the questions and try not to let the audience see how openly you despise them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-give-up-sweetheart-just-answer-the-questions-and-try-not-to-let-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because I've always been more afraid of writing than I have of doing anything visually such as directing or acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-o-connor/because-i-ve-always-been-more-afraid-of-writing-than-i-have-of-doing/) [Renee O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-o-connor/) > [I found that many gifted people are so afraid of writing a poor story that they cannot summon the nerve to write a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/i-found-that-many-gifted-people-are-so-afraid-of-writing-a-poor-story/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [I'm not afraid of writing about sensitive subjects, but I want to be careful how I do so and I know not all readers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-m-not-afraid-of-writing-about-sensitive-subjects-but-i-want-to-be/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“I used to be afraid about what people might say or think after reading what I had written. I am not afraid anymore, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/i-used-to-be-afraid-about-what-people-might-say-or-think-after/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Writing practice brings us back to the uniqueness of our own minds and an acceptance of it. We all have wild dreams, fantasies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/writing-practice-brings-us-back-to-the-uniqueness-of-our-own-minds/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they dont try or give up when their efforts dont lead to a masterpiece right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/many-writers-are-afraid-of-writing-something-bad-so-they-dont-try-or/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing something that is less than perfect, and that fear paralyzes us. I'm a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-think-we-re-so-often-as-writers-afraid-of-writing-something-that-is/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) ## More by Uwem Akpan > [For me, as I've said many times, the story is not research. The story is how the characters relate with each other and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/for-me-as-i-ve-said-many-times-the-story-is-not-research-the-story-is/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I think fiction allows us to sit for a while with people we would rather not meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-think-fiction-allows-us-to-sit-for-a-while-with-people-we-would/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I'd say my religious life has shaped my worldview; my writing, I'd say too, is an extension of the pulpit...it reaches folks who don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-d-say-my-religious-life-has-shaped-my-worldview-my-writing-i-d-say/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I always felt my writing could benefit from the attention of established writers. I knew my work could grow and be better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-always-felt-my-writing-could-benefit-from-the-attention-of/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I believe that Jesus was both priest and poet. Imagine those powerful parables! My experience as a priest tells me it's not possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-believe-that-jesus-was-both-priest-and-poet-imagine-those-powerful/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I'm happy if my book makes you want to kiss your family... if we can reconcile with each other no matter where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-m-happy-if-my-book-makes-you-want-to-kiss-your-family-if-we-can/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I don't believe in the art-for-art's-sake philosophy. With the raw material before me and the gifts within me, I did my best to celebrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-don-t-believe-in-the-art-for-art-s-sake-philosophy-with-the-raw/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [Maybe if we can find time to hug and cherish our families and the people around us, child suicide or college suicide wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/maybe-if-we-can-find-time-to-hug-and-cherish-our-families-and-the/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [After the phone call from The New Yorker, I walked more than a mile to church to thank God. But then I told God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/after-the-phone-call-from-the-new-yorker-i-walked-more-than-a-mile-to/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [I believe artists should be able to step into other people's situations, contexts and cultures and work from there. If artists don't have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-believe-artists-should-be-able-to-step-into-other-people-s/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [Though people are more important than money, I'm not convinced these large sums of money paid out to victims is the best. Listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/though-people-are-more-important-than-money-i-m-not-convinced-these/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) [Explore all 12 Uwem Akpan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures and countries. I've been worried about getting the research wrong. I ask a lot of questions. I try to visit the area. If I'm not able to do that, I search out people from that country who live elsewhere and ask questions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Uwem Akpan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about-other-cultures-and-countries/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about-other-cultures-and-countries/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/uwem-akpan-33428_able_i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about_2717875.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have been very afraid of writing about other cultures and countries. I've been worried about getting the…” — Uwem Akpan", "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": "Uwem Akpan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have been very afraid of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about-other-cultures-and-countries/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/i-have-been-very-afraid-of-writing-about-other-cultures-and-countries/#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 } } ] } ```