--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a lot more writing experience than…" description: "\"I have a lot more writing experience than Paul Dano has, so to be able to put that experience to use in exercising his vision was almost an acting exer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/zoe-kazan-3186_acting_i-have-a-lot-more-writing-experience-tha_1037405.jpg" --- # I have a lot more writing experience than Paul Dano has… ![“I have a lot more writing experience than Paul Dano has, so to be able to put that experience to use in exercising his vision was almost an acting exercise: How would I write if I were Paul? When I look at it, it feels so completely his, but it's also mine.” quote by Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/zoe-kazan-3186_acting_i-have-a-lot-more-writing-experience-tha_1037405.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/zoe-kazan-3186_acting_i-have-a-lot-more-writing-experience-tha_1037405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/zoe-kazan-3186_acting_i-have-a-lot-more-writing-experience-tha_1037405.jpg) > “I have a lot more writing experience than Paul Dano has, so to be able to put that experience to use in exercising his vision was almost an acting exercise: How would I write if I were Paul? When I look at it, it feels so completely his, but it's also mine.” [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She compares writing for another actor to an acting exercise, blending their visions. **In simple terms:** Writing for someone else feels both theirs and yours. Key Takeaway Embrace collaborative perspective. Themes collaboration creativity identity authorship Mood reflective inspired Type analytical creative When to use this quote - screenwriting - character development - directorial collaboration Key Concepts method acting voice perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain your voice while adapting to another's? - What boundaries protect artistic integrity? A Different Perspective Balancing personal style with another's vision can dilute authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [And I had such a great working experience with Paul during the 'RAM' album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/and-i-had-such-a-great-working-experience-with-paul-during-the-ram/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [When John and I were together, and this is about a week or two before our relationship ended, I remember him saying, 'Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-pang/when-john-and-i-were-together-and-this-is-about-a-week-or-two-before/) [May Pang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-pang/) > [He was always saying, 'I wonder what Paul is doing.' When John and I were together, and this is about a week or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-pang/he-was-always-saying-i-wonder-what-paul-is-doing-when-john-and-i-were/) [May Pang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-pang/) > [For me, writing is an experience. It's an exercise in which I want to discover myself by taking my characters to the edges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/for-me-writing-is-an-experience-it-s-an-exercise-in-which-i-want-to-2/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [In my life there were a lot of situations where I could have been killed or some officer might have been killed chasing me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/in-my-life-there-were-a-lot-of-situations-where-i-could-have-been/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [It's common procedure in the industry for people with little or no professional writing experience to get a book deal because of their profile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/it-s-common-procedure-in-the-industry-for-people-with-little-or-no/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [The advantage of writing from experience is that it often provides you with details that you would never think of yourself, no matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-advantage-of-writing-from-experience-is-that-it-often-provides/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [The funny thing about writing is, although you are writing about an experience which only you have had, you are trying to welcome other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/the-funny-thing-about-writing-is-although-you-are-writing-about-an/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [For me, writing is an experience. It's an exercise in which I want to discover myself by taking my characters to the edges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/for-me-writing-is-an-experience-it-s-an-exercise-in-which-i-want-to/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [Weirdly the writing experience has not really changed that much except it used to be that I was busy because I had to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/weirdly-the-writing-experience-has-not-really-changed-that-much/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Well, my background is journalism. I don't have any creative-writing experience except for one class I took as a sophomore in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/well-my-background-is-journalism-i-don-t-have-any-creative-writing/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [You're supposed to be writing from experience - experience with people, with reading, seeing some homeless guy on the street and making up some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/you-re-supposed-to-be-writing-from-experience-experience-with-people/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Because there is no better tool for writing than experience. It has very little to do with grammar and everything to do with knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/because-there-is-no-better-tool-for-writing-than-experience-it-has/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Writing, as I experience it, means wringing out the heart/mind until it stops lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-stone/writing-as-i-experience-it-means-wringing-out-the-heart-mind-until-it/) [Jennifer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-stone/) > [I'm always looking at ways of shaking up the writing experience because I think it helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-m-always-looking-at-ways-of-shaking-up-the-writing-experience/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) ## More by Zoe Kazan > [Maybe this is a way of gaslighting myself, but I think of it this way: In certain circles, my grandpa was considered to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/maybe-this-is-a-way-of-gaslighting-myself-but-i-think-of-it-this-way/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [There aren't a lot of movies being made about women, period. Most of the time, the roles that are available are the sidekick, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/there-aren-t-a-lot-of-movies-being-made-about-women-period-most-of/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [Every role requires its own set of tools, and I think, because of that, it is very hard to ever feel totally prepared or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/every-role-requires-its-own-set-of-tools-and-i-think-because-of-that/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I love bad movies, whereas going to the theater for me is a painful experience. I think it's really hard to sit and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-love-bad-movies-whereas-going-to-the-theater-for-me-is-a-painful/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think the written word is my first love. I was just a very imagination - centered child and a big part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-the-written-word-is-my-first-love-i-was-just-a-very/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [If I'm not working, I don't feel complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/if-i-m-not-working-i-don-t-feel-complete/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think, a lot of times, directors assume that whatever they get from you the first time, whether it be at an audition or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-a-lot-of-times-directors-assume-that-whatever-they-get-from/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think from my earliest childhood, I liked to tell stories, put on plays and write things. It's funny to think of it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-from-my-earliest-childhood-i-liked-to-tell-stories-put-on/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I'm a very serious person. Unfortunately, sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-m-a-very-serious-person-unfortunately-sometimes/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [When I would get close on a part but wouldn't get it, I would be like, "They made a mistake," which is not how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/when-i-would-get-close-on-a-part-but-wouldn-t-get-it-i-would-be-like/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [If I ever feel that acting is just soul-sucking and I don't want to do it anymore, I could stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/if-i-ever-feel-that-acting-is-just-soul-sucking-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I'm definitely feeling whatever's going on pretty hard. It's like playing Barbies. You're holding the Barbies, but all of the action is happening inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-m-definitely-feeling-whatever-s-going-on-pretty-hard-it-s-like/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [My hero is Michelle Williams, who I grew close to when we did 'Meek's Cutoff.' She's an extraordinary actor and mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/my-hero-is-michelle-williams-who-i-grew-close-to-when-we-did-meek-s/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [Writing-wise, I like to have a lot of things on the burners at once, because when I hit a wall, I like to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/writing-wise-i-like-to-have-a-lot-of-things-on-the-burners-at-once/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I love to act and that's sort of my first love. That's what I started out doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-love-to-act-and-that-s-sort-of-my-first-love-that-s-what-i-started/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) [Explore all 137 Zoe Kazan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a lot more writing experience than Paul Dano has, so to be able to put that experience to use in exercising his vision was almost an acting exercise: How would I write if I were Paul? 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