The young people have a phrase for this now, which is "slay in your lane." That's a very important principle of writing. You have to work out what it is you can't do, obscure it, and focus on what works.
Zadie SmithThe library was the place I went to find out what there was to know. It was absolutely essential.
Zadie SmithFirst rule of writing: When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.
Zadie SmithI tap danced for ten years before I began to understand people don't make musicals anymore. All I wanted to do was be at MGM working for Arthur Freed or Gene Kelly or Vincent Minelli. Historical and geographical constraints made this impossible. Slowly but surely the pen became mightier than the double pick-up time step with shuffle.
Zadie Smith