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Say no to structure and let your imagination run wild
“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
– E.L. Doctorow
We know everyone’s writing style is different, so we believe as long as you get it down in paper who is to say you didn’t do it the “right way?” Just because you didn’t create an outline or know the ending to your novel before writing Chapter 1 doesn’t mean you’re wrong. You shouldn’t feel obligated to do things how others tell you do them – keep doing what works best for you.
You don’t always have to clearly see everything laid out before you – just enough to make sure you arrive safely at your destination. You’re actually getting somewhere even if you can only see a few feet in front of you. You might look back and wonder “how did I get here” but at least you’re going somewhere.
Do you agree with Doctorow’s quote? Why or why not?
We’d love to hear from you! How do you go after inspiration with a club?
There’s much to be said about the craft of writing. That’s why each week on the Abbott Press blog, we’ll take a look at what some of our favorite authors and thinkers have to say about this challenging, fulfilling and sometimes mystifying art. We hope these discussions will help you to further refine your own ideas about writing and to achieve new insights into your own creative process. Browse Weekly Writing Quotes »
Thank you for your quote from E.L. Doctorow it helps make me the author f Move Forward proud of how I wrote my book. you can read a little excerpt of my writing on my website http://www.moveforward.com.mx Thank you and happy reading. Sylvia
I agree with Doctorow, simply because this is how I write. When I start a novel, I have only a theme and characters. I don’t know where my characters will end up and how they’ll end up there. But I do have to know these people intimately, for them to “take” me on their journey. I sit down at the computer and type whatever they “dictate” to me. It’s exciting. It’s fun! That’s how I write my first draft.
Yes I do agree. I hate overplanning before I begin writing. I plan a basic outline and a few words/sentences and the rest writes itself. Its the best way to create an authentic piece of writing in my opinion
You are so right while I was writing my book Move Forward I realised some of my writing is also the way I speak because of my irish grandmother whom I loved and talked with for hours and hours until her death so I left it as a memory to her and when I read it after it was published I was so pleased that I left it how I wrote it. have a look at my excerpt on my little web site http://www.moveforward.com.mx and you too will smile. ‘Happy Reading’ Sylvia