Part of writing a novel is being willing to leap into the…
“Part of writing a novel is being willing to leap into the blackness. You have very little idea, really, of what's going to happen. You have a broad sense, maybe, but it's this rash leap. It's like spelunking. You kind of create the right path for yourself. But, boy, are there so many points at which you think, absolutely, I'm going down the wrong hole here. And I can't get back to the right hole. I'm not going to be able to get this section back to the right hole - so I'm just going to have to cut it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writing requires daring to enter unknown territory, trusting intuition while navigating inevitable missteps.
In simple terms: Writing is a brave leap into the unknown.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty and adjust as needed.
Themes
creativity
risk
process
self‑discovery
Mood
anxious
determined
reflective
Type
advice
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- drafting a novel
- plotting
- overcoming writer’s block
- editing decisions
Key Concepts
narrative uncertainty
creative risk
iterative development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to abandon a narrative thread?
- What strategies help you recover from a mis‑direction?
A Different Perspective
Even bold leaps can lead to dead ends that must be cut, risking loss of material.