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I never know what I'm going to write next. If I'm still…

“I never know what I'm going to write next. If I'm still writing the book but I'm very near the end, and I begin to think of what I'd like to do next, then I'll know that what I'm writing is in hand. I'll think of an ending and it will be fine.” quote by Elmore Leonard
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“I never know what I'm going to write next. If I'm still writing the book but I'm very near the end, and I begin to think of what I'd like to do next, then I'll know that what I'm writing is in hand. I'll think of an ending and it will be fine.”

Elmore Leonard

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Uncertainty about future writing is resolved when the ending feels right, guiding the rest.

In simple terms: Knowing the ending helps shape the story.

Key Takeaway

Trust your intuition about the ending.

Themes

creativity process intuition confidence

Mood

contemplative determined

Type

creative process

When to use this quote

  • drafting a novel
  • screenwriting
  • planning a project
  • overcoming writer's block

Key Concepts

narrative structure authorial instinct

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you discover the ending?
  • What if the ending changes midway?
A Different Perspective

Relying on an ending may limit exploration of alternative plots.

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