I prefer to surprise myself as I'm writing. I'm not…
“I prefer to surprise myself as I'm writing. I'm not interested in it if I already know where it's going. So I have only the most general sense of what I'm doing when I start a story. I sometimes have a destination in mind, but how the story is going to go from Point A to Point Z is something I make up as I go along.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The writer embraces improvisation, allowing the story to unfold organically rather than following a preset plan.
In simple terms: Writing by discovery, not pre‑planning.
Allow the narrative to surprise you.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- short story drafting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does spontaneity affect story cohesion?
- Can you balance surprise with purposeful direction?
May lack structure, risking incoherence or missed themes.