--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each genre has its own process. I'm very…" description: "\"Each genre has its own process. I'm very intuitive about poetry. I usually write first and second drafts out by hand. The other end of the spectrum is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/achy-obejas-32712_fiction_each-genre-has-its-own-process-i-m-very_717127.jpg" --- # Each genre has its own process. I'm very intuitive about… ![“Each genre has its own process. I'm very intuitive about poetry. I usually write first and second drafts out by hand. The other end of the spectrum is journalism, which is much more cerebral, more thought-out and planned. Fiction lies somewhere in between. I usually start intuitively but…” quote by Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/achy-obejas-32712_fiction_each-genre-has-its-own-process-i-m-very_717127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/achy-obejas-32712_fiction_each-genre-has-its-own-process-i-m-very_717127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/achy-obejas-32712_fiction_each-genre-has-its-own-process-i-m-very_717127.jpg) > “Each genre has its own process. I'm very intuitive about poetry. I usually write first and second drafts out by hand. The other end of the spectrum is journalism, which is much more cerebral, more thought-out and planned. Fiction lies somewhere in between. I usually start intuitively but eventually I need to stop and consider structure, or research, or both.” [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Different literary forms demand distinct approaches, balancing intuition with planning. **In simple terms:** Poetry is intuitive; journalism is planned; fiction mixes both. Key Takeaway Adapt your method to the genre. Themes creativity process genre Mood reflective analytical Type advice process When to use this quote - writing poetry - drafting articles - developing novels - editing drafts Key Concepts intuition structure research Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to shift from intuition to structure? - What research methods improve your fiction? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on intuition can lead to unfocused work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Genre Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre-process-5643065/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-usually-1031407/) [Second Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-drafts-287122/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My only writing ritual is to shave my head bald between writing the first and second drafts of a book. If I can throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/my-only-writing-ritual-is-to-shave-my-head-bald-between-writing-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [ “All good writers write \[terrible first drafts.\] This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts. . . I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/all-good-writers-write-terrible-first-drafts-this-is-how-they-end-up/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I link what I do more to poetry usually because it sounds less lofty than a lot of other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-owens/i-link-what-i-do-more-to-poetry-usually-because-it-sounds-less-lofty/) [Rick Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-owens/) > [Durable, memorable poetry is usually alert to complexity. A really good poem gives you a reason to read it 20 times, because the language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-burt/durable-memorable-poetry-is-usually-alert-to-complexity-a-really-good/) [Stephen Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-burt/) > [I like Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, but some of the older ones it's hard for me to sit down with - when I sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/i-like-wallace-stevens-robert-frost-but-some-of-the-older-ones-it-s/) [Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/) > [We talk so abstractly about poetry because all of us are usually bad poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-talk-so-abstractly-about-poetry-because-all-of-us-are-usually-bad/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [As for political poetry, as it's usually defined, it seems there's very little good political poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-koch/as-for-political-poetry-as-it-s-usually-defined-it-seems-there-s-very/) [Kenneth Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-koch/) > [Well, I write a lot of poetry - that's where it usually all starts. I definitely want to show you guys sides of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-wilds/well-i-write-a-lot-of-poetry-that-s-where-it-usually-all-starts-i/) [Tristan Wilds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-wilds/) > [While I've had a great distaste for what's usually called song in modern poetry or for what's usually called music, I really don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-antin/while-i-ve-had-a-great-distaste-for-what-s-usually-called-song-in/) [David Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-antin/) > [Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out of one's cultural myths, and often with reference to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wakoski/distinctly-american-poetry-is-usually-written-in-the-context-of-one-s/) [Diane Wakoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-wakoski/) > [ The built-in form is a window frame. You can use this genre \[crime fiction\] to go where you want to go, and explore what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/the-built-in-form-is-a-window-frame-you-can-use-this-genre-crime/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [The SF genre, of course, is really an organically evolved, marketplace-determined, idiosyncratic grab bag of themes and signifiers and characters and icons and gadgets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sf-genre-of-course-is-really-an-organically-evolved-marketplace/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [I like to take certain aspects of genre fiction and modify them in my own way. 'Your Republic Is Calling You' follows the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-ha/i-like-to-take-certain-aspects-of-genre-fiction-and-modify-them-in-my/) [Kim Young-ha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-ha/) > [“What we've done is make the categories of science fiction and fantasy larger, freer, and more inclusive than any other genre of contemporary literature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/what-we-ve-done-is-make-the-categories-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [My intent was to gain experience for fiction I eventually hoped to write. But there's no question I was drawn in by the hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/my-intent-was-to-gain-experience-for-fiction-i-eventually-hoped-to/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) ## More by Achy Obejas > [I feel possessive about stories I write in Spanish and so I usually end up translating those into English myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/i-feel-possessive-about-stories-i-write-in-spanish-and-so-i-usually/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [I'm never afraid of research. I relish it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/i-m-never-afraid-of-research-i-relish-it/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [Both childbirth and abortion are medical procedures but neither is an illness, and sometimes they're both treated as such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/both-childbirth-and-abortion-are-medical-procedures-but-neither-is-an/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [I tell people to have a relationship with their work every day, even if it means you just move a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/i-tell-people-to-have-a-relationship-with-their-work-every-day-even/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [Our real world has evolved. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/in-journalism-if-there-s-a-hole-in-your-story-you-figure-out-a-way/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [So much depends on our health, and we tend to take it so for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/so-much-depends-on-our-health-and-we-tend-to-take-it-so-for-granted/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [The legacy of the embargo will be Cuba's poverty and desperation. When the island comes out of it, they'll be even more desperate than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/the-legacy-of-the-embargo-will-be-cuba-s-poverty-and-desperation-when/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [This is going to sound nuts but it took me forever to figure out why I'd stopped writing poetry - I mean, I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/this-is-going-to-sound-nuts-but-it-took-me-forever-to-figure-out-why/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [We're a long way from the embargo ending. Look at what just happened with the rollback of Obama's Cuba policies. Two idiot congressmen convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/we-re-a-long-way-from-the-embargo-ending-look-at-what-just-happened/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [Interestingly, in Cuba abortion is treated as lightly as getting a mole removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/interestingly-in-cuba-abortion-is-treated-as-lightly-as-getting-a/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [Offspring were a joy or a shame, but still the crown of their elders, nature's unpredictable creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/offspring-were-a-joy-or-a-shame-but-still-the-crown-of-their-elders/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [Journalism is very much public writing, writing with an audience in mind, writing for publication, and frequently writing quickly. And I know that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/journalism-is-very-much-public-writing-writing-with-an-audience-in/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) [Explore all 15 Achy Obejas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) [Coheed and Cambria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coheed-and-cambria/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Metafiction says something. It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each genre has its own process. I'm very intuitive about poetry. I usually write first and second drafts out by hand. The other end of the spectrum is journalism, which is much more cerebral, more thought-out and planned. Fiction lies somewhere in between. 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