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Fiction Quote by Andre Dubus

“Don't outline your stories. A lot of fiction workshops say you should. I say the opposite. I quote Grace Paley: "We write what we don't know we know."” quote by Andre Dubus
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“Don't outline your stories. A lot of fiction workshops say you should. I say the opposite. I quote Grace Paley: "We write what we don't know we know."”

Andre Dubus

About This Quote

The quote argues against rigid planning in storytelling, urging writers to trust intuition and unknown insights rather than strict outlines.

In simple terms: Trust intuition over strict outlines in writing.

Key Takeaway

Embrace spontaneous creativity.

Themes

creativity intuition writing process

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • fiction workshops
  • personal writing
  • creative brainstorming

Key Concepts

Narrative flow unknown knowledge

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance structure with spontaneity?
  • When does intuition hinder clarity?
A Different Perspective

Over-reliance on intuition may lead to incoherent plots.

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