Books Quote by Barbara Kingsolver
“Beginning a novel is always hard. It feels like going nowhere. I always have to write at least 100 pages that go into the trashcan before it finally begins to work. It's discouraging, but necessary to write those pages. I try to consider them pages -100 to zero of the novel.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Writing Process, Barbara Kingsolver, 2015
Writing a novel often requires drafting extensive material that feels useless before the story truly begins, making perseverance essential.
In simple terms: Write many drafts before the story clicks.
Key Takeaway
Accept and learn from early drafts.
Themes
writing
perseverance
creativity
Mood
determined
encouraging
Type
creative
process-oriented
When to use this quote
- authorial block
- first chapter
- story development
Key Concepts
drafting process
creative struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- What can you learn from “failed” pages?
- How do you know when to keep writing?
A Different Perspective
Not all wasted pages lead to progress.
