Book Quote by Daniel Handler
“My general writing preface is to write an outline and then ignore about half of it, both on a micro level with the individual book, and on a macro level with the series as a whole, and that's pretty much what's happened.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Lemony Snicket author interview, 2005
He outlines his writing process then discards much of it, both in detail and overall scope, reflecting a flexible, iterative approach.
In simple terms: He plans then cuts away much of his work.
Key Takeaway
Embrace flexibility in writing.
Themes
creativity
process
flexibility
Mood
reflective
pragmatic
Type
advice
process
When to use this quote
- fiction writing
- novel planning
- series development
Key Concepts
Iterative drafting
editing
story development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does you guide your creative flow
- When is it okay to abandon a plan?
A Different Perspective
Discarding outlines can risk incoherence if not managed.
