Book Quote by Daniel Kehlmann
“When I write a book I'm always questioning the project as a whole. I always feel I might have to just throw it away and forget about it, and I've done that with novels I've started and worked on for a long time. It's an option I need in order to write freely.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: In Conversation with Daniel Kehlmann, 2020
The author sees continual doubt and the willingness to discard work as essential for creative freedom.
In simple terms: Questioning and discarding help maintain creative freedom
Key Takeaway
Embrace doubt, be ready to discard
Themes
creative process
self‑criticism
freedom
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- academic research
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
creative risk
iterative writing
project evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance doubt with commitment?
- When is it better to persist?
A Different Perspective
Discarding can stall progress if overused
