Book Quote by Don DeLillo
“In my experience, writing a novel tends to create its own structure, its own demands, its own language, its own ending. So for much of the period in which I'm writing, I'm waiting to understand what's going to happen next, and how and where it's going to happen. In some cases, fairly early in the process, I do know how a book will end. But most of the time, not at all, and in this particular case, many questions are still unanswered, even though I've been working for months.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 2015
Writing a novel shapes its own form and direction, often revealing plot and ending only gradually as the author progresses.
In simple terms: Novels develop their own structure during writing.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty and let the story unfold.
Themes
creativity
process
uncertainty
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- creative block
- plot planning
- story evolution
Key Concepts
narrative development
authorial discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to trust your intuition versus planning?
- What techniques help you navigate unknown plot points?
A Different Perspective
Even with a clear vision, the story may shift unexpectedly, requiring flexibility.
