--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more work you put in on your outline…" description: "\"The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.\" — Drew Goddard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/drew-goddard-8422_easier_the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline_409524.jpg" --- # The more work you put in on your outline and getting the… ![“The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.” quote by Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/drew-goddard-8422_easier_the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline_409524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/drew-goddard-8422_easier_the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline_409524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/drew-goddard-8422_easier_the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline_409524.jpg) > “The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.” [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Investing effort in outlining creates a solid framework, making later writing smoother. **In simple terms:** Good outlines simplify later work. Key Takeaway Spend time on a strong outline. Themes writing planning productivity Mood focused pragmatic Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay development - academic essays - project management Key Concepts story structure drafting Questions to Reflect On - What outline elements are essential? - How can flexibility be built into a plan? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Skeletons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeletons/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Partly because of the way I write - I don't work with an outline or in a straight line. I work where I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/partly-because-of-the-way-i-write-i-don-t-work-with-an-outline-or-in/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Because I don’t work with an outline, writing a story is like crossing a stream, now I’m on this rock, now I’m on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/because-i-don-t-work-with-an-outline-writing-a-story-is-like-crossing/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [I never outline. I don't work from an outline. I have no idea where the book is going. I mean, even two-thirds of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-never-outline-i-don-t-work-from-an-outline-i-have-no-idea-where-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [I always work from an outline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/i-always-work-from-an-outline/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) > [I never work from an outline, and often I dont know how the story will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-never-work-from-an-outline-and-often-i-dont-know-how-the-story-will/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I've found that in fiction - and this is just the kind of writer I am - I can't really work from an outline.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-ve-found-that-in-fiction-and-this-is-just-the-kind-of-writer-i-am-i/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [I don't plot the books out ahead of time, I don't plan them. I don't begin at the beginning and end at the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-don-t-plot-the-books-out-ahead-of-time-i-don-t-plan-them-i-don-t/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I always work from an outline, so I know all the of the broad events and some of the finer details before I begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-always-work-from-an-outline-so-i-know-all-the-of-the-broad-events/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [I don't work with an outline, except a vague one in my head, a general idea of character, place, arc... I'm like a composer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-sayrafiezadeh/i-don-t-work-with-an-outline-except-a-vague-one-in-my-head-a-general/) [Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-sayrafiezadeh/) > [I never work from an outline, and often I don't know how the story will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-never-work-from-an-outline-and-often-i-don-t-know-how-the-story/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I always work from outline and almost always write out of sequence. It just works for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-kemp/i-always-work-from-outline-and-almost-always-write-out-of-sequence-it/) [Paul S. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-s-kemp/) > [I read round the subject, I make a skeleton outline, and then I start work in the relevant archives. During the marshaling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/i-read-round-the-subject-i-make-a-skeleton-outline-and-then-i-start/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [It just gets easier in that you become more you in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/it-just-gets-easier-in-that-you-become-more-you-in-the-process/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [Pieces and parts were always easier to process. The full picture, the entire story, was another thing entirely. But you just never knew. Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/pieces-and-parts-were-always-easier-to-process-the-full-picture-the/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Writing is difficult. It's a time commitment, it's labor and I'd have to get myself to sit down and actually do the work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/writing-is-difficult-it-s-a-time-commitment-it-s-labor-and-i-d-have/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) ## More by Drew Goddard > [I just don't want to make the same old movies. I'm not interested in it. Directing's hard. It takes up a lot of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-just-don-t-want-to-make-the-same-old-movies-i-m-not-interested-in/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [You don't want to make a movie just to make a movie. You better have a point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/you-don-t-want-to-make-a-movie-just-to-make-a-movie-you-better-have-a/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I think the thing I took most from game playing was just getting in the characters head. I took it really seriously. There's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-think-the-thing-i-took-most-from-game-playing-was-just-getting-in/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [A movie that's about other horror movies isn't interesting. A movie about who we are, is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/a-movie-that-s-about-other-horror-movies-isn-t-interesting-a-movie/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [That's the fun part about being a director. You get to say, 'Oh, now that I'm in charge, I can try and cast whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/that-s-the-fun-part-about-being-a-director-you-get-to-say-oh-now-that/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [Truth is, I don't like movies that are only good once; I tend to dismiss them. I like movies that get better the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/truth-is-i-don-t-like-movies-that-are-only-good-once-i-tend-to/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I think so much of the horror film is about our primal instincts, and our primal instincts are not just towards violence. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-think-so-much-of-the-horror-film-is-about-our-primal-instincts-and/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [Some people like when it rains a lot. Some people like sunshine. The idea that there's one, all encompassing afterlife is strange. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/some-people-like-when-it-rains-a-lot-some-people-like-sunshine-the/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I've found that if you just try to make the film you want, you'll find the right audience. If you try to please everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-ve-found-that-if-you-just-try-to-make-the-film-you-want-you-ll-find/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [That's the thing about Lionsgate. They are fearless. No other studio would have made 'Hunger Games' the way they did. They're being fearless in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/that-s-the-thing-about-lionsgate-they-are-fearless-no-other-studio/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [If you worry too much about anything, you end up making bad movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/if-you-worry-too-much-about-anything-you-end-up-making-bad-movies/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I love going to horror movies - especially when they are fun. I think that they get you in touch with sort of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-love-going-to-horror-movies-especially-when-they-are-fun-i-think/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [We've always been a band who's taken forever to do things. After writing 'Persona' I think we wrote about four songs in three years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/we-ve-always-been-a-band-who-s-taken-forever-to-do-things-after/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I love TV. I've been lucky that I get to do both, and both have things I love about them, features and TV. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-love-tv-i-ve-been-lucky-that-i-get-to-do-both-and-both-have-things/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I happen to like things that are funny and dramatic at the same time. I don't see the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/i-happen-to-like-things-that-are-funny-and-dramatic-at-the-same-time/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) [Explore all 81 Drew Goddard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) Roger Sperry > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. 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