About Quote by E. L. Doctorow
“When you're writing a book, you don't really think about it critically. You don't want to know too well what you're doing. First, you write the book, then you find the justification for it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author Talk, 1995
Writers often create first, then rationalize their work, indicating intuition precedes analysis.
In simple terms: Writers write first, then justify later.
Key Takeaway
Trust your creative instinct before over‑analyzing.
Themes
writing
creativity
intuition
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
creative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- drafting a novel
- screenwriting
- first drafts
Key Concepts
creative process
self‑justification
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever edit your work before understanding its purpose?
- How does intuition shape your storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on post‑hoc justification can limit originality.
![“We'd decided to write a book about two friends. I gave her some coffee and then we sat there not knowing what to do. How do you start writing a book together? So Kate [DiCamillo] got up after about 10 minutes into this endeavor, and said, 'Well, that was fun,' and started to head out the door. I…” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88f/alison-mcghee-15698_bits_we-d-decided-to-write-a-book-about-two-f_282606.jpg)
