--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're writing a book, you don't…" description: "\"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, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/e-l-doctorow-4627_about_when-you-re-writing-a-book-you-don-t-rea_585712.jpg" --- # When you're writing a book, you don't really think about… ![“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.” quote by E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/e-l-doctorow-4627_about_when-you-re-writing-a-book-you-don-t-rea_585712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/e-l-doctorow-4627_about_when-you-re-writing-a-book-you-don-t-rea_585712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/e-l-doctorow-4627_about_when-you-re-writing-a-book-you-don-t-rea_585712.jpg) > “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.” [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/) ## Related quotes > [I'm asking people to think critically and not to be lazy in their thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/i-m-asking-people-to-think-critically-and-not-to-be-lazy-in-their/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [I just never learned to think critically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-just-never-learned-to-think-critically/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [That is what is happening in America. 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