Above Quote by Elif Safak
“I write as if I were drunk. It is a process of intuition rather than placing myself above my story like a puppeteer pulling strings. For me, it's a scary, chaotic process over which I have little control. Words demand other words, characters resist me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, “Elif Şafak on Writing”, 2015
She describes writing as an intuitive, chaotic act where control is limited and the text seems to guide itself.
In simple terms: Writing feels like a wild, uncontrolled process.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty in creative work.
Themes
creativity
intuition
control
chaos
process
Mood
reflective
introspective
conflicted
Type
creative
process
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- journalism
- personal essays
Key Concepts
stream of consciousness
authorial voice
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does loss of control affect your storytelling?
- Can chaos become a tool for originality?
A Different Perspective
Some writers find structure more productive.
