---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never outline my novels before I write…"
description: "\"I never outline my novels before I write. I do have a vague sense of beginning, middle, and end at the outset of each book, but for me, writing has alw..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/emily-giffin-938_beginning_i-never-outline-my-novels-before-i-write_2493222.png"
---

#  I never outline my novels before I write. I do have a…

![“I never outline my novels before I write. I do have a vague sense of beginning, middle, and end at the outset of each book, but for me, writing has always been a very character-driven process.” quote by Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/emily-giffin-938_beginning_i-never-outline-my-novels-before-i-write_2493222.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/emily-giffin-938_beginning_i-never-outline-my-novels-before-i-write_2493222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/emily-giffin-938_beginning_i-never-outline-my-novels-before-i-write_2493222.png)

> “I never outline my novels before I write. I do have a vague sense of beginning, middle, and end at the outset of each book, but for me, writing has always been a very character-driven process.”

[Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The writer relies on characters to shape the story rather than a strict plot outline.

**In simple terms:** Character focus over detailed planning

Key Takeaway

Embrace spontaneity in storytelling

Themes

creativity character development process writing spontaneity

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

advice process

When to use this quote

- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- workshop exercises

Key Concepts

Narrative theory character-driven storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance character impulses with plot needs?
- What techniques keep story direction clear?

A Different Perspective

May lack structural cohesion without a roadmap

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[Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Book writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-writing/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

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> [Well, writing was what I wanted to do, it was always what I wanted to do. I had novels to write so I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/well-writing-was-what-i-wanted-to-do-it-was-always-what-i-wanted-to/)

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> [I had novels to write, so I wrote them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/i-had-novels-to-write-so-i-wrote-them/)

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> [I am a writer, which means I write stories, I write novels, and I would write poetry if I knew how to. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-am-a-writer-which-means-i-write-stories-i-write-novels-and-i-would/)

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## More by Emily Giffin

> [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/)

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[Explore all 324 Emily Giffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/)

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