--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My favorite “trick” is to stop writing at…" description: "\"“My favorite “trick” is to stop writing at a point where I know that I can pick up easily the next day. I’ll stop in mid-paragraph, often in midsentenc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/erik-larson-1710_human-brain_my-favorite-trick-is-to-stop-writing-at_895058.jpg" --- # My favorite “trick” is to stop writing at a point where I… ![“My favorite “trick” is to stop writing at a point where I know that I can pick up easily the next day. I’ll stop in mid-paragraph, often in midsentence. It makes getting out of bed so much easier, because I know that all I’ll have to do to be productive is complete the sentence. And by then I’ll…” quote by Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/erik-larson-1710_human-brain_my-favorite-trick-is-to-stop-writing-at_895058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/erik-larson-1710_human-brain_my-favorite-trick-is-to-stop-writing-at_895058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/erik-larson-1710_human-brain_my-favorite-trick-is-to-stop-writing-at_895058.jpg) > ““My favorite “trick” is to stop writing at a point where I know that I can pick up easily the next day. I’ll stop in mid-paragraph, often in midsentence. It makes getting out of bed so much easier, because I know that all I’ll have to do to be productive is complete the sentence. And by then I’ll be seated at my desk, coffee and Oreo cookie at hand, the morning’s inertia overcome. There’s an added advantage: The human brain hates incomplete sentences. All night my mind will have secretly worked on the passage and likely mapped out the remainder of the page, even the chapter, while simultaneously sending me on a dinner date with Cate Blanchett.”” [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stopping writing at a natural pause creates a mental hook that makes returning to work easier and leverages the brain’s tendency to complete unfinished thoughts. **In simple terms:** Pause mid‑sentence to make it easier to resume writing. Key Takeaway Use deliberate interruptions to boost productivity. Themes productivity writing psychology habits Mood motivated focused reflective Type advice psychological productivity When to use this quote - morning routine - writing sessions - creative blocks - deadline pressure Key Concepts cognitive closure mental momentum habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance pauses with maintaining flow? - What cues signal the optimal stopping point? A Different Perspective If interruptions are too frequent, they can fragment focus and reduce overall output. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-brain/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In writing, the point is not to manifest or exalt the act of writing, nor is it to pin a subject within language; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/in-writing-the-point-is-not-to-manifest-or-exalt-the-act-of-writing/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [When you are in the midst of writing a book, I think it is important to touch base every day. 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