Psychology Quote by George Saunders
““The writer,' said Donald Barthelme, 'is one who, embarking upon a task, does not know what to do.' In this mode of not-knowing, the thick-torsoed, literal, and crew-cut mind is moved to the sidelines in favor of the swinging, perceptive, light-footed, tutu-wearing subconscious.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2012
Writers should embrace uncertainty, allowing subconscious creativity to guide their work over rigid logic.
In simple terms: Embrace uncertainty for creative writing.
Key Takeaway
Let intuition lead your writing process.
Themes
creativity
uncertainty
subconscious
writing process
Mood
playful
inquisitive
inspirational
Type
literary
advice
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- creative workshops
- personal journaling
- brainstorming sessions
Key Concepts
artistic expression
psychology of imagination
literary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance intuition and structure?
- When does uncertainty hinder progress?
A Different Perspective
Too much reliance on subconscious may produce incoherent work.
![“Once I was asked be a seatmate on a trans-Pacific flight…what instruction he should give his fifteen-year-old daughters, who wanted to be a writer. [I said], "Tell your daughter three things." Tell her to read...Tell her to read whatever interests her, and protect her if someone declares what…” quote by Barry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e4e/barry-l-pez-8215_advice_once-i-was-asked-be-a-seatmate-on-a-tran_921405.jpg)
![“There’s a writer for you,” he said. “Knows everything and at the same time he knows nothing.” [narrator]It was my first inkling that he was a writer. And while I like writers—because if you ask a writer anything you usually get an answer—still it belittled him in my eyes. Writers aren’t people…” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38d/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_actors_there-s-a-writer-for-you-he-said-knows-e_438126.jpg)
