Filled Quote by Harold Ross
“I asked Ring Lardner the other day how he writes his short stories, and he said he wrote a few widely separated words or phrases on a piece of paper and then went back and filled in the spaces.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Lardner on Writing, 1930s, published in The New Yorker
A writer can outline key ideas with brief notes, then flesh them out into full stories later.
In simple terms: Use short notes as a scaffold for stories.
Key Takeaway
Start with concise outlines before expanding.
Themes
writing process
creativity
structure
Mood
inspirational
practical
Type
creative
instructional
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- journalism
- blogging
Key Concepts
outline method
incremental drafting
creative freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prefer detailed outlines or free writing?
- How do you balance structure and improvisation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on outlines may stifle spontaneity.
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