--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't write with an outline. I don't…" description: "\"I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm going to do as I'm writing. And I do everything by feel and by instinct.\" — James Frey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png" --- # I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm… ![“I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm going to do as I'm writing. And I do everything by feel and by instinct.” quote by James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png) > “I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm going to do as I'm writing. And I do everything by feel and by instinct.” [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing spontaneously, without a preset plan, relies on intuition and feeling to shape the work. **In simple terms:** Write by feeling. Key Takeaway Trust your instinct while writing. Themes creativity spontaneity intuition Mood exploratory introspective Type creative motivational When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - first drafts - creative workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts improvisation flow state authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - When does intuition fail you? - How do you balance spontaneity with coherence? A Different Perspective Lack of structure may cause disorganization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Outline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outline/) [Outlines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlines/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Outline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-outline-929240/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-feel/) ## Related quotes > [My general writing preface is to write an outline and then ignore about half of it, both on a micro level with the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/my-general-writing-preface-is-to-write-an-outline-and-then-ignore/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I don't write a play from beginning to end. I don't write an outline. I write scenes and moments as they occur to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/i-don-t-write-a-play-from-beginning-to-end-i-don-t-write-an-outline-i/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Outlining is like putting on training wheels. It gives me the courage to write, but we always go off the outline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-ephron/outlining-is-like-putting-on-training-wheels-it-gives-me-the-courage/) [Hallie Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-ephron/) > [I don't plan the books ahead of time. It's not like Harry Potter. I don't work in a straight line. I don't write with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-don-t-plan-the-books-ahead-of-time-it-s-not-like-harry-potter-i-don/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I never used an outline until I started "The Bourne Legacy" project for which I was required to write an outline. To be honest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-van-lustbader/i-never-used-an-outline-until-i-started-the-bourne-legacy-project-for/) [Eric Van Lustbader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-van-lustbader/) > [If you take a few days to write an outline, you're just making up scenes that you think will work, that you think will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-you-take-a-few-days-to-write-an-outline-you-re-just-making-up/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I have a number of writers I work with regularly. I write an outline for a book. The outlines are very specific about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-have-a-number-of-writers-i-work-with-regularly-i-write-an-outline/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [The older I get and the more fiction I write, the more I outline, the more I think about plot before I dive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-older-i-get-and-the-more-fiction-i-write-the-more-i-outline-the/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I plot as I go. Many novelists write an outline that has almost as many pages as their ultimate book. Others knock out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-cussler/i-plot-as-i-go-many-novelists-write-an-outline-that-has-almost-as/) [Clive Cussler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-cussler/) > [We really had the whole piece laid out in like a Word file, just from beginning to end. It was kind of more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowder/we-really-had-the-whole-piece-laid-out-in-like-a-word-file-just-from/) [Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowder/) > [A lot of people think that they are really cool because they don't outline. In my writing group, they would say, "I will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-de-la-pena/a-lot-of-people-think-that-they-are-really-cool-because-they-don-t/) [Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-de-la-pena/) > [I used to be an obsessive outliner - figuring that writing without an outline was like jumping off a cliff and building a parachute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wasserman/i-used-to-be-an-obsessive-outliner-figuring-that-writing-without-an/) [Robin Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wasserman/) > [I don't make outlines or plans because whenever I do, they turn out to be useless. It is as if I am compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/i-don-t-make-outlines-or-plans-because-whenever-i-do-they-turn-out-to/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline-and-getting-the-skeleton-of/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I hate outlines. I have a broad sense of where the story is going; I know the end, I know the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-hate-outlines-i-have-a-broad-sense-of-where-the-story-is-going-i/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## More by James Frey > [“It is a touching story, and it is written more to convince than to tell. I am not convinced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/it-is-a-touching-story-and-it-is-written-more-to-convince-than-to/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [But love is different for every person. For some it's hate, for some it's joy, for some it's fear, for some it's jealousy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/but-love-is-different-for-every-person-for-some-it-s-hate-for-some-it/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“I close my eyes and I let my body shut itself down and I let my mind wander. It wanders to a familiar place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-close-my-eyes-and-i-let-my-body-shut-itself-down-and-i-let-my-mind/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [He pulled out turned west and started driving towards the glow it was thousands of miles away, he started driving towards the glow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/he-pulled-out-turned-west-and-started-driving-towards-the-glow-it-was/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“Addiction is a decision. An individual wants something, whatever that something is, and makes a desicion to get it. Once they have it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/addiction-is-a-decision-an-individual-wants-something-whatever-that/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“I start to cry. Tears begin running down my face and quiet sobs escape me. I don't know what I'm doing and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-start-to-cry-tears-begin-running-down-my-face-and-quiet-sobs-escape/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [The promise of eternal life makes people forsake the life they're given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-promise-of-eternal-life-makes-people-forsake-the-life-they-re/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [We know have the power of God in many ways: the atomic bomb, the ability to create life in a test tube, cloning, artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/we-know-have-the-power-of-god-in-many-ways-the-atomic-bomb-the/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [For the worst things of our lives, it is sometimes the best way, to never speak of them again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/for-the-worst-things-of-our-lives-it-is-sometimes-the-best-way-to/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-something-you-must-first-expand-it/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [The book is about drug addiction and alcoholism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-book-is-about-drug-addiction-and-alcoholism/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [And even though people try to pretend that pain doesn't do anything to them, none of us can really handle it. Everything bad we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/and-even-though-people-try-to-pretend-that-pain-doesn-t-do-anything/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [You don't have to follow anybody's rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/you-don-t-have-to-follow-anybody-s-rules/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [I don't care what people come at me with. People have come at me with everything you could imagine. I could care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-care-what-people-come-at-me-with-people-have-come-at-me-with/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“There is no Higher Power or any God who is responsible for what I do and for what I have done and for who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/there-is-no-higher-power-or-any-god-who-is-responsible-for-what-i-do/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) [Explore all 288 James Frey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## More Feels quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [Then come to realize that you're making mountains out of molehills. Realize how petty you've become. Sure, it may feel like you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/then-come-to-realize-that-you-re-making-mountains-out-of-molehills/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) [Browse all 38,933 Feels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm going to do as I'm writing. And I do everything by feel and by instinct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Frey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-often-know-what-i-m-going-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-often-know-what-i-m-going-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/james-frey-1108_feels_i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-of_2649373.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't write with an outline. I don't often know what I'm going to do as I'm writing. And I do everything…” — James Frey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Frey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't write with an outline....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-often-know-what-i-m-going-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-write-with-an-outline-i-don-t-often-know-what-i-m-going-to-do/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```