--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm writing and a chapter isn't…" description: "\"If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move ahead.\" — James Patterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png" --- # If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move… ![“If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move ahead.” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png) > “If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move ahead.” [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When stuck, he continues writing forward, trusting the process to resolve gaps. **In simple terms:** Keep writing forward. Key Takeaway Write through blocks. Themes creativity productivity process perseverance Mood pragmatic encouraging Type creative instructional When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - daily practice Key Concepts writing technique problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle narrative gaps? - What techniques help maintain flow? A Different Perspective May produce incoherent sections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) [Chapter Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapter-isn-2732745/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Just Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-ahead-335294/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Moving ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-ahead/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Chapter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-chapter-1713324/) ## Related quotes > [I'm more or less happily writing Chapter Six of The Graveyard Book. I say more or less as I'm at that place where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-m-more-or-less-happily-writing-chapter-six-of-the-graveyard-book-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The next best thing after finishing writing a chapter is starting a new one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-almeida/the-next-best-thing-after-finishing-writing-a-chapter-is-starting-a/) [Chris Almeida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-almeida/) > [“If you’re afraid you can’t write, the answer is to write. Every sentence you construct adds weight to the balance pan. If you’re afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rhodes/if-you-re-afraid-you-can-t-write-the-answer-is-to-write-every/) [Richard Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rhodes/) > [After I finish writing a chapter, I'll print it out, cut it up into paragraphs, and cut away any transition sentences. Then I shuffle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/after-i-finish-writing-a-chapter-i-ll-print-it-out-cut-it-up-into/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [“If you haven't cried at least once while writing a chapter of your inspirational book, then you have to ask yourself if your're writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-haven-t-cried-at-least-once-while-writing-a-chapter-of-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [We also recommit to supporting tribal self-determination, security, and prosperity for all Native Americans. While we cannot erase the scourges or broken promises of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-also-recommit-to-supporting-tribal-self-determination-security-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I look one move ahead... the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-look-one-move-ahead-the-best/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [We will not allow the past to drag us down and stop us from moving ahead. We understand where we should move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-will-not-allow-the-past-to-drag-us-down-and-stop-us-from-moving/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Life is about falling down, getting up, and moving ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/life-is-about-falling-down-getting-up-and-moving-ahead/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [We've got to get things done. We've got an economy that is stabilized, but not moving ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/we-ve-got-to-get-things-done-we-ve-got-an-economy-that-is-stabilized/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I have always maintained that if you work hard, it wont go waste, as recognition will come to you at some stage, whether in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-raina/i-have-always-maintained-that-if-you-work-hard-it-wont-go-waste-as/) [Suresh Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-raina/) > [It's only when they join together in a forward movement that this country moves ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/it-s-only-when-they-join-together-in-a-forward-movement-that-this/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Perhaps you need to look back before you can move ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brennert/perhaps-you-need-to-look-back-before-you-can-move-ahead/) [Alan Brennert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brennert/) > [You can just go ahead and move a little bit to the left. Yeah, that's it. Great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-lumbergh/you-can-just-go-ahead-and-move-a-little-bit-to-the-left-yeah-that-s/) [Bill Lumbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-lumbergh/) ## More by James Patterson > [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“The next forty-five minutes in that office was about as much fun as a day at Disney World—when it’s pouring rain. And all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-next-forty-five-minutes-in-that-office-was-about-as-much-fun-as-a/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. Fang tried to play innocent--but "innocent Fang" is an oxymoron, so it didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-re-lying-through-your-fangs-iggy-accused-fang-tried-to-play/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I shot him the bird. (Get it? I shot him the—never mind.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-shot-him-the-bird-get-it-i-shot-him-the-never-mind/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I get up every morning and chop wood, and I pretty much do it seven days a week, and I like to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-get-up-every-morning-and-chop-wood-and-i-pretty-much-do-it-seven/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Witihin seconds the headhunter had lost control of his car and it squealed, sliding sideways right into several other cars. Cool!' said the Gasman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/witihin-seconds-the-headhunter-had-lost-control-of-his-car-and-it/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“It was scary. More than Sara could possibly know. More than anybody ought to know, or ever would. History wasn't for the general public--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-scary-more-than-sara-could-possibly-know-more-than-anybody/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her-emotions-and-keeping-them/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [When my son, Jack, was four, I had to make a trip to Los Angeles. I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“that kid’s nothing but a little hoodlum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/that-kid-s-nothing-but-a-little-hoodlum/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Jeezum—humans were like eggshells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jeezum-humans-were-like-eggshells/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) [Explore all 983 James Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More Ahead quotes > [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/) [Rabi Shaheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabi-shaheen/) > [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) [Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move ahead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Patterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-coming-i-just-move-ahead/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ahead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-coming-i-just-move-ahead/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/james-patterson-171_ahead_if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-comin_2700920.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I'm writing and a chapter isn't coming, I just move ahead.” — James Patterson", "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 Patterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I'm writing and a chapter...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-coming-i-just-move-ahead/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/if-i-m-writing-and-a-chapter-isn-t-coming-i-just-move-ahead/#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 } } ] } ```