Backwards Quote by John Irving
“I write the last line, and then I write the line before that. I find myself writing backwards for a while, until I have a solid sense of how that ending sounds and feels. You have to know what your voice sounds like at the end of the story, because it tells you how to sound when you begin.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Process, 1998
Writing backwards helps the author sense the story’s ending and shape the beginning accordingly.
In simple terms: Plan the ending to guide the start.
Key Takeaway
Use reverse outlining in writing.
Themes
writing
creativity
structure
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
instructional
literary
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative theory
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does knowing the ending affect character development?
- When is reverse planning most effective?
A Different Perspective
May limit spontaneous discovery.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
