--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't begin a novel until I have…" description: "\"I don't begin a novel until I have written, not just the last sentence, but usually, as a result thereof, many of the surrounding final paragraphs, so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/john-irving-337_books_i-don-t-begin-a-novel-until-i-have-writt_316652.png" --- # I don't begin a novel until I have written, not just the… ![“I don't begin a novel until I have written, not just the last sentence, but usually, as a result thereof, many of the surrounding final paragraphs, so that in addition to knowing what happens, I know what the voice is.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/john-irving-337_books_i-don-t-begin-a-novel-until-i-have-writt_316652.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/john-irving-337_books_i-don-t-begin-a-novel-until-i-have-writt_316652.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/john-irving-337_books_i-don-t-begin-a-novel-until-i-have-writt_316652.png) > “I don't begin a novel until I have written, not just the last sentence, but usually, as a result thereof, many of the surrounding final paragraphs, so that in addition to knowing what happens, I know what the voice is.” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Irving writes the ending first to secure narrative direction and voice before drafting the whole novel. **In simple terms:** He writes the ending before the story. Key Takeaway Plan the conclusion to guide the story. Themes craft structure voice Mood reflective analytical Type creative advice process When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - story outlining Key Concepts narrative planning creative process authorial control Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing the ending affect your writing process? - Can this method work for all genres? A Different Perspective May limit spontaneity in early drafts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-novel-299207/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Final Paragraphs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-paragraphs-2992564/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-know-445999/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-happens-2792113/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Paragraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paragraph/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Sentence Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentence-usually-374242/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. 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