--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way that I write novels in particular…" description: "\"The way that I write novels in particular is I don't usually outline; I just write. Part of the fun is discovering what's happening in the story as I'm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/john-scalzi-2071_along_the-way-that-i-write-novels-in-particula_790142.png" --- # The way that I write novels in particular is I don't… ![“The way that I write novels in particular is I don't usually outline; I just write. Part of the fun is discovering what's happening in the story as I'm going along.” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/john-scalzi-2071_along_the-way-that-i-write-novels-in-particula_790142.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/john-scalzi-2071_along_the-way-that-i-write-novels-in-particula_790142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/john-scalzi-2071_along_the-way-that-i-write-novels-in-particula_790142.png) > “The way that I write novels in particular is I don't usually outline; I just write. Part of the fun is discovering what's happening in the story as I'm going along.” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skipping outlines lets the story evolve organically, making discovery part of the creative joy. **In simple terms:** Write without a plan to discover the story. Key Takeaway Allow spontaneity to guide your writing. Themes creativity process discovery Mood curious reflective enthusiastic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - brainstorming sessions Key Concepts narrative development improvisation Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer planning or improvisation? - How does discovery affect narrative coherence? A Different Perspective Lack of structure can lead to incoherent plots or wasted time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Discovering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovering/) [Discovering Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovering-happening-6069728/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [I write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-write/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Outline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outline/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-going/) [Usually Outline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-outline-6069727/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-fun-476009/) [Write Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-novels/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [From a very young age my mother persuaded me that I could write for fun, but I had to have a proper job -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/from-a-very-young-age-my-mother-persuaded-me-that-i-could-write-for/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [In terms of whether I use humor to allow me or my readers to come up for air, I don't think I put that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/in-terms-of-whether-i-use-humor-to-allow-me-or-my-readers-to-come-up/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [Sometimes I write music, sometimes I don't. 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But in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/i-m-not-really-gangsta-not-at-all-i-just-write-about-them-it-s-fun-to/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [There is a quite a lot of effort involved but I find action sequences some of the quickest to write and the most fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/there-is-a-quite-a-lot-of-effort-involved-but-i-find-action-sequences/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [I try to write fun - though difficult and challenging - things for actors to do, because I know if they're having fun, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-try-to-write-fun-though-difficult-and-challenging-things-for-actors/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Forever And Never Go In Real Life.. Lol I just write this for fun.. And it becomes a long form of FANGIRL -DV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saodevvi/forever-and-never-go-in-real-life-lol-i-just-write-this-for-fun-and/) [Saodevvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saodevvi/) > [I love hip hop, and I have a bunch of urban songs I write for fun that I can't put on my albums because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-love-hip-hop-and-i-have-a-bunch-of-urban-songs-i-write-for-fun-that/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [But basically, I'm trying to write a fun story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-basically-i-m-trying-to-write-a-fun-story/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It doesn't cost me anything to write some fun stuff for folks, because I just really enjoy a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-schneider/it-doesn-t-cost-me-anything-to-write-some-fun-stuff-for-folks-because/) [Fred Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-schneider/) > [“I guess it's nice to always look so put together, but it probably takes an awful lot of work, too. I mean, when would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-yeh/i-guess-it-s-nice-to-always-look-so-put-together-but-it-probably/) [Kat Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-yeh/) > [Everything of mine is permeated with my love of ideas-both big and small. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it grabs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/everything-of-mine-is-permeated-with-my-love-of-ideas-both-big-and/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. 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They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Along quotes > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [Each time I think I've created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/each-time-i-think-i-ve-created-time-for-myself-along-comes-a/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [I get along with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-get-along-with-everybody/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It would have been an interesting run if we hadn't gotten along! It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) [Peter Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orszag/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. 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