Art making Quote by Michael Chabon
“I might spend 100 pages trying to get to know the world I'm writing about: its contours, who are my main characters, what are their relationships to each other, and just trying to get a sense of what and who this book is about. Usually around that point of 100 pages, I start to feel like I'm lost, I have too much material, it's time to start making some choices. It's typically at that point that I sit down and try to make a formal outline and winnow out what's not working and what I'm most interested in, where the story seems to be going.”
About This Quote
Writers often get lost in research and must decide when to outline and prune material to advance the narrative.
In simple terms: Research can overwhelm; outline to focus.
Key Takeaway
Create outlines to clarify and prioritize story elements.
Themes
writing
clarity
decision‑making
Mood
practical
instructive
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- plot development
- editing phase
Key Concepts
creative process
structure
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you know it’s time to outline?
- How do you decide what material to cut?
A Different Perspective
Too much research can stall progress.
