--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot outline. I do not know what the…" description: "\"I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is going to happen in the book until it comes out of my fingers.\" — Patricia Reilly Giff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_book_i-cannot-outline-i-do-not-know-what-the_3233406.jpg" --- # I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is… ![“I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is going to happen in the book until it comes out of my fingers.” quote by Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_book_i-cannot-outline-i-do-not-know-what-the_3233406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_book_i-cannot-outline-i-do-not-know-what-the_3233406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_book_i-cannot-outline-i-do-not-know-what-the_3233406.jpg) > “I cannot outline. I do not know what the next thing is going to happen in the book until it comes out of my fingers.” [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative process is uncertain; the story unfolds only as the writer writes. **In simple terms:** Writing reveals itself step by step. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in creation. Themes creativity uncertainty process writing Mood reflective encouraging Type creative process‑oriented When to use this quote - author workshops - creative writing classes - brainstorming sessions Key Concepts flow spontaneity trust improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay open to unexpected ideas? - What practices help you trust the process? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ## Related quotes > [So I made an outline. Well, you know, days are going by, and I am not writing anything because this thing is laid out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-tesich/so-i-made-an-outline-well-you-know-days-are-going-by-and-i-am-not/) Steve Tesich > [An outline is crucial. It saves so much time. When you write suspense, you have to know where you're going because you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/an-outline-is-crucial-it-saves-so-much-time-when-you-write-suspense/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [I always work from an outline, so I know all the of the broad events and some of the finer details before I begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-always-work-from-an-outline-so-i-know-all-the-of-the-broad-events/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/at-the-time-i-begin-writing-a-novel-the-last-thing-i-want-to-do-is/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Full ownership of a book only comes when you have made it a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-van-doren/full-ownership-of-a-book-only-comes-when-you-have-made-it-a-part-of/) [Charles Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-van-doren/) > [A book comes and says, 'Write me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/a-book-comes-and-says-write-me/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [What is the luck of the draw that me - me - who finally writes a book, it comes out in the - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/what-is-the-luck-of-the-draw-that-me-me-who-finally-writes-a-book-it/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [Each new book that comes out kind of pulls up the old ones a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/each-new-book-that-comes-out-kind-of-pulls-up-the-old-ones-a-little/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“Who are these people who think a book comes with a guarantee that they will like it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/who-are-these-people-who-think-a-book-comes-with-a-guarantee-that/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“They say 90% of the promotion of a book comes through word of mouth. But you've somehow got to get your book into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-osmond/they-say-90-of-the-promotion-of-a-book-comes-through-word-of-mouth/) [Claudia Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-osmond/) > [When a book comes from the publisher and you see it for the first time... Of course it's not remotely like seeing a baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/when-a-book-comes-from-the-publisher-and-you-see-it-for-the-first/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [If a book comes from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and author-craft are of small amount to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/if-a-book-comes-from-the-heart-it-will-contrive-to-reach-other-hearts/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [It's nice to have something else going on when a book comes out so you're not just sitting by the phone, waiting for things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/it-s-nice-to-have-something-else-going-on-when-a-book-comes-out-so/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [“In the good mystery there is nothing wasted, no sentence, no word that is not significant. And even if it is not significant, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/in-the-good-mystery-there-is-nothing-wasted-no-sentence-no-word-that/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [When a new book comes out or becomes accessible in whatever form, I get it and I read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/when-a-new-book-comes-out-or-becomes-accessible-in-whatever-form-i/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) ## More by Patricia Reilly Giff > [I loved teaching. It was my world. I only left because I was overwhelmed with three careers - teaching, writing, and my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-loved-teaching-it-was-my-world-i-only-left-because-i-was/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“You're going to be something, you and that language you speak on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/you-re-going-to-be-something-you-and-that-language-you-speak-on-paper/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [The reasons kids get into trouble in one way or another is because - Who ever told them they were special?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/the-reasons-kids-get-into-trouble-in-one-way-or-another-is-because/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“I want to see children curled up with books, finding an awareness of themselves as they discover other people's thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-want-to-see-children-curled-up-with-books-finding-an-awareness-of/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [To me, family is everything. I want children to realize how important their families are and what a support system a family is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/to-me-family-is-everything-i-want-children-to-realize-how-important/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/all-of-my-books-are-based-in-some-way-on-my-personal-experiences-or/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [I myself was terrified during the Second World War. The war started when I was six, and I was so sure that we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-myself-was-terrified-during-the-second-world-war-the-war-started/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [What I think of sometimes, as I read the new books - do kids really need to see such a seamy side of life?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/what-i-think-of-sometimes-as-i-read-the-new-books-do-kids-really-need/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it's like breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/outside-of-family-writing-is-essential-to-me-it-s-like-breathing/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“Don't be silly,” Linda said. “Emily knew all the time.” Emily pulled an old flowerpot out of her way. “Let's look for the box,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/don-t-be-silly-linda-said-emily-knew-all-the-time-emily-pulled-an-old/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [Sometimes when I visit schools, kids will interview me for the school newspaper. They ask me questions and my answers tend to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/sometimes-when-i-visit-schools-kids-will-interview-me-for-the-school/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“The stakes are high. One sound before we escape and we’re stuck with our five-year-old brother, Steadman, for the rest of the morning. Steadman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/the-stakes-are-high-one-sound-before-we-escape-and-we-re-stuck-with/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“I don't really read as much but I am reading a depressing book on the Holocaust…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-don-t-really-read-as-much-but-i-am-reading-a-depressing-book-on-the/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [What inspired me to become an author? I think it was the snow in New York. I looked out the window and I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/what-inspired-me-to-become-an-author-i-think-it-was-the-snow-in-new/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-have-no-special-talent-you-know-i-never-took-a-writing-course/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) [Explore all 28 Patricia Reilly Giff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot outline. 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