Choices Quote by Robert McKee

I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a writer is to follow your initial [writing] plan too stringently. A story…

— Patrick Rothfuss

Development involves giving up a smaller story in order to wake up to a larger story.

— Jean Houston

Write out the story - rapidly, fluently, and not too critically - following the second or narrative-order synopsis. Change incidents and plot whenever the…

— H. P. Lovecraft

I would rather read a poorly structured story that has fresh ideas than a tightly structured one with cliches.

— Douglas Wood

I never plan my novels because if I know what is going to happen, it bores me rigid. I let the story tell itself.

— James Herbert

“To write an excellent novel, make the outcome of the story matter to the reader through the evolving relationships between well-designed characters.”

— Martin Sandforth

What writer wants to make compromises with story? Story is the only reason you're in it.

— David Simon

I do better just letting the stories develop. I don't outline very well, and I can't follow it if I do. Once I've outlined…

— Joe R. Lansdale

My research process doesn't vary much. I do a little reading to establish a timeline and decide how I'm going to approach the story.

— Laurie Graham

It's easier to come up with new stories than it is to finish the ones you already have. I think every author would feel…

— Stephenie Meyer

So many stories are determined before they start.

— Lionel Shriver

When I write my novels I don't really have a huge plan beforehand; I don't have the whole plot and architecture, so the story…

— Michael Ondaatje