Argument Quote by Scott Turow
“I really do believe that chance favours a prepared mind. Wallace Stegner, who was one of my teachers when I was at Stanford, preached that writing a novel is not something that can be done in a sprint. That it's a marathon. You have to pace yourself. He himself wrote two pages every day and gave himself a day off at Christmas. His argument was at the end of a year, no matter what, you'd got 700 pages and that there's got to be something worth keeping.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Stanford Writing Workshop, 2015
Preparation and steady effort over time lead to substantial creative output; marathon work beats sprint bursts.
In simple terms: Consistent work yields results.
Key Takeaway
Write daily, even in small amounts.
Themes
discipline
creativity
productivity
long-term planning
Mood
determined
encouraging
Type
practical
motivational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- academic projects
- business plans
- personal goals
Key Concepts
habit formation
writing process
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you maintain momentum during setbacks?
- What daily habit supports your long-term goals?
A Different Perspective
Life events may disrupt schedules, requiring flexibility.
