Chimneys Quote by Stephen King
““I have never felt like I was creating anything. For me, writing is like walking through a desert and all at once, poking up through the hardpan, I see the top of a chimney. I know there's a house under there, and I'm pretty sure that I can dig it up if I want. That's how I feel. It's like the stories are already there. What they pay me for is the leap of faith that says: "If I sit down and do this, everything will come out OK.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: “On Writing” with Stephen King, 2000
The writer feels stories already exist, and the act of writing is uncovering them, trusting the process to produce a finished work.
In simple terms: Writing uncovers pre‑existing stories; trust the process.
Key Takeaway
Trust the process and let stories emerge.
Themes
creativity
trust
writing
process
discovery
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- authoring a novel
- screenwriting
- journalism
- personal essays
Key Concepts
latent narratives
creative confidence
faith in craft
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you know when a story is ready to be uncovered?
- What role does discipline play alongside faith?
A Different Perspective
Some stories may resist discovery, requiring more than faith alone.
