--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't outline. I sit down to write, and…" description: "\"I don't outline. I sit down to write, and I take the ride. If something starts to not feel right, I go back to the last place that felt like jazz to me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/taylor-sheridan-7239_go_i-don-t-outline-i-sit-down-to-write-and_1055282.jpg" --- # I don't outline. I sit down to write, and I take the ride… ![“I don't outline. I sit down to write, and I take the ride. If something starts to not feel right, I go back to the last place that felt like jazz to me.” quote by Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/taylor-sheridan-7239_go_i-don-t-outline-i-sit-down-to-write-and_1055282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/taylor-sheridan-7239_go_i-don-t-outline-i-sit-down-to-write-and_1055282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/taylor-sheridan-7239_go_i-don-t-outline-i-sit-down-to-write-and_1055282.jpg) > “I don't outline. I sit down to write, and I take the ride. If something starts to not feel right, I go back to the last place that felt like jazz to me.” [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is like improvisational jazz; follow the flow, and return to the groove when it feels off. **In simple terms:** Write freely, adjust when it feels wrong. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneous creativity. Themes creativity process improvisation Mood inspirational thoughtful Type process creative When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative blocks Key Concepts writing artistic flow Questions to Reflect On - What does your creative “jazz” sound like? - How do you know when to return to the original idea? A Different Perspective Too much improvisation may lack structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Last place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-place/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Ride, authors. Write a ride. Figure out what yours is, and then pimp the ever-living shit out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/ride-authors-write-a-ride-figure-out-what-yours-is-and-then-pimp-the/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [I don't make outlines or plans because whenever I do, they turn out to be useless. It is as if I am compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/i-don-t-make-outlines-or-plans-because-whenever-i-do-they-turn-out-to/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [When I pictured myself, it was always like just an outline in a colouring book, with the inside not yet completed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-i-pictured-myself-it-was-always-like-just-an-outline-in-a/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/the-more-work-you-put-in-on-your-outline-and-getting-the-skeleton-of/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [My general writing preface is to write an outline and then ignore about half of it, both on a micro level with the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/my-general-writing-preface-is-to-write-an-outline-and-then-ignore/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I write on big yellow legal pads - ideas in outline form when I'm doing stand-up and stuff. It's vivid that way. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-write-on-big-yellow-legal-pads-ideas-in-outline-form-when-i-m-doing/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [“As long as there have been stories, there have been characters that refuse to stick to the outline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-selfors/as-long-as-there-have-been-stories-there-have-been-characters-that/) [Suzanne Selfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-selfors/) > [That was, in writing the 'Twilight' script I had about five weeks to write that. I'd taken about a month to write the outline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/that-was-in-writing-the-twilight-script-i-had-about-five-weeks-to/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [Outlining is like putting on training wheels. It gives me the courage to write, but we always go off the outline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-ephron/outlining-is-like-putting-on-training-wheels-it-gives-me-the-courage/) [Hallie Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-ephron/) > [I don't write a play from beginning to end. I don't write an outline. I write scenes and moments as they occur to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/i-don-t-write-a-play-from-beginning-to-end-i-don-t-write-an-outline-i/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [I think that by following the route that I have tried to outline, one gets into a much more interesting and productive series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-harris/i-think-that-by-following-the-route-that-i-have-tried-to-outline-one/) [Marvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-harris/) > [When I'm writing the first draft, I'm writing in a very slovenly way: anything to get the outline of the story on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/when-i-m-writing-the-first-draft-i-m-writing-in-a-very-slovenly-way/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [I really don't keep an outline; I don't organize in any way. I just write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/i-really-don-t-keep-an-outline-i-don-t-organize-in-any-way-i-just/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Normally, I spend a week on the outline and take two weeks to write the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/normally-i-spend-a-week-on-the-outline-and-take-two-weeks-to-write/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) ## More by Taylor Sheridan > [I finished 'Hell or High Water' and started writing 'Wind River' literally the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-finished-hell-or-high-water-and-started-writing-wind-river/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Once I finished 'Sicario,' I knew I wanted to follow it up with 'Hell or High Water.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/once-i-finished-sicario-i-knew-i-wanted-to-follow-it-up-with-hell-or/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Sometimes audiences want to see what we're doing to their world. It's our obligation sometimes to reflect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/sometimes-audiences-want-to-see-what-we-re-doing-to-their-world-it-s/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I think that marriage of music and picture is so vital, especially in a film that's almost exclusively exteriors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-think-that-marriage-of-music-and-picture-is-so-vital-especially-in/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [To me, a purely good individual or purely bad individual, that's a comic book - that's a fantasy - and I don't do fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/to-me-a-purely-good-individual-or-purely-bad-individual-that-s-a/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I don't know if I've ever met anyone that's purely good or purely evil myself. I think most of us live with some varying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-met-anyone-that-s-purely-good-or-purely/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Every writer has written a spec. It's the first thing you write, and it basically stands as a means of, 'Here's an example of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/every-writer-has-written-a-spec-it-s-the-first-thing-you-write-and-it/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [One of the major issues that's constantly batted around Hollywood and the media is my industry's responsibility toward the portrayal of violence. There's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/one-of-the-major-issues-that-s-constantly-batted-around-hollywood-and/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I work very hard to line up stereotypes and then smash them with a hammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-work-very-hard-to-line-up-stereotypes-and-then-smash-them-with-a/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Unfortunately, there is still much to mine in this world and explore creatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/unfortunately-there-is-still-much-to-mine-in-this-world-and-explore/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Don't try and make a movie for someone else. You have to make it for you and trust that you're not that unique. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/don-t-try-and-make-a-movie-for-someone-else-you-have-to-make-it-for/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [You can really examine the suffering and consequences that happen when there's a loss in a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/you-can-really-examine-the-suffering-and-consequences-that-happen/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [In 2005, I visited my home state of Texas, spending time on a ranch outside the town of Post. Then spending some time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/in-2005-i-visited-my-home-state-of-texas-spending-time-on-a-ranch/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I mean... directing is a holy, unpleasant experience, to be perfectly honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-mean-directing-is-a-holy-unpleasant-experience-to-be-perfectly/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [Some of the most fascinating scenes in 'Unforgiven,' for me, is that scene with Gene Hackman where he's talking about the Duke of Death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/some-of-the-most-fascinating-scenes-in-unforgiven-for-me-is-that/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) [Explore all 93 Taylor Sheridan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) ## More Go quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [I go out there and I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-chubb/i-go-out-there-and-i-work/) [Nick Chubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-chubb/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) Browse all 23,138 Go quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't outline. I sit down to write, and I take the ride. 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