--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Generally I start writing when I have…" description: "\"Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest idea of how a book is going to go, because the physical process of writing itself keeps the min..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg" --- # Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest… ![“Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest idea of how a book is going to go, because the physical process of writing itself keeps the mind active and focused on the job at hand. Usually I write in about 5 drafts, but that simply means there are 5 definite times when I go in a linear…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg) > “Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest idea of how a book is going to go, because the physical process of writing itself keeps the mind active and focused on the job at hand. Usually I write in about 5 drafts, but that simply means there are 5 definite times when I go in a linear fashion from the beginning to the end of the book.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing drafts activates the mind, turning vague ideas into a structured book through iterative focus. **In simple terms:** Drafting keeps ideas alive and organized. Key Takeaway Use drafts to maintain momentum and clarity. Themes writing creativity focus process Mood productive determined Type advice process When to use this quote - authoring a novel - academic papers - screenplays - business proposals Key Concepts iteration mental activation structure Questions to Reflect On - How many drafts are truly needed? - What techniques keep drafts purposeful? A Different Perspective Drafts may become endless revisions without clear goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Definite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definite/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Linear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linear/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Smallest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smallest/) [Start Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-writing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Usually Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-write/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-drafts-406881/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I used to like reading and you read enough books and you overflow and then you start writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-used-to-like-reading-and-you-read-enough-books-and-you-overflow-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [I write first drafts by hand. Never do I open an umbrella inside the house. I don't predict wins or losses. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/i-write-first-drafts-by-hand-never-do-i-open-an-umbrella-inside-the/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I write first drafts feverishly fast, and then I spend years editing. It's not that sentence-by-sentence perfectionist technique some writers I admire use. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porochista-khakpour/i-write-first-drafts-feverishly-fast-and-then-i-spend-years-editing/) [Porochista Khakpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porochista-khakpour/) > [I don't write drafts. I write from the beginning to the end, and when it's finished, it's done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/i-don-t-write-drafts-i-write-from-the-beginning-to-the-end-and-when/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [I prefer to write first drafts as soon as possible after waking, so that the oneiric inscape is still present to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/i-prefer-to-write-first-drafts-as-soon-as-possible-after-waking-so/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [“Whenever I write first drafts, I like to maximize the possibility of f-ups, mistakes, mis-written words, digressions, crazy changes in tone, etc. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/whenever-i-write-first-drafts-i-like-to-maximize-the-possibility-of-f/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [If you imagine the world listening, you'll never write a line. That's why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/if-you-imagine-the-world-listening-you-ll-never-write-a-line-that-s/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I would advise any beginning writer to write the first drafts as if no one else will ever read them - without a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/i-would-advise-any-beginning-writer-to-write-the-first-drafts-as-if/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/you-should-write-first-drafts-as-if-they-will-never-be-shown-to-anyone/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [You see things that are and think 'Why?' But I dream of things that never were and think 'Why not? That's why you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam/you-see-things-that-are-and-think-why-but-i-dream-of-things-that/) [AnuPam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam/) > [I tend to write first drafts that are incredibly cognitive, very rational, very boring. They come off as justification. Like, 'This is my idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-tend-to-write-first-drafts-that-are-incredibly-cognitive-very/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I had written eight drafts of the Lemony Snicket' screenplay when this changing-of-the-guard thing happened, and I said to the new producers, "I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-had-written-eight-drafts-of-the-lemony-snicket-screenplay-when-this/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [I'm constantly at war with myself to quit goofing around, and the internet hasn't helped that any. I've learned that I have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-abu-jaber/i-m-constantly-at-war-with-myself-to-quit-goofing-around-and-the/) [Diana Abu-Jaber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-abu-jaber/) > [I write first drafts by hand, often out of the house somewhere, and then, when I've got a draft, type it up and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-write-first-drafts-by-hand-often-out-of-the-house-somewhere-and/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) [Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest idea of how a book is going to go, because the physical process of writing itself keeps the mind active and focused on the job at hand. Usually I write in about 5 drafts, but that simply means there are 5 definite times when I go in a linear fashion from the beginning to the end of the book.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-even-the-smallest-idea-of-how-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Active" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-even-the-smallest-idea-of-how-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/terry-pratchett-19_active_generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-ev_2424240.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Generally I start writing when I have even the smallest idea of how a book is going to go, because the…” — Terry Pratchett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Generally I start writing when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-even-the-smallest-idea-of-how-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/generally-i-start-writing-when-i-have-even-the-smallest-idea-of-how-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```