Books Quote by Tom Clancy

Two questions form the foundation of all novels: "What if?" and "What next?" (A third question, "What now?", is one the author asks himself…

— Tom Clancy

I think there is often a 'what if' proposition that gets me thinking about all my novels.

— John Irving

... the main concern of the fiction writer is with mystery as it is incarnated in human life.

— Flannery O'Connor

If you're doing a good job as author, then you get the reader to engage in whatever speculation might be called for. And it's…

— Russell Freedman

I never know what's going to happen in a novel. I don't have a plan or an outline.

— Donna Leon

There's almost always a point in a book where something happens that triggers the rest of the plot.

— Jonathan Carroll

Whenever I start a novel, I'm always looking for two things: a bit of science that makes me go 'what if?' and a piece…

— James Rollins

I'm not nearly smart enough or imaginative enough to tackle the novel form. Never happen.

— Mary Karr

NEVER GO BACK TO AN X. ITS LIKE READING THE SAME BOOK OVER&OVER AGAIN WHEN YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

— Author Name

I never plot out my novels in terms of the tone of the book. Hopefully, once a story is begun it reveals itself

— Alice Hoffman

Once a novel gets going and I know it is viable, I don't then worry about plot or themes. These things will come in…

— Chinua Achebe

The idea that I'm going to have to sit down to write some fiction where I'm going to have to think of a plot…

— Tracey Emin