We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy.
E. L. DoctorowRead
I've known several cases of writers who decide to write about something and they research the hell out of it and when they're ready to write, they can't move because they are so burdened. I start writing. Whatever I need somehow comes to hand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Overthinking and excessive preparation can hinder creativity; action can lead to inspiration and solutions.
E. L. Doctorow's quote emphasizes that the creative process should not be paralyzed by over-researching or overthinking a topic. Instead, taking the initiative to start writing can lead to unexpected ideas and resources that emerge naturally as one engages in the act of creation.
Themes
CreativityWritingActionInspirationResearch
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to encourage participants to start writing without fear, one might use this quote.
More from E. L. Doctorow
All quotes →One of the things I had to learn as a writer was to trust the act of writing. To put myself in the position of writing to find out what I was writing.
E. L. DoctorowRead
In fiction, you know, there are no borders. You can go anywhere.
E. L. DoctorowRead
Books are acts of composition: you compose them. You make music: the music is called fiction.
E. L. DoctorowRead
We are all good friends. Friendship is what endures. Shared ideals, respect for the whole character of a human being.
E. L. DoctorowRead
Things that appear on the front page of the newspaper as 'fact' are far more dangerous than the games played by a novelist, and can lead to wars.
E. L. DoctorowRead
Similar quotes
If you know what you're looking for, that's all you'll get - what's previously known. But when you're open to what's possible, you get something new - that's creativity.
Alan AldaRead
All the creativity books in the world aren’t going to help you if you’re unwilling to have lousy, lame, and even dangerously bad ideas.
Seth GodinRead
I'm not an extraordinary worker, I'm an extraordinary daydreamer. I exceed all my fantasies-even that of writing.
Blaise CendrarsRead
Every time you work on a project, it's a little vacation from the project you're working on the other 23 hours. That's the thing - it replenishes you to do something else.
Joss WhedonRead
People want to be creatively satisfied, and having fun is such an important part of that.
John LasseterRead
Ideas are cheap. Always be passionate about ideas and communicating those ideas and discoveries to others in the things you make.
Charles EamesRead