E.L. Doctorow said once said that 'Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.' You don't have to see where you're going, you don't have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing, or life, I have ever heard.
In her book "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life," Anne Lamott reflects on a quote by E.L. Doctorow, stating that writing a novel is akin to driving at night. The idea conveyed is that just as drivers rely on their headlights to illuminate a small distance ahead, writers don't need to have a complete vision of their entire journey. Instead, they can navigate through the writing process by focusing on the immediate next steps rather than the whole narrative pathway.
This perspective is not only valuable for writers but also serves as profound life advice. It encourages individuals to embrace the uncertainty of the unknown and to trust that it’s sufficient to see just a short distance ahead. This approach allows for personal growth and creativity, reinforcing that one can progress toward their goals without needing a full, clear view of every detail that lies ahead.
