I get enjoyment out of writing, but I get absolutely no…
“I get enjoyment out of writing, but I get absolutely no enjoyment out of rewriting, so I don't do much of it. The more you work on something, certainly, the better it gets. But there's also a pretty clear law of diminishing returns. It drives me crazy to do readings of my books, because if I read anything I've written in the past, I'd like to almost rewrite everything.”
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 enjoyable, but revising feels tedious; effort improves work but returns decline.
In simple terms: Writing is fun, editing is not.
Key Takeaway
Accept that editing is necessary but limit it.
Themes
creativity
productivity
perfectionism
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- author drafting
- self‑editing
- academic writing
- novel revisions
Key Concepts
law of diminishing returns
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance polish with momentum?
- When does editing become counterproductive?
A Different Perspective
Excessive editing can stall progress.