I think I was also afraid of the novel. I write line by…
“I think I was also afraid of the novel. I write line by line, proceeding at snail's pace, rewriting as I go and paring the excess away. This is against all the best advice for writing long form prose, and I have tried over the years to break myself of the habit, but I can't bear to leave anything ungainly on the page and half the fun for me is that tinkering. So the length of a novel was a daunting prospect.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She fears the length of a novel, writes slowly, revises constantly, and enjoys meticulous editing despite advice to write faster.
In simple terms: She writes slowly, revises heavily, and fears long projects.
Key Takeaway
Accept your pace; focus on quality over speed.
Themes
writing anxiety
editing obsession
creative process
Mood
determined
introspective
Type
creative
process
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- creative workshops
- self‑editing
Key Concepts
Perfectionism
process‑oriented writing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance thorough editing with progress?
- What strategies could reduce fear of length?
A Different Perspective
Slow pace may delay completion and cause self‑doubt.