Usually, the way I write is to sit down at a typewriter…
“Usually, the way I write is to sit down at a typewriter after that year or so of what passes for thinking, and I write a first draft quite rapidly. Read it over. Make a few pencil corrections, where I think I've got the rhythms wrong in the speeches, for example, and then retype the whole thing. And in the retyping I discover that maybe one or two more speeches will come in. One or two more things will happen, but not much.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Drafting quickly, then revising through retyping, refines ideas and uncovers new content.
In simple terms: Write fast, edit by retyping.
Key Takeaway
Embrace rapid drafting and iterative editing.
Themes
writing process
revision
creativity
drafting
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
creative
process‑oriented
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- playwriting
- academic essays
Key Concepts
cognitive restructuring
iterative refinement
Questions to Reflect On
- How does retyping change your perspective?
- What benefits arise from rapid first drafts?
A Different Perspective
Rewriting can be time‑consuming and may stall progress.