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It's not hard to write poorly. But to write something…

“It's not hard to write poorly. But to write something good, it has to be revised.” quote by Joyce Carol Oates
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“It's not hard to write poorly. But to write something good, it has to be revised.”

Joyce Carol Oates

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Good writing requires revision; poor writing is easy to produce.

In simple terms: Revision makes writing good.

Key Takeaway

Revise relentlessly for quality.

Themes

writing craft improvement

Mood

determined pragmatic

Type

instructional motivational

When to use this quote

  • author workshops
  • self‑editing
  • peer review

Key Concepts

editing drafting self‑critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How many drafts does a piece need?
  • What revision strategies work best for you?
A Different Perspective

Revision can be time‑consuming and discouraging.

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