Skip to content

When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that…

“When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was expected that I would know about a wide range of books.” quote by Margaret Mahy
Download Open image
“When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was expected that I would know about a wide range of books.”

Margaret Mahy

About This Quote

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

Writing requires self‑editing and broad knowledge; the speaker recalls librarian expectations of extensive literary awareness, highlighting the discipline of craft and the value of diverse reading.

In simple terms: Writing demands self‑editing and wide reading.

Key Takeaway

Broad knowledge aids disciplined writing.

Themes

writing self‑editing knowledge librarianship literature

Mood

pragmatic instructive

Type

advice professional insight

When to use this quote

  • author drafting a manuscript
  • student preparing a research paper
  • editor reviewing submissions

Key Concepts

professional standards continuous learning

Practical Applications

  • Maintain a personal reading list across genres
  • Practice iterative self‑revision

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does reading diverse genres improve your writing?
  • When should you seek external critique?
A Different Perspective

Self‑editing alone may miss blind spots; external feedback remains essential.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Margaret Mahy

Explore all 71 Margaret Mahy quotes

More Book quotes

Browse all 29,378 Book quotes