Now I rewrite more and more severely, and I take great…
“Now I rewrite more and more severely, and I take great pleasure in cutting thousands of words out of first drafts; I think that's a pleasure worth learning as early as possible in one's career, not least because realizing that one can do it helps one relax into writing the first draft in which it's better to have too much material for later shaping than not enough.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Editing heavily early saves time later and eases the drafting process.
In simple terms: Edit early to ease later work.
Key Takeaway
Edit early, write freely.
Themes
writing
editing
productivity
Mood
thoughtful
practical
Type
advice
inspirational
When to use this quote
- first drafts
- novel writing
- academic papers
Key Concepts
conciseness
revision
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you stop editing?
- How does early cutting affect voice?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing can stifle creativity.