I write a ridiculous number of drafts. The characters…
“I write a ridiculous number of drafts. The characters change and grow through the drafting, and my understanding of them deepens. Creating characters in a novel is like shooting at clay pigeons and missing, and then missing more productively as the narrative continues.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writing many drafts lets characters evolve, deepening the author's insight and improving the story through iterative refinement.
In simple terms: Drafts help characters grow and writer learn.
Key Takeaway
Embrace revision to deepen character understanding.
Themes
writing
revision
character development
creativity
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Novel drafting
- screenwriting
- short story creation
- workshop feedback
Key Concepts
Iterative process
self‑reflection
narrative craft
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you know when a character is fully realized?
- What revision strategies keep momentum?
A Different Perspective
Too many drafts can stall progress if not balanced with decisive editing.