This leads me to the Higher Editing. Take of well-ground…
““This leads me to the Higher Editing. Take of well-ground Indian Ink as much as suffices and a camel-hair brush proportionate to the inter-spaces of your lines. In an auspicious hour, read your final draft and consider faithfully every paragraph, sentence and word, blacking out where requisite. Let it lie by to drain as long as possible. At the end of that time, re-read and you should find that it will bear a second shortening. Finally, read it aloud alone and at leisure. Maybe a shade more brushwork will then indicate or impose itself. If not, praise Allah and let it go, and ‘when thou hast done, repent not.’ The shorter the tale, the longer the brushwork and, normally, the shorter the lie-by, and vice versa. The longer the tale, the less brush but the longer lie-by. I have had tales by me for three or five years which shortened themselves almost yearly. The magic lies in the Brush and the Ink. For the Pen, when it is writing, can only scratch; and bottled ink is not to compare with the ground Chinese stick. Experto crede.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Editing should be iterative, using precise tools and time to refine and shorten text, achieving clarity and depth.
In simple terms: Revise repeatedly with care and patience.
Key Takeaway
Edit deliberately, let work rest, then refine.
Themes
writing
editing
clarity
patience
craft
Mood
reflective
focused
methodical
Type
instructional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- author drafts
- final proofread
- reading aloud
- self‑editing
Key Concepts
iteration
conciseness
mindful revision
self‑discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distance from your work affect its clarity?
- What tools help you achieve concise expression?
A Different Perspective
Time constraints may limit thorough revision.