When asked about rewriting, Ernest Hemingway said that he…
““When asked about rewriting, Ernest Hemingway said that he rewrote the ending to A Farewell to Arms thirty-nine times before he was satisfied. Vladimir Nabokov wrote that spontaneous eloquence seemed like a miracle and that he rewrote every word he ever published, and often several times. And Mark Strand, former poet laureate, says that each of his poems sometimes goes through forty to fifty drafts before it is finished.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Renowned writers like Hemingway, Nabokov, and Strand repeatedly rewrote their works, often dozens of drafts, before achieving satisfaction.
In simple terms: Great authors revise extensively, sometimes over many drafts.
Key Takeaway
Embrace revision as essential to craft.
Themes
writing
creativity
revision
perseverance
literature
Mood
reflective
inspirational
pragmatic
Type
literary
creative
process
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- author mentorship
- self‑editing guides
Key Concepts
drafting process
authorial discipline
creative workflow
editing techniques
Questions to Reflect On
- How many drafts are enough?
- What signals indicate a work is complete?
A Different Perspective
Endless revisions can stall progress.