--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write quickly with a sense of urgency…" description: "\"I write quickly with a sense of urgency. I don't edit myself out of existence, meaning I'll try to write 50 or 60 pages before I start rereading, revis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/anthony-bourdain-649_editing_i-write-quickly-with-a-sense-of-urgency_2969698.jpg" --- # I write quickly with a sense of urgency. I don't edit… ![“I write quickly with a sense of urgency. I don't edit myself out of existence, meaning I'll try to write 50 or 60 pages before I start rereading, revising and editing. That just helps with my confidence.” quote by Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/anthony-bourdain-649_editing_i-write-quickly-with-a-sense-of-urgency_2969698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/anthony-bourdain-649_editing_i-write-quickly-with-a-sense-of-urgency_2969698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/anthony-bourdain-649_editing_i-write-quickly-with-a-sense-of-urgency_2969698.jpg) > “I write quickly with a sense of urgency. I don't edit myself out of existence, meaning I'll try to write 50 or 60 pages before I start rereading, revising and editing. That just helps with my confidence.” [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bourdain emphasizes rapid, unfiltered writing to build confidence, postponing editing until later. **In simple terms:** He writes fast, then edits later. Key Takeaway Write first, edit later. Themes writing process confidence building creative flow editing discipline Mood energetic pragmatic Type creative motivational When to use this quote - blogging - novel drafting - journal entries - content creation - storytelling Key Concepts Urgency authenticity productivity Questions to Reflect On - How does speed affect the quality of your ideas? - When is it best to edit? A Different Perspective Rushed drafts may contain errors that hinder clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Edits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edits/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Rereading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rereading/) [Rereading Revising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rereading-revising-4565853/) [Revising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revising/) [Revising Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revising-editing-4565854/) [Sense of urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-urgency/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-quickly-817300/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Now, as I've gotten older I've been able to write more quickly. Sometimes I get in the space of something and I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/now-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-been-able-to-write-more-quickly/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I write slowly. I actually write quickly, but I throw out so much material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-write-slowly-i-actually-write-quickly-but-i-throw-out-so-much/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [By writing quickly we are not brought to write well, but by writing well we are brought to write quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/by-writing-quickly-we-are-not-brought-to-write-well-but-by-writing/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [As a journalist you have to think quickly, you're exposed to all types of people and situations and you've got to synthesize your thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-spotnitz/as-a-journalist-you-have-to-think-quickly-you-re-exposed-to-all-types/) [Frank Spotnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-spotnitz/) > [Sometimes I write quickly, sometimes I spend several weeks on a single poem. I would really love for readers not to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/sometimes-i-write-quickly-sometimes-i-spend-several-weeks-on-a-single/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [I don't write quickly, and I don't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/i-don-t-write-quickly-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [I write very quickly; I rewrite very slowly. It takes me nearly as long to rewrite a book as it does to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-write-very-quickly-i-rewrite-very-slowly-it-takes-me-nearly-as-long-2/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I must write now and quickly, before I begin to prefer the perfect version that lives in my head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lettie-prell/i-must-write-now-and-quickly-before-i-begin-to-prefer-the-perfect/) [Lettie Prell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lettie-prell/) > [The verbs that are used for people who write quickly are almost never flattering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/the-verbs-that-are-used-for-people-who-write-quickly-are-almost-never/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I do read very, very quickly. I do process data very quickly. And so I write very quickly. And it is embarrassing because there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french/i-do-read-very-very-quickly-i-do-process-data-very-quickly-and-so-i/) [Jackie French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french/) > [I don't really do much social media. I just don't like it that much. I've trained myself to write very slowly for a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-don-t-really-do-much-social-media-i-just-don-t-like-it-that-much-i/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I'd much prefer to write more quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/i-d-much-prefer-to-write-more-quickly/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [I write very quickly; I rewrite very slowly. It takes me nearly as long to rewrite a book as it does to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-write-very-quickly-i-rewrite-very-slowly-it-takes-me-nearly-as-long/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/write-quickly-and-you-will-never-write-well-write-well-and-you-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first thing is, you can't write movie music if you don't know how to write quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/the-first-thing-is-you-can-t-write-movie-music-if-you-don-t-know-how/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) ## More by Anthony Bourdain > [Everything important I learned, I learned as a dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/everything-important-i-learned-i-learned-as-a-dishwasher/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I'm at my most productive before I even have my first cup of coffee. I only get slower and stupider as the day progresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-at-my-most-productive-before-i-even-have-my-first-cup-of-coffee-i/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [The Italians seem to have a better attitude with kids and the food is great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/the-italians-seem-to-have-a-better-attitude-with-kids-and-the-food-is/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Just because I like sushi, doesn't mean I can make sushi. I've come to well understand how many years just to get sushi rice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/just-because-i-like-sushi-doesn-t-mean-i-can-make-sushi-i-ve-come-to/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [At the end of the day, the TV show is the best job in the world. I get to go anywhere I want, eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-tv-show-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-get/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I've sat in sushi bars, really fine ones, and I know how hard this guy worked, how proud he is. I know you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-ve-sat-in-sushi-bars-really-fine-ones-and-i-know-how-hard-this-guy/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“What’s the most frightening thing to a child? The pain of being the outsider, of looking ridiculous to others, of being teased or picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/what-s-the-most-frightening-thing-to-a-child-the-pain-of-being-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“I saw how three or four ingredients, as long as they are of the highest and freshest quality, can be combined in a straightforward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-saw-how-three-or-four-ingredients-as-long-as-they-are-of-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [My mom had Julia Child and 'The Fannie Farmer Cookbook' on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/my-mom-had-julia-child-and-the-fannie-farmer-cookbook-on-top-of-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [If you go to working class, and working poor areas of America, the food sources that are relegated to them are generally limited to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-you-go-to-working-class-and-working-poor-areas-of-america-the-food/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [You realize after you travel enough that there's some things that, no matter how good you are at making television, no matter how good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/you-realize-after-you-travel-enough-that-there-s-some-things-that-no/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“Imagine… There’s a roast goose in Hong Kong—Mongkok, near the outskirts of the city, the place looks like any other. But you sink your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/imagine-there-s-a-roast-goose-in-hong-kong-mongkok-near-the-outskirts/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/if-i-m-an-advocate-for-anything-it-s-to-move-as-far-as-you-can-as/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“The essence of cool, after all, is not giving a fuck. And let’s face it: I most definitely give a fuck now. I give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/the-essence-of-cool-after-all-is-not-giving-a-fuck-and-let-s-face-it/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) [Explore all 428 Anthony Bourdain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) ## More Editing quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [Whenever I finish a film, I feel that this is the worst film that I have made. This is bound to happen because while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/whenever-i-finish-a-film-i-feel-that-this-is-the-worst-film-that-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Songwriting is like editing. You write down all this stuff - all this bad, stupid stuff - and then you have to get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/songwriting-is-like-editing-you-write-down-all-this-stuff-all-this/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [I think what holds people up in creative processes is the expectation of what it is they're doing. It's also the sense of judgement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/i-think-what-holds-people-up-in-creative-processes-is-the-expectation/) [Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/) > [And then to see the whole movie, you're pretty much waiting until the end of production. And the major lifting in terms of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/and-then-to-see-the-whole-movie-you-re-pretty-much-waiting-until-the/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I believe there's a platonic ideal for every book that is written, like there's the perfect version of the book somewhere in the ether,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-believe-there-s-a-platonic-ideal-for-every-book-that-is-written/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [“It’s easy to see what to do once it’s already been done. The difficult time is before it’s to be done, and while you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-easy-to-see-what-to-do-once-it-s-already-been-done-the-difficult/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Once you sign on as an actor, you know, you don't go to the editing room, you don't see how they cut, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/once-you-sign-on-as-an-actor-you-know-you-don-t-go-to-the-editing/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [The momentum of production keeps you from giving up, so it's really the editing and writing phases where things can look bleakest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/the-momentum-of-production-keeps-you-from-giving-up-so-it-s-really/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) > [I spend a lot of time in preproduction working with authors, and a lot of time in postproduction.: editing, music, all that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-preproduction-working-with-authors-and-a-lot/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) [Browse all 938 Editing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write quickly with a sense of urgency. 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