--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first two chapters of any first draft…" description: "\"The first two chapters of any first draft generally need to be cut.\" — Aprilynne Pike" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png" --- # The first two chapters of any first draft generally need… ![“The first two chapters of any first draft generally need to be cut.” quote by Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png) > “The first two chapters of any first draft generally need to be cut.” [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early drafts are messy; the first two chapters usually contain excess that must be removed to sharpen the story. **In simple terms:** Cut the opening chapters to improve a draft. Key Takeaway Edit ruthlessly. Themes writing editing drafting Mood frustrated determined Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay drafting - blog post revisions Key Concepts structure clarity conciseness Questions to Reflect On - Which parts of your opening feel redundant? - How can you preserve essential ideas while trimming? A Different Perspective Cutting may remove ideas that later become valuable after revision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Chapters Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters-draft-4872217/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) [Draft Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft-generally-4872218/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Need Cut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-cut-315678/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Im hearing what you say but I just cant make a sound. You tell me that you need me then you go and cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-hearing-what-you-say-but-i-just-cant-make-a-sound-you-tell-me-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You need to cut a few things out if you want to be the best you can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-barkley/you-need-to-cut-a-few-things-out-if-you-want-to-be-the-best-you-can-be/) [Ross Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-barkley/) > [Some things don't need to be cut back. They need to be cut off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/some-things-don-t-need-to-be-cut-back-they-need-to-be-cut-off/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Can there not be a limit to the fact that really you need to cut your cloth in accordance with what capabilities and finances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/can-there-not-be-a-limit-to-the-fact-that-really-you-need-to-cut-your/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [I need to scream I need to cry I need to cut I need to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keys/i-need-to-scream-i-need-to-cry-i-need-to-cut-i-need-to-die/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keys/) > [“But as the years passed, he missed her more, not less, and his need for her became a cut that would not scar over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/but-as-the-years-passed-he-missed-her-more-not-less-and-his-need-for/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [People need to cut me a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-morrison/people-need-to-cut-me-a-break/) [Tommy Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-morrison/) > [“I need to cut and paste," she'd say to Nick. 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Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [We need to cut these things that aren't constitutionally mandated, that are kind of on the periphery, the fluffery, like NPR and National Endowment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/we-need-to-cut-these-things-that-aren-t-constitutionally-mandated/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [We need to cut regulations. Apparently this will make everyone a little more socially responsible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/we-need-to-cut-regulations-apparently-this-will-make-everyone-a/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [You tell me that you need me then you go and cut me down, but wait. You tell me that you're sorry didn't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-republic/you-tell-me-that-you-need-me-then-you-go-and-cut-me-down-but-wait-you/) [One Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-republic/) > [Look at meh fringe.-.- I need to cut it. Its long enough to cover my eyes. But not the way I want it..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/look-at-meh-fringe-i-need-to-cut-it-its-long-enough-to-cover-my-eyes/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) > [It's about ethical. It's about leading from the front, and it's kind of hard to look at people and say hey, listen, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-nugent/it-s-about-ethical-it-s-about-leading-from-the-front-and-it-s-kind-of/) [Rich Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-nugent/) ## More by Aprilynne Pike > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Tamani?" she asked, even though she knew this was the wrong time. "How is a plant supposed to beat a superstrong troll?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-she-asked-even-though-she-knew-this-was-the-wrong-time-how-is/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“It didn't matter to her that Tamani only had weak magic, he was magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-didn-t-matter-to-her-that-tamani-only-had-weak-magic-he-was-magic/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“...I'm the last person to tell you that you need a guy to make you happy. But if you're not moving on because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/i-m-the-last-person-to-tell-you-that-you-need-a-guy-to-make-you-happy/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [ “He exuded wisdom-even the wisest...were pale, flickering candles next to the nourishing solar illumination of \[his\] insights.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/he-exuded-wisdom-even-the-wisest-were-pale-flickering-candles-next-to/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“You could be David's friend too". She glanced at Tamani when he said nothing. He was frowning. 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I'll keep you safe," he said stepping forward to sweep a lock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/you-live-your-life-and-continue-with-all-of-your-normal-activities-i/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-looked-at-her-gravely-and-reached-up-to-tuck-her-hair-behind/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Paranormalcy seduced me. The two sexy paranormals who vie for Evie's affections each had their own victory; one won Evie's heart and the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/paranormalcy-seduced-me-the-two-sexy-paranormals-who-vie-for-evie-s/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [No - the light in Tamani's eyes was much more than a reflection. 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Hope makes our lives page turners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/no-book-is-a-chapter-no-chapter-tells-the-whole-story-no-mistake/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I try to have a mood or a rhythm for a chapter,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-try-to-have-a-mood-or-a-rhythm-for-a-chapter/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) [Browse all 751 Chapters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first two chapters of any first draft generally need to be cut.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aprilynne Pike" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draft-generally-need-to-be-cut/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chapters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draft-generally-need-to-be-cut/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/aprilynne-pike-4513_chapters_the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draf_2207007.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first two chapters of any first draft generally need to be cut.” — Aprilynne Pike", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aprilynne Pike", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The first two chapters of any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draft-generally-need-to-be-cut/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/the-first-two-chapters-of-any-first-draft-generally-need-to-be-cut/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```