Assuming Quote by Dani Shapiro
“Confidence is highly overrated when it comes to creating literature. A writer who is overly confident will not engage in the struggle to get it exactly right on the page - but rather, will assume that she's getting it right without the struggle.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Art of Writing,” 2022
Overconfidence hinders a writer’s willingness to revise and perfect their work, leading to complacent drafts.
In simple terms: Too much confidence stops careful editing.
Embrace humility and revise relentlessly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- academic papers
- blog posts
- screenplays
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑doubt improve your writing?
- When have you benefited from a critical review?
Confidence can boost motivation but may blind you to flaws.