Editing Quote by David Mitchell
“Writing is probably one-fifth coming up with the stuff, and four-fifths self-editing again and again and again.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, David Mitchell, 2018
Writing requires far more effort in revising and polishing than in generating initial ideas.
In simple terms: Editing dominates the writing process.
Prioritize editing to improve your work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- drafting
- self-editing
- publishing
- academic writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How much time should you allocate to editing?
- What balance between creation and revision works for you?
It may undervalue the importance of original ideas.