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Cutting Quote by David Sedaris

“I wish that I had re-edited 'Theft By Finding' after I did the audio. Because the audio took 40 hours in the studio, and I was standing on my feet. So toward the end of it I'd be looking at certain diary entries and I would think, "Is this really worth my time to read this out loud?" And I would…” quote by David Sedaris
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“I wish that I had re-edited 'Theft By Finding' after I did the audio. Because the audio took 40 hours in the studio, and I was standing on my feet. So toward the end of it I'd be looking at certain diary entries and I would think, "Is this really worth my time to read this out loud?" And I would think, "No, it is not." I would have cut out 75 pages, just because I was tired of standing up.”

David Sedaris

About This Quote

Source Interview: Live at the Audre Lorde Lecture, 2019

The author regrets editing a book after a tiring audio recording, realizing fatigue led to unnecessary cuts.

In simple terms: Fatigue caused unnecessary editing cuts.

Key Takeaway

Consider energy levels before extensive tasks.

Themes

creative process fatigue editing decision making

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

advice personal anecdote

When to use this quote

  • writing
  • audio production
  • publishing
  • time management

Key Concepts

cognitive bias resource allocation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you guard against fatigue‑induced shortcuts?
  • What strategies preserve quality under strain?
A Different Perspective

Energy depletion can compromise quality decisions.

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