--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It can take years. With the first draft…" description: "\"It can take years. With the first draft, I just write everything. With the second draft, it becomes so depressing for me, because I realize that I was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/david-sedaris-333_depressing_it-can-take-years-with-the-first-draft-i_2466912.jpg" --- # It can take years. With the first draft, I just write… ![“It can take years. With the first draft, I just write everything. With the second draft, it becomes so depressing for me, because I realize that I was fooled into thinking I'd written the story. I hadn't-I had just typed for a long time. So then I have to carve out a story from the 25 or so pages…” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/david-sedaris-333_depressing_it-can-take-years-with-the-first-draft-i_2466912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/david-sedaris-333_depressing_it-can-take-years-with-the-first-draft-i_2466912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/david-sedaris-333_depressing_it-can-take-years-with-the-first-draft-i_2466912.jpg) > “It can take years. With the first draft, I just write everything. With the second draft, it becomes so depressing for me, because I realize that I was fooled into thinking I'd written the story. I hadn't-I had just typed for a long time. So then I have to carve out a story from the 25 or so pages. It's in there somewhere-but I have to find it. I'll then write a third, fourth, and fifth draft, and so on.” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing involves multiple drafts; initial drafts are raw, later drafts reveal truth, requiring perseverance to uncover the story. **In simple terms:** Writing needs many revisions to find the core. Key Takeaway Revise relentlessly. Themes writing process perseverance Mood introspective determined Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - academic papers - blog posts - screenplays Key Concepts Narrative structure self‑editing Questions to Reflect On - What does your first draft hide? - How do you stay motivated through revisions? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing/) [Fifth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifth/) [Fifth Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifth-draft-718657/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fooled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooled/) [Fourth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth/) [Just Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-write-314859/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Second Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-draft-718656/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-story-718658/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like re-writing very much. The fourth and the fifth draft - that's too much like work. There's not much inspiration about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-don-t-like-re-writing-very-much-the-fourth-and-the-fifth-draft-that/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published, or writing a novel and getting it published, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-think-i-got-spoiled-and-that-writing-a-short-story-and-getting-it/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [“Now think of life in the same terms. Start over when you have to. Make a second draft. Or a third. Embrace the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-klise/now-think-of-life-in-the-same-terms-start-over-when-you-have-to-make/) [Kate Klise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-klise/) > [“I am hard at work on the second draft ... Second draft is really a misnomer as there are a gazillion revisions, large and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-am-hard-at-work-on-the-second-draft-second-draft-is-really-a/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [It's one of the things writing students don't understand. They write a first draft and are quite disappointed, or often should be disappointed. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hardwick/it-s-one-of-the-things-writing-students-don-t-understand-they-write-a/) [Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hardwick/) > [“Your job during or just after the first draft is to decide what something or somethings yours is about. Your job in the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/your-job-during-or-just-after-the-first-draft-is-to-decide-what/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“First draft: let it run. Turn all the knobs up to 11. Second draft: hell. Cut it down and cut it into shape. Third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/first-draft-let-it-run-turn-all-the-knobs-up-to-11-second-draft-hell/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [During my second draft pass on my last book I made 20,000 words happen in a week, which is practically supernatural for me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/during-my-second-draft-pass-on-my-last-book-i-made-20-000-words/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Formula: Second Draft = First Draft minus 10%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/formula-second-draft-first-draft-minus-10/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The second draft is on yellow paper, that's when I work on characterizations. The third is pink, I work on story motivations. Then blue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-susann/the-second-draft-is-on-yellow-paper-that-s-when-i-work-on/) [Jacqueline Susann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-susann/) > [I start my process hand written, and then I dump it in. It's like you're getting a second draft 'cause when I put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-start-my-process-hand-written-and-then-i-dump-it-in-it-s-like-you/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“Get your story written, you always have the second and third draft to fix things like tense, 1st vs 3rd person, the exact right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andromeda-edison/get-your-story-written-you-always-have-the-second-and-third-draft-to/) [Andromeda Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andromeda-edison/) > [Write with abandon and no constraints for first draft. Cut brutally and save in separate files on second draft. Add conflict; don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/write-with-abandon-and-no-constraints-for-first-draft-cut-brutally/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something-anything-down on paper. A friend of mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/almost-all-good-writing-begins-with-terrible-first-efforts-you-need-2/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [First, you need to write the script, re-work on lots of things. First draft, second draft, once the final script is ready then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/first-you-need-to-write-the-script-re-work-on-lots-of-things-first/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More Depressing quotes > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [There is not a country on earth that could get its fiscal house in order by shrinking opportunity and depressing growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/there-is-not-a-country-on-earth-that-could-get-its-fiscal-house-in/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [I think it is kind of depressing how few female filmmakers there are. I think it is in general depressing how few women there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-think-it-is-kind-of-depressing-how-few-female-filmmakers-there-are/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [We're in a situation where talented, motivated school leavers and graduates can send off a hundred CVs and not get a reply, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameela-jamil/we-re-in-a-situation-where-talented-motivated-school-leavers-and/) [Jameela Jamil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameela-jamil/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) > [It is, of course, a luxury to create art and, on top of this, to insist on expressing one's own artistic opinion. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beckmann/it-is-of-course-a-luxury-to-create-art-and-on-top-of-this-to-insist/) [Max Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beckmann/) > [Antidepressants sure kill your sexual life...Now, THAT'S depressing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/antidepressants-sure-kill-your-sexual-life-now-that-s-depressing/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [“They went through the last of the cars and then walked up the track to the locomotive and climbed up to the catwalk. Rust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-went-through-the-last-of-the-cars-and-then-walked-up-the-track/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I read the most extravagant things about people who suffer and depress because of things written about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/i-read-the-most-extravagant-things-about-people-who-suffer-and/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Despite my extremely modest prices, dealers and art lovers are turning their backs on me. It is very depressing to see the lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/despite-my-extremely-modest-prices-dealers-and-art-lovers-are-turning/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I've seen few things more depressing than the end-of-season Giants-Padres series in 2001 in which Barry Bonds hit his 68th homer of the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/i-ve-seen-few-things-more-depressing-than-the-end-of-season-giants/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [Everything we do really is just a little marker on the long road to death. And sometimes that’s overwhelmingly depressing to me, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/everything-we-do-really-is-just-a-little-marker-on-the-long-road-to/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) [Browse all 888 Depressing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It can take years. With the first draft, I just write everything. With the second draft, it becomes so depressing for me, because I realize that I was fooled into thinking I'd written the story. I hadn't-I had just typed for a long time. So then I have to carve out a story from the 25 or so pages. It's in there somewhere-but I have to find it. 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