--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe writing can't be taught, but…" description: "\"Maybe writing can't be taught, but editing can be taught—prayer, fasting and self-mutilation.\" — Donald Barthelme" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/donald-barthelme-2980_editing_maybe-writing-can-t-be-taught-but-editin_2810289.png" --- # Maybe writing can't be taught, but editing can be… ![“Maybe writing can't be taught, but editing can be taught—prayer, fasting and self-mutilation.” quote by Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/donald-barthelme-2980_editing_maybe-writing-can-t-be-taught-but-editin_2810289.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/donald-barthelme-2980_editing_maybe-writing-can-t-be-taught-but-editin_2810289.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/donald-barthelme-2980_editing_maybe-writing-can-t-be-taught-but-editin_2810289.png) > “Maybe writing can't be taught, but editing can be taught—prayer, fasting and self-mutilation.” [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing skill is innate, but editing can be learned through disciplined practice and self‑critique. **In simple terms:** Writing is natural; editing is taught. Key Takeaway Practice editing regularly. Themes creativity editing discipline Mood reflective analytical Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - self‑editing - peer review - professional editing Key Concepts self‑improvement skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure editing practice? - What habits improve editing? A Different Perspective Editing alone cannot compensate for lack of original ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Editing Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing-taught-3515638/) [Fasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fasting/) [Maybe Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-writing-670749/) [Mutilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutilation/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self mutilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-mutilation/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-editing-3515639/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-taught-871525/) ## Related quotes > [“Well how many troubles should equal a legitimate reason for self-mutilation? 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You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [Whenever I finish a film, I feel that this is the worst film that I have made. This is bound to happen because while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/whenever-i-finish-a-film-i-feel-that-this-is-the-worst-film-that-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. 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