--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think anything I've written has…" description: "\"I don't think anything I've written has been done in under six or eight drafts. Usually it takes me a few years to write a book. 'World's Fair' was an ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/e-l-doctorow-4627_anything_i-don-t-think-anything-i-ve-written-has_747330.png" --- # I don't think anything I've written has been done in under… ![“I don't think anything I've written has been done in under six or eight drafts. Usually it takes me a few years to write a book. 'World's Fair' was an exception. It seemed to be a particularly fluent book as it came. I did it in seven months. I think what happened in that case is that God gave me…” quote by E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/e-l-doctorow-4627_anything_i-don-t-think-anything-i-ve-written-has_747330.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/e-l-doctorow-4627_anything_i-don-t-think-anything-i-ve-written-has_747330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/e-l-doctorow-4627_anything_i-don-t-think-anything-i-ve-written-has_747330.png) > “I don't think anything I've written has been done in under six or eight drafts. Usually it takes me a few years to write a book. 'World's Fair' was an exception. It seemed to be a particularly fluent book as it came. I did it in seven months. I think what happened in that case is that God gave me a bonus book.” [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author discusses the drafting process, noting most works require many drafts, but "World's Fair" was a rare, swift creation felt by divine inspiration. **In simple terms:** Most books need many drafts; this one came quickly. Key Takeaway Trust inspiration when it strikes. Themes creativity discipline divine inspiration writing process Mood reflective inspirational Type literary personal When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative retreats - publishing timelines Key Concepts literary craft authorial intuition productivity Questions to Reflect On - What conditions foster sudden inspiration? - How do you balance speed and quality? A Different Perspective Rapid creation may lack depth without revision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You have to get something down, and then find ways of working in complexity and different layers of meaning... My first drafts are usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wolf/you-have-to-get-something-down-and-then-find-ways-of-working-in/) [Peter Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wolf/) > [I don't read anything electronically. I don't write electronically, either - except e-mails to my family and friends. I write in longhand. 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