Communication Quote by Edward Albee
“Usually, the way I write is to sit down at a typewriter after that year or so of what passes for thinking, and I write a first draft quite rapidly. Read it over. Make a few pencil corrections, where I think I've got the rhythms wrong in the speeches, for example, and then retype the whole thing. And in the retyping I discover that maybe one or two more speeches will come in. One or two more things will happen, but not much.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary discussion, 1995
Drafting quickly, then revising through retyping, refines ideas and uncovers new content.
In simple terms: Write fast, edit by retyping.
Key Takeaway
Embrace rapid drafting and iterative editing.
Themes
writing process
revision
creativity
drafting
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
creative
process‑oriented
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- playwriting
- academic essays
Key Concepts
cognitive restructuring
iterative refinement
Questions to Reflect On
- How does retyping change your perspective?
- What benefits arise from rapid first drafts?
A Different Perspective
Rewriting can be time‑consuming and may stall progress.
