--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not aware of a cadence when writing…" description: "\"I'm not aware of a cadence when writing, but I hear it after. I write in longhand, and that helps. You're closer to it, and you have to cross things ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/elmore-leonard-3471_after_i-m-not-aware-of-a-cadence-when-writing_2297326.jpg" --- # I'm not aware of a cadence when writing, but I hear it… ![“I'm not aware of a cadence when writing, but I hear it after. I write in longhand, and that helps. You're closer to it, and you have to cross things out. You put a line through it, but it's still there. You might need it. When you erase a line on a computer, it's gone forever.” quote by Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/elmore-leonard-3471_after_i-m-not-aware-of-a-cadence-when-writing_2297326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/elmore-leonard-3471_after_i-m-not-aware-of-a-cadence-when-writing_2297326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/elmore-leonard-3471_after_i-m-not-aware-of-a-cadence-when-writing_2297326.jpg) > “I'm not aware of a cadence when writing, but I hear it after. I write in longhand, and that helps. You're closer to it, and you have to cross things out. You put a line through it, but it's still there. You might need it. When you erase a line on a computer, it's gone forever.” [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing by hand makes rhythm and errors visible, allowing correction and retention, unlike digital erasing which permanently removes traces. **In simple terms:** Handwriting reveals rhythm and preserves mistakes for later review. Key Takeaway Use longhand to notice and fix writing cadence. Themes writing rhythm revision handwriting Mood reflective analytical Type advice process When to use this quote - drafting novels - journal writing - editing scripts - creative brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive processing memory retention error correction Questions to Reflect On - How does handwriting affect your creative process? - What benefits do you gain from seeing mistakes? A Different Perspective Digital deletion erases learning opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cadence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cadence/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“A poetess is not as selfish as you assume. After months of agonising over her marriage of words—the bride— and spaces—the groom, she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-poetess-is-not-as-selfish-as-you-assume-after-months-of-agonising/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Sometimes I turn the TV just below where you can hear it and write down what I think they might be saying by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/sometimes-i-turn-the-tv-just-below-where-you-can-hear-it-and-write/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [If you can speak what you will never hear, if you can write what you will never read, you have done rare things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-you-can-speak-what-you-will-never-hear-if-you-can-write-what-you/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [All my life I have been trying to learn to read, to see and hear, and to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/all-my-life-i-have-been-trying-to-learn-to-read-to-see-and-hear-and-2/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [You know, as a writer, I'm more of a listener than a writer, cuz if I hear something I will write it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/you-know-as-a-writer-i-m-more-of-a-listener-than-a-writer-cuz-if-i/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Write what you want to write, write what people want to hear, and write about what they're going through, because if you could connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/write-what-you-want-to-write-write-what-people-want-to-hear-and-write/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I could be inspired by something I see or something I hear and write down or send to a friend or a writer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailee-steinfeld/i-could-be-inspired-by-something-i-see-or-something-i-hear-and-write/) [Hailee Steinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailee-steinfeld/) > [“To see and hear and write brave things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-see-and-hear-and-write-brave-things/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The first draft of everything, I write longhand. One of the nice things about that is that it makes you keep going. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/the-first-draft-of-everything-i-write-longhand-one-of-the-nice-things/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [When it comes to actually writing the book/story, I work on a computer. I wish I could write longhand, but I can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-g-tremblay/when-it-comes-to-actually-writing-the-book-story-i-work-on-a-computer/) [Paul G. Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-g-tremblay/) > [All novelists write in a different way, but I always write in longhand and then do two versions of typescript on a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/all-novelists-write-in-a-different-way-but-i-always-write-in-longhand/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I write in longhand on yellow legal pads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/i-write-in-longhand-on-yellow-legal-pads/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [I don't really sit at the computer from scratch. I prefer to get my ideas in my fingers and I write longhand first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-hoberman/i-don-t-really-sit-at-the-computer-from-scratch-i-prefer-to-get-my/) [Mary Ann Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-hoberman/) > [I do not belong to this world. I continue to write everything in longhand. If I have to see something on the Internet, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-do-not-belong-to-this-world-i-continue-to-write-everything-in/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I write in longhand. I am accustomed to that proximity, that feel of writing. Then I sit down and type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/i-write-in-longhand-i-am-accustomed-to-that-proximity-that-feel-of/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) ## More by Elmore Leonard > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“There’s something happening here, I know it. It’s right in front of my face, but I just can’t see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/there-s-something-happening-here-i-know-it-it-s-right-in-front-of-my/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/the-line-of-dialogue-belongs-to-the-character-the-verb-is-the-writer/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-try-to-leave-out-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-have-fun-writing-i-don-t-make-it-a-chore-i-don-t-have-to-struggle/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-it-sounds-like-writing-i-rewrite-it-or-if-proper-usage-gets-in-the/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-don-t-think-writers-compete-i-think-they-re-all-doing-separate/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/after-58-years-you-d-think-writing-would-get-easier-it-doesn-t-if-you/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“He saw Harvey and Edgar catch each other's eye as he looked off toward the strains of "Alley Cat," Jesus, hoping they'd rush it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/he-saw-harvey-and-edgar-catch-each-other-s-eye-as-he-looked-off/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-m-not-going-to-write-for-posterity-i-m-going-to-write-to-make-a-buck/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“A wife's faithful to her husband, subject to him. It's in the bible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/a-wife-s-faithful-to-her-husband-subject-to-him-it-s-in-the-bible/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Using adverbs is a mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/using-adverbs-is-a-mortal-sin/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Try not to write the parts that people skip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/try-not-to-write-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-want-the-reader-to-know-what-s-going-on-so-there-s-never-a-mystery/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) [Explore all 130 Elmore Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. 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