Book Quote by Emma Donoghue
“With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me through seven or eight drafts and it was just getting worse and worse, and then the film was never made.”
About This Quote
The author recounts a frustrating early career experience where repeated revisions degraded the script, ultimately leading to the project's collapse.
In simple terms: Early drafts can erode quality if not guided well.
Key Takeaway
Iterative feedback must be constructive, not destructive.
Themes
creative process
authorial confidence
revision fatigue
project failure
learning curve
Mood
frustration
disillusionment
determination
Type
personal anecdote
industry insight
When to use this quote
- first-time writer on a commission
- young author facing industry pressure
- script development with multiple revisions
- project abandonment
Key Concepts
drafting
collaboration
film development
career development
Practical Applications
- improving feedback loops in creative work
- training programs for novice writers
Questions to Reflect On
- How can feedback be structured to enhance rather than diminish a draft?
- What safeguards can prevent a project from collapsing after many revisions?
A Different Perspective
A counterpoint is that multiple drafts can also refine a work, and success often depends on the quality of guidance rather than the number of revisions.
![“We have written a draft of the script in every calendar year since [2010]. Quite honestly. Our Deadpool file is... full, to capacity.” quote by Paul Wernick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/047/paul-wernick-45002_calendars_we-have-written-a-draft-of-the-script-in_2209796.jpg)
![“I was so mad at my agent. I had polished and polished and polished [the play], and he referred to it as a draft. I wrote him a bitter letter: How can you call this a draft? I don't do drafts! By now I've done 18, and its turning, in the rehearsal room, into a 19th.” quote by Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/005/cynthia-ozick-2945_actor_i-was-so-mad-at-my-agent-i-had-polished_340246.jpg)
