--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I…" description: "\"I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing knowledge of the story, no investment in it, no sense of what Herculean effort went into writ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/george-saunders-317_books_i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i_350427.jpg" --- # I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing… ![“I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing knowledge of the story, no investment in it, no sense of what Herculean effort went into writing page 23, no pretensions as to why the dull patch on page 4 is important for the fireworks that will happen on page 714.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/george-saunders-317_books_i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i_350427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/george-saunders-317_books_i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i_350427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/george-saunders-317_books_i-m-trying-to-read-edit-my-story-as-if-i_350427.jpg) > “I'm trying to read/edit my story as if I have no existing knowledge of the story, no investment in it, no sense of what Herculean effort went into writing page 23, no pretensions as to why the dull patch on page 4 is important for the fireworks that will happen on page 714.” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approach your work as a fresh reader, shedding bias and attachment to previous effort. **In simple terms:** Edit without ego, as if you’re new to the story. Key Takeaway Detach to improve clarity. Themes editing creativity self-awareness writing Mood analytical creative Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - draft revisions - storyboarding - creative brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive flexibility creative detachment Questions to Reflect On - Can you balance fresh perspective with respect for past work? - How do you honor effort while improving? A Different Perspective Detachment may overlook valuable context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Pretension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretension/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Keep writing. Try to do a little bit every day, even if the result looks like crap. 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You either show it, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/in-writing-on-the-page-you-can-be-a-bit-elliptical-but-on-tv-you-can/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [The two things I enjoy the most about writing are the first page of a book and the last. What's in between is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/the-two-things-i-enjoy-the-most-about-writing-are-the-first-page-of-a/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [Writing for the page is only one form of writing for the eye. Wherever solemn inscriptions are put up in public places, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/writing-for-the-page-is-only-one-form-of-writing-for-the-eye-wherever/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [When I'm writing, it's about the page. It's not about the movie. It's not about cinema. 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She has no idea what it looks like, she pass it straight, walk all over it, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g/ever-see-a-whore-looking-for-love-she-has-no-idea-what-it-looks-like/) G > [I don't have time to read much. I'm trying to read 'The Brothers Karamazov' again, for a year now - I keep getting halfway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/i-don-t-have-time-to-read-much-i-m-trying-to-read-the-brothers/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) ## More by George Saunders > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? 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