August Quote by Gustave Flaubert
“My God, this novel makes me break out in a cold sweat! Do you know how much I've written in five months, since the end of August? Sixty-five pages! Each paragraph is good in itself and there are some pages that are perfect. I feel certain. But just because of this, it isn't getting on. It's a series of well-turned, ordered paragraphs which do not flow on from each other. I shall have to unscrew them, loosen the joints, as one does with the masts of a ship when one wants the sail to take more wind...”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary Magazine, 1865
The writer describes a meticulously crafted manuscript that feels disjointed, needing structural cohesion to flow like a ship’s sails catching wind.
In simple terms: Good writing needs both quality and smooth connection.
Key Takeaway
Edit for flow, not just perfect paragraphs.
Themes
craftsmanship
revision
structure
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
authorial
process
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- self‑editing
- publishing
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative cohesion
editing process
creative discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance detail with overall narrative momentum?
- What editing techniques help unify disparate sections?
A Different Perspective
Perfection of parts does not guarantee a compelling whole.
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