Skip to content

Corpses Quote by Helen Dunmore

“Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with the corpses of poems and stories which have everything in them except the life they need.” quote by Helen Dunmore
Download Open image
“Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with the corpses of poems and stories which have everything in them except the life they need.”

Helen Dunmore

About This Quote

The writer advocates iterative drafting and discarding work that lacks vitality, emphasizing the need for creative freshness.

In simple terms: Iterative writing and pruning

Key Takeaway

Discard dead material

Themes

creative process writing discipline revision clarity

Mood

inspirational pragmatic

Type

instructional

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • author interviews

Key Concepts

literary craft

Practical Applications

  • creative writing guides
  • literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does removal of 'dead' drafts improve a piece?
  • When is it time to abandon a work?
2.2 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Helen Dunmore

Explore all 56 Helen Dunmore quotes

More Corpses quotes

Browse all 363 Corpses quotes