Advice Quote by Inez Kelley
““Dear Aspiring Writer, you are not ready. Stop. Put that finished story away and start another one. In a month, go back and look at the first story. RE-EDIT it. Then send it to a person you respect in the field who will be hard on you. Pray for many many many red marks. Fix them. Then put it away for two weeks. Work on something else. Finally, edit one last time. Now you are ready to sub your first work. Criticism is hard to take at first. Trust me, I've been there. But learn to think of crit marks as a knife. Each one is designed to cut away the bad and leave a scar. Scars prove you've lived, learned and walked away a winner. Any writer who tells you they don't need edits is lying. I don't care if they have 100 books out. Edits make you grow and if you aren't growing as a writer, you are dead.””
About This Quote
Source Advice column: Writing advice by Inez Kelley, 2020
The writer must embrace rigorous editing, seek harsh feedback, and view criticism as a tool that refines work, turning scars into proof of growth.
In simple terms: Editing is essential; criticism refines work.
Key Takeaway
Edit relentlessly and seek tough feedback.
Themes
writing
growth
criticism
perseverance
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
instructional
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short story revision
- peer review
- writing workshops
Key Concepts
creative process
self‑improvement
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you willing to endure criticism?
- How can you turn feedback into improvement?
A Different Perspective
Too harsh for beginners; may cause discouragement.
