--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Write like you're in love. Edit like…" description: "\"Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.\" — James Scott Bell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png" --- # Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge. ![“Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.” quote by James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png) > “Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.” [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing with passion and editing with authority produce compelling, polished work. **In simple terms:** Passionate writing, authoritative editing. Key Takeaway Combine emotion with control. Themes creativity discipline writing editing Mood enthusiastic confident Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - novel drafting - blog posts - marketing copy - academic papers Key Concepts authorial voice self‑editing control Questions to Reflect On - How does passion influence your drafting? - When do you assert editorial control? A Different Perspective Balancing love and control can stifle authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I like to edit; I like to work with other people, and that's something stand-up doesn't really have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-dunnigan/i-like-to-edit-i-like-to-work-with-other-people-and-that-s-something/) [Kyle Dunnigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-dunnigan/) > [It was trying to make my tennis game look mildly respectable, which I found you don't even really need to practice if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/it-was-trying-to-make-my-tennis-game-look-mildly-respectable-which-i/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [There is no exit for our love There is only edit option in between us There is a place for another love but There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/there-is-no-exit-for-our-love-there-is-only-edit-option-in-between-us/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [“Write for love, edit for perfection & publish to share that moment in time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-behan/write-for-love-edit-for-perfection-publish-to-share-that-moment-in/) Debbie Behan > [“I love Edit. He gives me tons of second chances to make things just right between us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-andrews/i-love-edit-he-gives-me-tons-of-second-chances-to-make-things-just/) [Buffy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-andrews/) > [You write like you're in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-write-like-you-re-in-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Write whatever you like. If you haven't the facts, substitute lyricism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/write-whatever-you-like-if-you-haven-t-the-facts-substitute-lyricism/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Write like you are the last person on earth; like no one will ever read your story. Tell the story YOU want to read!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/write-like-you-are-the-last-person-on-earth-like-no-one-will-ever/) [Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/) > [Trying to write is very much like trying to put a Chinese puzzle together. We have a pattern in mind which we wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/trying-to-write-is-very-much-like-trying-to-put-a-chinese-puzzle/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I write like a two-year-old, and I can't spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-write-like-a-two-year-old-and-i-can-t-spell/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [That's what it feels like when I write, like I have this beautiful world in my head, but when I try to remember it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/that-s-what-it-feels-like-when-i-write-like-i-have-this-beautiful/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [And sometimes I sit down to write, because that is what I like to do more and more in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-brandis/and-sometimes-i-sit-down-to-write-because-that-is-what-i-like-to-do/) [Jonathan Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-brandis/) > [We don't even love each other. I do a bit, you know. You do what a bit? You know. Like you...whatever...love you a bit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-don-t-even-love-each-other-i-do-a-bit-you-know-you-do-what-a-bit/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I always write to the moment. I've always been that kind of emcee. I don't wanna come in with all the paperwork and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-always-write-to-the-moment-i-ve-always-been-that-kind-of-emcee-i/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) ## More by James Scott Bell > [Status, worry and comparison are ways to madness, not victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/status-worry-and-comparison-are-ways-to-madness-not-victory/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in-their-novels-often-they-heap/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“The exclamation point is a loud party-goer, demanding attention. Overdone, it can be annoying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-exclamation-point-is-a-loud-party-goer-demanding-attention/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“At this point in the story, the character looks at himself. He takes stock of where he is in the conflict and––depending on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-this-point-in-the-story-the-character-looks-at-himself-he-takes/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-thing-i-do-at-the-beginning-is-a-voice-journal-a-free-form-doc/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Dwight Swain, the great writing teacher, once said that the secret of excitement is to go deeper into your characters. Create more backstory, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/dwight-swain-the-great-writing-teacher-once-said-that-the-secret-of/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/think-of-it-as-the-doorway-of-no-return-the-feeling-must-be-that-your/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“A good story transports the reader to a new place via experience. Not through arguments or facts, but through the illusion that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/a-good-story-transports-the-reader-to-a-new-place-via-experience-not/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-most-important-rule-do-not-i-repeat-do-not-censor-yourself-in-any/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [My philosophy on writing books is that if you learn only one new thing, or even get a new take on something you already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/my-philosophy-on-writing-books-is-that-if-you-learn-only-one-new/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“At some point you’re going to have to formulate your copy, and if you do it early, it will keep you from writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-some-point-you-re-going-to-have-to-formulate-your-copy-and-if-you/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Transformation is about change, and change needs to be proven. People can talk a good game. Someone can say he's sorry for stealing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/transformation-is-about-change-and-change-needs-to-be-proven-people/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Superb historical romance, with a spiritual theme woven seamlessly throughout. I much enjoyed The Covered Deep and look forward to more from its author!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/superb-historical-romance-with-a-spiritual-theme-woven-seamlessly/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/every-hour-you-spend-writing-is-an-hour-you-don-t-spend-worrying/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Psychological death is the key to all romances, isn't it? If the two lovers don't get together, they will each miss out on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/psychological-death-is-the-key-to-all-romances-isn-t-it-if-the-two/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) [Explore all 27 James Scott Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) ## More Like love quotes > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [The way we sparked, I felt like love can conqor any limmits and still have a smile on your face. I still love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlynn-theirl/the-way-we-sparked-i-felt-like-love-can-conqor-any-limmits-and-still/) Kaitlynn Theirl > [“Don’t talk to me like you know me. Talk to me like you love me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/don-t-talk-to-me-like-you-know-me-talk-to-me-like-you-love-me/) pleasefindthis > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Every single day of my life I thank my lucky stars, God really had to spend extra time, when he sculptured your heart. Cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-single-day-of-my-life-i-thank-my-lucky-stars-god-really-had-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I need you like no other I want you like no one before I miss you like never before I love you with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-you-like-no-other-i-want-you-like-no-one-before-i-miss-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/a-vacation-is-like-love-anticipated-with-pleasure-experienced-with/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Life, like love, holds many secrets for us to discover. Some we unearth early on. Others take us most of our days to stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/life-like-love-holds-many-secrets-for-us-to-discover-some-we-unearth/) [Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“As the days went by, the evolution of LIKE into LOVE was accelerated. White Fang himself began to grow aware of it, though in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/as-the-days-went-by-the-evolution-of-like-into-love-was-accelerated/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Just a fraction of your love fills the air And I fall in love with you All over again, oh You're the light that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara/just-a-fraction-of-your-love-fills-the-air-and-i-fall-in-love-with/) [Kiara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara/) > [Appearance is an image we all see each other as. To really care for, like, or have love for another is to know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appearance-is-an-image-we-all-see-each-other-as-to-really-care-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 788 Like love quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Scott Bell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you-re-in-charge/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Like love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you-re-in-charge/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/james-scott-bell-22468_like-love_write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you_1361287.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.” — James Scott Bell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Scott Bell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Write like you're in love. Edit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you-re-in-charge/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you-re-in-charge/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```