---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Studying writing to me means reading and…"
description: "\"Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.\" — Jami Attenberg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png"
---

#  Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting…

![“Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.” quote by Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png)

> “Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.”

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Learning to write involves reading and repeatedly rewriting, emphasizing iterative practice.

**In simple terms:** Rewrite often to improve writing.

Key Takeaway

Practice iterative revision for mastery.

Themes

writing learning practice

Mood

thoughtful instructive

Type

educational practical

When to use this quote

- creative writing courses
- editing workshops
- self‑study
- publishing

Key Concepts

iteration metacognition craftsmanship

Questions to Reflect On

- How does revision deepen understanding?
- When is enough revision enough?

A Different Perspective

Time‑intensive, may cause perfectionism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Rewriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewriting/) [Rewriting Obsessively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewriting-obsessively-4116248/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Studying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying/) [Studying Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-writing-4116247/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-means-241076/)

## Related quotes

> [My pen.’ Funny, I wrote that without noticing. ‘The torch’, ‘the paper’, but ‘my pen’. That shows what writing means to me, I guess.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marsden/my-pen-funny-i-wrote-that-without-noticing-the-torch-the-paper-but-my/)

[John Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marsden/)

> [What does it mean to not be alone? I've approached that question through music, technology, writing and other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/what-does-it-mean-to-not-be-alone-i-ve-approached-that-question/)

[Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/)

> [Writing means sharing. It's part of the human condition to want to share things - thoughts, ideas, opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/writing-means-sharing-it-s-part-of-the-human-condition-to-want-to/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> ['Writing' always means 'not writing' to me because I will do anything to put it off. I think this is mainly because writing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/writing-always-means-not-writing-to-me-because-i-will-do-anything-to/)

[Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/)

> [The process of re-writing and writing and re-writing means that you may have a brilliant phrase, but over time it distills and distorts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abi-morgan/the-process-of-re-writing-and-writing-and-re-writing-means-that-you/)

[Abi Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abi-morgan/)

> [Writing means being a fascinated slave to current events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-means-being-a-fascinated-slave-to-current-events/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Most words come into being first in speech, then in private writing, and then in public, published writing, which means that if the date…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/most-words-come-into-being-first-in-speech-then-in-private-writing/)

[Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/)

> [The act of writing means you wish to communicate. Whether you're writing a memoir for yourself you put in a drawer, or you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/the-act-of-writing-means-you-wish-to-communicate-whether-you-re/)

[Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/)

> [Writing, for me, means humility. It’s a process that involves fear and doubt, especially if you’re writing honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-desai/writing-for-me-means-humility-it-s-a-process-that-involves-fear-and/)

[Kiran Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-desai/)

> [“Formal writing does not mean gratuitously fancy writing; it means clear, clean, maximally considerate writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/formal-writing-does-not-mean-gratuitously-fancy-writing-it-means/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/my-routine-is-to-create-activities-for-myself-unrelated-to-writing/)

[Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/)

> [Writing means revealing oneself to excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/writing-means-revealing-oneself-to-excess/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barleycorn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/in-all-people-i-see-myself-none-more-and-not-one-a-barleycorn-less/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I'm not that guy who thinks I have all the answers. Writing is a means of communicating, and if enough people say, 'I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-not-that-guy-who-thinks-i-have-all-the-answers-writing-is-a-means/)

[Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/)

> [“...'good writing' means compelling ideas clothed in words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-lerner/good-writing-means-compelling-ideas-clothed-in-words/)

[Betsey Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-lerner/)

## More by Jami Attenberg

> [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [“And she was funny and beautiful and she liked the same books, the same music, and she wanted everything I did, was in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/and-she-was-funny-and-beautiful-and-she-liked-the-same-books-the-same/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [Most of my writer friends are women, and they're all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/most-of-my-writer-friends-are-women-and-they-re-all-extremely/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [I'm not really interested in writing or reading about people who are nice and easy. I like the problem children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-m-not-really-interested-in-writing-or-reading-about-people-who-are/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [“mostly I have found myself resisting their sadness when I have so much of my own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/mostly-i-have-found-myself-resisting-their-sadness-when-i-have-so/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [You write a book, and after 50 pages you think it's about one thing, and then you write another hundred and you realize it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/you-write-a-book-and-after-50-pages-you-think-it-s-about-one-thing/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [Do you often find yourself uttering the phrase, 'I feel like I should go?' You do not need to go. You are busy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/do-you-often-find-yourself-uttering-the-phrase-i-feel-like-i-should/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [We've all got flesh. I've just got a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/we-ve-all-got-flesh-i-ve-just-got-a-little-more/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [In the wintertime I like macaroni and cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/in-the-wintertime-i-like-macaroni-and-cheese/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [“We listen to NPR for the first two hours on the road, the strange comfort of bad news reported in reasonable tones,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/we-listen-to-npr-for-the-first-two-hours-on-the-road-the-strange/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [I am not one of those people who string their exes along. Instead, I run and hide: under the covers, behind my computer screen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-am-not-one-of-those-people-who-string-their-exes-along-instead-i/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [When I was growing up in Chicago, my family and I used to go to a local chain, Hackney's, for burgers and their French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/when-i-was-growing-up-in-chicago-my-family-and-i-used-to-go-to-a/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [I remember being banned from other houses as a younger child during the winter holiday season; I was the only one who didn't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-remember-being-banned-from-other-houses-as-a-younger-child-during/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [Sometimes, things are just exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/sometimes-things-are-just-exercises/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [I've just always written, and always considered myself a writer. I wrote my first story when I was five. There was nothing else I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-ve-just-always-written-and-always-considered-myself-a-writer-i/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

[Explore all 147 Jami Attenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

## More Best way quotes

> [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/)

[Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/)

> [The best way to hold customers is to constantly figure out how to give them more for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-best-way-to-hold-customers-is-to-constantly-figure-out-how-to/)

[Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/)

> [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [“The best way to take revenge of me is to make me see you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-best-way-to-take-revenge-of-me-is-to-make-me-see-you-successful/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [To know each other is the best way to understand each other. To understand each other is the only way to love each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-know-each-other-is-the-best-way-to-understand-each-other-to/)

[Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/)

> [One of the best ways into the business is to get a job with a production, which you can do by cold-calling or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/one-of-the-best-ways-into-the-business-is-to-get-a-job-with-a/)

[Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/)

> [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/)

[Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/)

> [What I can say is that all my characters are searching for their souls, because they are my mirrors. I'm someone who is constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/what-i-can-say-is-that-all-my-characters-are-searching-for-their/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/)

[Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/)

> [Reclassification is the best way to for us to preserve the Internet as an unfettered tool for communication and the sharing of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/reclassification-is-the-best-way-to-for-us-to-preserve-the-internet/)

[Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/)

> [I think I just want to leave my mark in some way. I hope I leave the world a better place than it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-think-i-just-want-to-leave-my-mark-in-some-way-i-hope-i-leave-the/)

[Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/)

> [My mother always told me the best way to learn to deal with a man was to learn to ride a mule. She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/my-mother-always-told-me-the-best-way-to-learn-to-deal-with-a-man-was/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [In the end, the best way to succeed is to go small. And when you go small, you say no - a lot. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-w-keller/in-the-end-the-best-way-to-succeed-is-to-go-small-and-when-you-go/)

[Gary W. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-w-keller/)

> [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/)

[Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/)

[Browse all 1,757 Best way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jami Attenberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and-also-rewriting-obsessively/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best way"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and-also-rewriting-obsessively/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/jami-attenberg-2877_best-way_studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and_2088460.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Studying writing to me means reading and also rewriting obsessively. That's the best way to learn.” — Jami Attenberg",
                "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": "Jami Attenberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Studying writing to me means reading...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and-also-rewriting-obsessively/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/studying-writing-to-me-means-reading-and-also-rewriting-obsessively/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
