Be good Quote by Jennifer Egan
“I haven’t had trouble with writer’s block. I think it’s because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching, clichéd writing, outright flailing around. Writing that doesn’t have a good voice or any voice. But then there will be good moments. It seems writer’s block is often a dislike of writing badly and waiting for writing better to happen.”
About This Quote
Writer’s block stems from self‑criticism of early drafts; embracing bad writing can lead to breakthroughs.
In simple terms: Bad drafts cause block; accept them to improve.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfect drafts to unlock better writing.
Themes
creativity
process
self‑criticism
growth
Mood
thoughtful
encouraging
Type
advisory
creative
When to use this quote
- daily journaling
- draft revisions
- creative workshops
- mind‑mapping
Key Concepts
Writing process
psychology of creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reframe early drafts?
- What habits reduce self‑criticism?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stall progress.
![“We're [writers] all afraid of writing badly, and there are psychological reasons, like the bad interior of ourselves is somehow being revealed, but we all fear that, and you can't write well if you're not willing to write badly. That's why you have to make writing a habit, so it feels normal and…” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c14/jennifer-egan-825_feels_we-re-writers-all-afraid-of-writing-badl_988189.jpg)
![“There are many ways of writing badly about painting... There is an 'appreciative' language of threadbare, not inaccurate, but overexposed and irritating words... the language of the schools which 'situates' works and artists in schools and movements... novelists and poets [that] see paintings as…” quote by A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18f/a-s-byatt-2-7553_allegory_there-are-many-ways-of-writing-badly-abo_1872413.jpg)
