--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line is that I like my first…" description: "\"The bottom line is that I like my first drafts to be blind, unconscious, messy efforts; that's what gets me the best material.\" — Jennifer Egan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jennifer-egan-825_best_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-like-my-first_2274573.jpg" --- # The bottom line is that I like my first drafts to be… ![“The bottom line is that I like my first drafts to be blind, unconscious, messy efforts; that's what gets me the best material.” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jennifer-egan-825_best_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-like-my-first_2274573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jennifer-egan-825_best_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-like-my-first_2274573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/jennifer-egan-825_best_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-like-my-first_2274573.jpg) > “The bottom line is that I like my first drafts to be blind, unconscious, messy efforts; that's what gets me the best material.” [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. First drafts should be raw and unfiltered to unlock creative breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Messy drafts spark great ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace chaos in early writing. Themes creativity process writing Mood creative analytical Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - brainstorming - creative workshops Key Concepts unconscious mind iteration Questions to Reflect On - Do you edit as you write? - How does mess lead to clarity? A Different Perspective Blind drafts may miss strategic direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts/) [Drafts Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts-blind-5284646/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-drafts-5284647/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [Messy Efforts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy-efforts-5284649/) [Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious/) [Unconscious Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious-messy-5284648/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [One of my strengths as a writer is that I'm a good problem-solver. I write these unthinking, ungoverned first drafts. The project for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/one-of-my-strengths-as-a-writer-is-that-i-m-a-good-problem-solver-i/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-haven-t-had-trouble-with-writer-s-block-i-think-it-s-because-my/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I can get really obsessive. I like writing many drafts, and I try not to because it is very time-consuming, especially when you're working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-windley/i-can-get-really-obsessive-i-like-writing-many-drafts-and-i-try-not/) [Carol Windley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-windley/) > [I wrote the screenplay for 'This Is Where I Leave You' - all 40 drafts of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-wrote-the-screenplay-for-this-is-where-i-leave-you-all-40-drafts-of/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The thing about our movies is, we write thirty drafts. That's a very detailed script. Which means that if you try to crank it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-thing-about-our-movies-is-we-write-thirty-drafts-that-s-a-very/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [It's always hard, but it's always fun to attack a premise that you think is interesting. 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It means they see something in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/i-d-really-be-happy-with-any-team-that-drafts-me-it-means-they-see/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [Obviously, drafts sometimes are good ones, or bad ones; I think you can get a good, quality player late in the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-hill/obviously-drafts-sometimes-are-good-ones-or-bad-ones-i-think-you-can/) [Grant Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-hill/) > [I don't read anything electronically. I don't write electronically, either - except e-mails to my family and friends. I write in longhand. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-don-t-read-anything-electronically-i-don-t-write-electronically/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I have to re-write a lot. I couldn't tell you how many drafts I write, but I know I've done at least twenty rewrites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-willis-holt/i-have-to-re-write-a-lot-i-couldn-t-tell-you-how-many-drafts-i-write/) [Kimberly Willis Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-willis-holt/) > [With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/with-my-first-book-i-was-hired-to-write-a-draft-of-the-script-i-was/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) ## More by Jennifer Egan > [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. 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