Comeback Quote by Jerry Pournelle
“I think it takes about a million words to make a writer. I mean that you're going to throw away.”
About This Quote
The quote suggests that extensive reading and exposure to language are essential to developing writing skill, implying that much of what is read is discarded in the process.
In simple terms: Writing skill emerges from massive reading and selective retention.
Key Takeaway
Practice reading to write well.
Themes
learning
skill development
reading
writing
knowledge acquisition
Mood
curiosity
determination
Type
advice
observation
When to use this quote
- student studying literature
- author drafting a novel
- editor reviewing drafts
Key Concepts
cognitive load
filtering
literacy
Practical Applications
- designing reading curricula
- creating writing workshops
Questions to Reflect On
- How does selective forgetting shape expertise?
- What balance of quantity vs. quality of reading is optimal?
![“In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy itself always get in control, and those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and sometimes are eliminated entirely.[Pournelle's law of Bureaucracy]” quote by Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a1a/jerry-pournelle-10851_accomplish_in-any-bureaucracy-the-people-devoted-to_701805.jpg)
