Capote Quote by Joseph Cavano
““Capote's rejoinder to the Kerouac assertion that he never needed to edit his writing: "That's not writing .That's typing.””
About This Quote
Source Comment: Truman Capote on Jack Kerouac's writing, mid-20th century
Capote dismisses Kerouac's claim that he never edited his work. He argues that pouring out raw words without revision is not writing but merely typing, implying that craft and editing are essential to true writing.
In simple terms: Unedited raw output is typing, not writing.
Key Takeaway
Revision makes writing real.
Themes
writing
craft
discipline
criticism
Mood
cutting
witty
Type
famous retort
literary criticism
When to use this quote
- revising drafts
- giving feedback
- defending editorial work
- critiquing literary style
Key Concepts
editing as art
artistic standards
process versus output
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does revision play in your work?
- Is unedited flow ever enough?
A Different Perspective
Some writers produce effective work through spontaneous first drafts; editing habits vary by artist.
![“When you think about [Truman] Capote in the - was what he did exploitative of a person's life or exploitative of these murders? You look at our culture now, you look at celebrity and how it plays out in our culture now, and Capote was one of the great PR men of his time.” quote by Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c49/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_when-you-think-about-truman-capote-in-th_694751.jpg)
![“[Truman Capote] was not only just selling his writing, but he was selling himself as a person.” quote by Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/793/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_capote_truman-capote-was-not-only-just-selling_647265.jpg)
