--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is, every writer has to be a good…" description: "\"Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.\" — Lisa Scottoline" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/lisa-scottoline-7100_acquire_truth-is-every-writer-has-to-be-a-good-e_677120.jpg" --- # Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you… ![“Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.” quote by Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/lisa-scottoline-7100_acquire_truth-is-every-writer-has-to-be-a-good-e_677120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/lisa-scottoline-7100_acquire_truth-is-every-writer-has-to-be-a-good-e_677120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/lisa-scottoline-7100_acquire_truth-is-every-writer-has-to-be-a-good-e_677120.jpg) > “Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.” [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers must edit both others’ work and their own; editing is a skill to be learned. **In simple terms:** Good writing requires strong self‑editing. Key Takeaway Practice editing to improve writing. Themes writing editing self‑improvement Mood practical encouraging Type advice educational When to use this quote - novel writing - blog posts - academic papers Key Concepts literary craft critical self‑review Questions to Reflect On - How can you make editing more efficient? - What editing habits have helped you? A Different Perspective Editing can be time‑consuming and discouraging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It was trying to make my tennis game look mildly respectable, which I found you don't even really need to practice if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/it-was-trying-to-make-my-tennis-game-look-mildly-respectable-which-i/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [The main thing is that you have a good editor - one that believes in you and who will give you the feedback that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-darden/the-main-thing-is-that-you-have-a-good-editor-one-that-believes-in/) [Christopher Darden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-darden/) > [An editor who is a mentor, advisor, and psychiatrist. 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Essentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/i-ve-rewritten-a-lot-of-the-scripts-i-ve-done-little-shop-of-horrors/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [“A good editor is like tinsel to a Christmas Tree...they add the perfect amount of sparkle without being gaudy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbi-romans/a-good-editor-is-like-tinsel-to-a-christmas-tree-they-add-the-perfect/) Bobbi Romans > [To be a good editor or a good writer, I think you really need to be a great reader first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/to-be-a-good-editor-or-a-good-writer-i-think-you-really-need-to-be-a/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [“A good editor doesn't rewrite words, she rewires synapses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/a-good-editor-doesn-t-rewrite-words-she-rewires-synapses/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [I tend to overwrite; I need a good editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolf-blitzer/i-tend-to-overwrite-i-need-a-good-editor/) [Wolf Blitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolf-blitzer/) > [A good editor is one of the sharpest tools a writer can have in her toolbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-good-editor-is-one-of-the-sharpest-tools-a-writer-can-have-in-her/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“A good editor can make a respectable writer remarkable, just like a good parent helps a child become amazing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-alcala/a-good-editor-can-make-a-respectable-writer-remarkable-just-like-a/) [Justin Alcala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-alcala/) > [A good editor understands what you're talking and writing about and doesn't meddle too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-good-editor-understands-what-you-re-talking-and-writing-about-and/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [The smartest thing a filmmaker can do is to become a good editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-smartest-thing-a-filmmaker-can-do-is-to-become-a-good-editor/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“All of us who write need a good editor. - Sharon Langevin Crawford”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-langevin-crawford/all-of-us-who-write-need-a-good-editor-sharon-langevin-crawford/) Sharon Langevin Crawford > [“It's very difficult to train a good editor," the author said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/it-s-very-difficult-to-train-a-good-editor-the-author-said/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [With a good editor you find yourself shaping as you talk and they will ask a couple of questions that open new things. 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We've always had an underdog vibe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/i-love-everything-about-philadelphia-and-its-food-is-like-the-city/) [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) > [everything associated with weddings cost the same - a fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/everything-associated-with-weddings-cost-the-same-a-fortune/) [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) > [I love my job, and I love books. I read anything, including cereal boxes. 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