Beautiful Quote by Lynne Tillman
“I subject my sentences and the words to a kind of Grand Inquisition. I'm trying always to leave out what I think is extraneous. And to find what I think is the most wonderful language to make a beautiful sentence. Not beautiful in the sense of "oh it's flowy" but in the sense that it really does what it's supposed to do, it what I want it to say.”
About This Quote
Source Book: No One Is Talking About This, 2011
The quote describes a meticulous editing process where the writer removes unnecessary words to achieve clarity and purpose, aiming for language that functions effectively rather than merely sounds elegant.
In simple terms: Edit to eliminate excess, focusing on clear, purposeful language.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize meaning over ornamental prose.
Themes
writing
editing
clarity
purpose
style
Mood
reflective
instructive
creative
Type
literary
instructional
personal
When to use this quote
- draft revisions
- peer reviews
- writing workshops
- self‑editing
Key Concepts
conciseness
precision
functional language
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance brevity with expressive depth?
- When does editing become counterproductive?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing can stifle creativity or voice.
![“[Reality] isn't simply the so-called world that you're in. Your reality is a much larger one that takes in all matter of identification and desires and hopes.” quote by Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/580/lynne-tillman-5609_desire_reality-isn-t-simply-the-so-called-world_223218.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
