--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing the first draft of a new story is…" description: "\"Writing the first draft of a new story is incredibly difficult for me. I will happily do revisions, because once I can see the words on the page, I can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/marie-lu-1250_about_writing-the-first-draft-of-a-new-story-i_796146.png" --- # Writing the first draft of a new story is incredibly… ![“Writing the first draft of a new story is incredibly difficult for me. I will happily do revisions, because once I can see the words on the page, I can go about ripping them up and moving scenes around. A blank page, though? Terrifying. I'm always angsty when I'm working my way through a first…” quote by Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/marie-lu-1250_about_writing-the-first-draft-of-a-new-story-i_796146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/marie-lu-1250_about_writing-the-first-draft-of-a-new-story-i_796146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/marie-lu-1250_about_writing-the-first-draft-of-a-new-story-i_796146.png) > “Writing the first draft of a new story is incredibly difficult for me. I will happily do revisions, because once I can see the words on the page, I can go about ripping them up and moving scenes around. A blank page, though? Terrifying. I'm always angsty when I'm working my way through a first draft.” [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The initial draft feels overwhelming and frightening, but seeing words on paper allows revision and restructuring, turning anxiety into progress. **In simple terms:** First drafts are scary, but seeing them helps you improve. Key Takeaway Embrace the draft, then edit. Themes writing creativity anxiety revision Mood nervous determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - starting a novel - writing workshop - personal journaling - academic paper drafting Key Concepts process iteration self‑critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you make the first page less intimidating? - What revision technique helps you most? A Different Perspective Blankness can stall ideas; need strategies to begin. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) [Blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-page/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) [Draft New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft-new-2390160/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Happily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happily/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Incredibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibly/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once/) [Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/page/) [Revisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revisions-309901/) [Revisions Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revisions-words-6105291/) [Ripping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ripping/) [Scenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenes/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Though](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/though/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-draft-467492/) ## Related quotes > [I wrote the first draft of the New People quickly but it had been percolating a lot longer. It's a hard question to answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzy-senna/i-wrote-the-first-draft-of-the-new-people-quickly-but-it-had-been/) [Danzy Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzy-senna/) > [But Blake's voices returned to dictate revisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/but-blake-s-voices-returned-to-dictate-revisions/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [“I am hard at work on the second draft ... 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In contrast, when I'm greatly inspired, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/there-are-days-when-the-result-is-so-bad-that-no-fewer-than-five/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I'm obsessive. That's the word for me. I obsess - perhaps to the point where it's moderately dysfunctional. I tend to put a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-m-obsessive-that-s-the-word-for-me-i-obsess-perhaps-to-the-point/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I came to a dead stop and began major revisions. Sometimes these entailed the shredding of all existing manuscript for a fresh start -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-manchester/i-came-to-a-dead-stop-and-began-major-revisions-sometimes-these/) [William Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-manchester/) > [Most poets' revisions are disastrous. They buckle and dent what was originally forged at a red-hot heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-longley/most-poets-revisions-are-disastrous-they-buckle-and-dent-what-was/) [Michael Longley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-longley/) > [The writer’s life is a life of revisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/the-writer-s-life-is-a-life-of-revisions/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“That’s the magic of revisions – every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-barnhill/that-s-the-magic-of-revisions-every-cut-is-necessary-and-every-cut/) [Kelly Barnhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-barnhill/) > [I'm a big advocate of revisions, of living with something for a month and then realizing what needs changing, what was lazy, what could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-m-a-big-advocate-of-revisions-of-living-with-something-for-a-month/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [I love revisions...We can't go back and revise our lives, but being allowed to go back and revise what we have written comes closest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/i-love-revisions-we-can-t-go-back-and-revise-our-lives-but-being/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) ## More by Marie Lu > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [You're brilliant,"he says."But you're a fool to stay with someone like me." I close my eyes at the touch of his hand."Then we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/you-re-brilliant-he-says-but-you-re-a-fool-to-stay-with-someone-like/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I stand there for a while, then sit cross-legged before it and bow my head. "Hi, Metias," I say in a soft voice. "Today's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-stand-there-for-a-while-then-sit-cross-legged-before-it-and-bow-my/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“They’re making me so weak that I’m on the verge of collapsing to the floor. I’ve kissed a few boys in the past . . . but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/they-re-making-me-so-weak-that-i-m-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-to-the/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [We determine whether a book is for boys or girls long before the reader gets a chance to decide: we package them with soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/we-determine-whether-a-book-is-for-boys-or-girls-long-before-the/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I bet the Republic hasn't seen the last of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-bet-the-republic-hasn-t-seen-the-last-of-you/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [You should have taken me with you," I whisper to him. Then I lean my head against his and begin to cry. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/you-should-have-taken-me-with-you-i-whisper-to-him-then-i-lean-my/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Fantasy and science fiction are my comfort spot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/fantasy-and-science-fiction-are-my-comfort-spot/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/be-true-to-yourself-but-that-s-something-everyone-says-and-no-one/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“No, it wasn't the attention he needed. He just wanted to create something and know that it mattered to someone, that he mattered. 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I'm completely a product of the one-child policy in China,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-ve-always-had-this-interest-in-sibling-relationships-because-i-don/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Fantasy and science fiction are where my brain lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/fantasy-and-science-fiction-are-where-my-brain-lives/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Explore all 259 Marie Lu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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