Fairy Quote by Marilyn Hacker
“We sometimes received - and I would read - 200 manuscripts a week. Some of them were wonderful, some were terrible; most were mediocre. It was like the gifts of the good and bad fairies.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1995
She describes the high volume of manuscript submissions, noting the wide range of quality from excellent to terrible, likening the process to receiving gifts from both good and bad fairies.
In simple terms: She receives many manuscripts, most mediocre, some great, some awful.
Key Takeaway
Expect varied quality; focus on the gems.
Themes
literature
editing
quality assessment
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- publishing
- literary agents
- reading
- selection
Key Concepts
creative process
evaluation
curation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which manuscripts to pursue?
- What criteria define “wonderful” versus “mediocre”?
A Different Perspective
Not all submissions merit attention; time constraints limit deep review.
