--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there simply comes a point at…" description: "\"I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but not bet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/mary-j-miller-21370_active_i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-wh_622289.jpg" --- # I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating… ![“I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but not better. For me, revision usually has more to do with making the language prettier, finding clearer images, using more active verbs.” quote by Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/mary-j-miller-21370_active_i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-wh_622289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/mary-j-miller-21370_active_i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-wh_622289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/mary-j-miller-21370_active_i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-wh_622289.jpg) > “I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but not better. For me, revision usually has more to do with making the language prettier, finding clearer images, using more active verbs.” [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive polishing can make revisions look different but not improve quality; style can outweigh substance. **In simple terms:** Too much focus on style can hinder improvement. Key Takeaway Balance clarity with substance. Themes revision writing quality balance Mood analytical critical Type practical advisory When to use this quote - academic papers - creative writing - marketing copy Key Concepts editing cognitive load diminishing returns Questions to Reflect On - When does revision become counterproductive? - How can you prioritize substance over style? A Different Perspective Polishing can mask deeper issues in content. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Better Revision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-revision-5033545/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Revision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revision/) [Revision Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revision-making-5033546/) [Revision Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revision-usually-5033544/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Verbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbs/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall Revision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-revision-5033547/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“That's religion in America, under constant revision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sharlet/that-s-religion-in-america-under-constant-revision/) [Jeff Sharlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sharlet/) > [The rise of capitalist practice and morality brought with it a radical revision of how the commons are treated, and also of how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-rise-of-capitalist-practice-and-morality-brought-with-it-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Revision, once well done, becomes a sort of automatic itch which you scratch in the next work without thinking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romulus-linney/revision-once-well-done-becomes-a-sort-of-automatic-itch-which-you/) [Romulus Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romulus-linney/) > [In the wake of her indispensable textbook, Janet Burroway now offers a splendid and concise guide to the thorny task of revision. 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(from Stop Lying: Writing Is Hard on ChristopherLehman.com)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lehman/why-aren-t-the-thinks-i-m-thinking-getting-thunk-on-the-page-any/) [Christopher Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lehman/) > [“Hey Revision. You can be a pain but you do make Book better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-andrews/hey-revision-you-can-be-a-pain-but-you-do-make-book-better/) [Buffy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-andrews/) > [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/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. 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Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [I am particularly horrified by the use of propaganda and the manipulation of the truth and the revision of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-particularly-horrified-by-the-use-of-propaganda-and-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [For products with revision possibilities, there is no better source available than a company going out of business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-joseph-cossman/for-products-with-revision-possibilities-there-is-no-better-source/) [E. Joseph Cossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-joseph-cossman/) > [The best advice I can give on this is, once it's done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-best-advice-i-can-give-on-this-is-once-it-s-done-to-put-it-away/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by Mary J. Miller > [I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend everyone edit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-training-your-instinct-comes-from-writing-and-reading-there-s/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-something-that-s-difficult-to-explain-but-i-think-all-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in yet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-are-many-stories-i-ve-wanted-to-write-that-i-m-simply-not-able/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned so much from my professors and have been fortunate to have had so many good ones, including Frederick and Steven Barthelme, Edward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-so-much-from-my-professors-and-have-been-fortunate-to/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I suppose this is, essentially, my perspective on life. Just because we've made mistakes and learned things from them intellectually doesn't mean we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-suppose-this-is-essentially-my-perspective-on-life-just-because-we/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned a lot about language from reading slush. You can immediately tell if a writer is in control of the narrative. This writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-language-from-reading-slush-you-can/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-wish-i-knew-exactly-who-i-was-i-was-talking-to-a-friend-earlier/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's definitely about the rhythm of the words and how they sound together, writing one sentence and then another and another and cutting something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-definitely-about-the-rhythm-of-the-words-and-how-they-sound/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-know-what-people-want-really-does-somebody-have-to-die-what/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/making-all-of-those-words-work-together-is-difficult-it-took-a-lot-of/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I want to be able to discuss craft but I also want to teach writers to trust their instincts and learn to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-want-to-be-able-to-discuss-craft-but-i-also-want-to-teach-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't revise a lot when writing short stories. As far as the novel, I definitely thought more about plot. Honestly, I'm still pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-revise-a-lot-when-writing-short-stories-as-far-as-the-novel-i/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There's definitely a magical quality to writing that can't be explained. I can write something I love in two days, or I can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-s-definitely-a-magical-quality-to-writing-that-can-t-be/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say why this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/a-story-works-when-there-s-momentum-life-behind-the-words-some/) [Mary J. 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