--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's also obsessiveness. I'll spend a lot…" description: "\"It's also obsessiveness. I'll spend a lot of time working on a single sentence, debating over a dash or a colon, etc. I want things to be perfect. I kn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/mary-j-miller-21370_etc_it-s-also-obsessiveness-i-ll-spend-a-lot_3232779.jpg" --- # It's also obsessiveness. I'll spend a lot of time working… ![“It's also obsessiveness. I'll spend a lot of time working on a single sentence, debating over a dash or a colon, etc. I want things to be perfect. I know nothing will ever be as perfect as I want it, and this is very sad, but sometimes I can get close.” quote by Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/mary-j-miller-21370_etc_it-s-also-obsessiveness-i-ll-spend-a-lot_3232779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/mary-j-miller-21370_etc_it-s-also-obsessiveness-i-ll-spend-a-lot_3232779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/mary-j-miller-21370_etc_it-s-also-obsessiveness-i-ll-spend-a-lot_3232779.jpg) > “It's also obsessiveness. I'll spend a lot of time working on a single sentence, debating over a dash or a colon, etc. I want things to be perfect. I know nothing will ever be as perfect as I want it, and this is very sad, but sometimes I can get close.” [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. The author describes an obsessive pursuit of perfection in writing, acknowledging its unattainability yet finding value in near‑perfection. **In simple terms:** Obsessive perfectionism in writing. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect progress. Themes perfectionism creativity self‑criticism Mood frustrated determined reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - drafting - editing - creative work - self‑reflection Key Concepts writing process artistic standards Questions to Reflect On - How does striving for perfection affect your output? - When is “good enough” sufficient? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall productivity and cause distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colon Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colon-want-6122236/) [Dash Colon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dash-colon-6122234/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Obsessiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessiveness-1862782/) [Obsessiveness Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessiveness-ll-6122233/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Sentence Debating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentence-debating-6122235/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Single sentence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-sentence/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Very sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-sad/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to get hot over a painting; there's no equivalent for teenage obsessiveness. Art obsession is ideology. Ideology can be made sexy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/it-s-hard-to-get-hot-over-a-painting-there-s-no-equivalent-for/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [A lot of stuff I do out of pure obsessiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/a-lot-of-stuff-i-do-out-of-pure-obsessiveness/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I've always considered myself to be just average talent and what I have is a ridiculous insane obsessiveness for practice and preparation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-ve-always-considered-myself-to-be-just-average-talent-and-what-i/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I have the obsessiveness of someone who's a sober, recovering addict displacing his addiction. Except I never had the addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-have-the-obsessiveness-of-someone-who-s-a-sober-recovering-addict/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [Pets inspire many different types of behaviour in their owners, mostly ranging from adoration to ridiculous obsessiveness, in my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/pets-inspire-many-different-types-of-behaviour-in-their-owners-mostly/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) > [In science, obsessiveness under psychological control can be a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/in-science-obsessiveness-under-psychological-control-can-be-a-virtue/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [It's that athlete's obsessiveness - the need to prove yourself and work harder than anybody else. I think it's what helped me do well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rigby/it-s-that-athlete-s-obsessiveness-the-need-to-prove-yourself-and-work/) [Cathy Rigby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rigby/) > [“I saw Guardiola as a mystical type of person. The way he dressed – always in black – he was sometimes very quiet, constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/i-saw-guardiola-as-a-mystical-type-of-person-the-way-he-dressed/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“However, The haven-Slocum Theory also points out that this course is not without risk. An even greater number of people dwelling on The Navidson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/however-the-haven-slocum-theory-also-points-out-that-this-course-is/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“If you want to fulfil your dreams, stay away from the people who look down on you. Those who try to finish every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/if-you-want-to-fulfil-your-dreams-stay-away-from-the-people-who-look/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“What kind of writer are you?” You can’t think of a single sentence that would satisfy Hyong-chol. Your”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyung-sook-shin/what-kind-of-writer-are-you-you-can-t-think-of-a-single-sentence-that/) [Kyung-Sook Shin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyung-sook-shin/) > [“Without being aware that I was following in my father’s footsteps, I read, before I went to Cambridge, Mill’s Logic and Political Economy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/without-being-aware-that-i-was-following-in-my-father-s-footsteps-i/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“One single sentence, one frame of film, and abracadabra! the story’s wings would take her to another lost world, another magic realm that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-osborne/one-single-sentence-one-frame-of-film-and-abracadabra-the-story-s/) [Neale Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-osborne/) > [ I don't think there is a single sentence in this whole book \[East of Eden\] that does not either develop character, carry on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-single-sentence-in-this-whole-book-east-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > ['They fell in love.' Such a rare and special event cannot be done justice by one statement; it involves so much more than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-fell-in-love-such-a-rare-and-special-event-cannot-be-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-which-you-re-beating-your-head/) [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. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) [Explore all 29 Mary J. 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I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. 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