Advice Quote by Matt de la Pena
“Whenever I teach writing I tell them to never revise as you go. Finish the first draft. This is my writing advice. I can't do that myself. I'm lying to everybody. I write a paragraph, and then I rewrite that paragraph. I want to feel like I'm standing on firm ground before I move on to the next paragraph. Mentally, I have to do that.”
About This Quote
The teacher advises against revising while writing, but admits to constantly rewriting, revealing a tension between ideal advice and personal practice.
In simple terms: Advice to avoid revising clashes with personal habit of constant editing.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfect drafts as part of the process.
Themes
writing
advice
self‑awareness
Mood
anxious
determined
Type
instructional
self‑reflective
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- teaching
- self‑critique
- productivity
Key Concepts
revision
drafting
confidence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever finish a draft without editing?
- How does perfectionism hinder progress?
A Different Perspective
The advice may be unrealistic for many writers.
![“The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh my god, you can write these stories and people will actually read them beyond your own little community. This guy's book is blowing up and it seems like [he's writing about] the…” quote by Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d3b/matt-de-la-pena-15023_big-deal_the-second-book-which-was-probably-more_679824.jpg)
