Behave Quote by Michael Cunningham
“I revise constantly, as I go along and then again after I've finished a first draft. Few of my novels contain a single sentence that closely resembles the sentence I first set down. I just find that I have to keep zapping and zapping the English language until it starts to behave in some way that vaguely matches my intentions.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Art of Revision”, 2015
The author emphasizes relentless editing, reshaping sentences repeatedly until they align with the intended meaning.
In simple terms: Constantly rewrite until the words match your intent.
Key Takeaway
Embrace endless revision.
Themes
writing
editing
perseverance
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- self‑editing
- workshop feedback
- personal writing routine
Key Concepts
craftsmanship
iterative process
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you know when a draft is finished?
- When does revision become over‑editing?
A Different Perspective
Too much polishing can stall completion.
