--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work in my study, taking the…" description: "\"“I work in my study, taking the collections of words that people send me and making small adjustments to them, changing something here and there, check..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michael-marshall-smith-18266_editing_i-work-in-my-study-taking-the-collection_2931839.jpg" --- # I work in my study, taking the collections of words that… ![“I work in my study, taking the collections of words that people send me and making small adjustments to them, changing something here and there, checking everything is in order and putting a part of myself into the text by introducing just a little bit of difference. ("Substitutions")” quote by Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michael-marshall-smith-18266_editing_i-work-in-my-study-taking-the-collection_2931839.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michael-marshall-smith-18266_editing_i-work-in-my-study-taking-the-collection_2931839.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/michael-marshall-smith-18266_editing_i-work-in-my-study-taking-the-collection_2931839.jpg) > ““I work in my study, taking the collections of words that people send me and making small adjustments to them, changing something here and there, checking everything is in order and putting a part of myself into the text by introducing just a little bit of difference. ("Substitutions")”” [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He refines others' words, adding subtle differences to make the text his own. **In simple terms:** He tweaks others' words to add his voice. Key Takeaway Add personal nuance to existing ideas. Themes creativity writing editing Mood reflective analytical Type literary process When to use this quote - editing manuscripts - creative writing workshops - collaborative projects Key Concepts authorship textual transformation Questions to Reflect On - When does editing become overreach? - How much of your voice should appear in others' work? A Different Perspective Too much alteration can obscure original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difference Substitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-substitutions-4326794/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Proofreading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proofreading/) [Study Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-taking-4326796/) [Substitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substitutions-830820/) [Text Introducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/text-introducing-4326798/) [Work Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-study-1158116/) ## Related quotes > [I would say to a young person: continue to study. Study what is taking place in your community, in your neighborhood, maybe at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-would-say-to-a-young-person-continue-to-study-study-what-is-taking/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [It's not harder to make a couple extra substitutions. That's not hard. You get different things when you make changes, you gain things and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/it-s-not-harder-to-make-a-couple-extra-substitutions-that-s-not-hard/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [When we make substitutions, we have to do it sensibly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansi-flick/when-we-make-substitutions-we-have-to-do-it-sensibly/) [Hansi Flick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansi-flick/) > [“Mm-mm, no, thank you, no, I don't want an enchilaaadaaa. Nor do I want a burr-eye-to. Or a tay-co. Or any other bizarre, unneccessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-proops/mm-mm-no-thank-you-no-i-don-t-want-an-enchilaaadaaa-nor-do-i-want-a/) [Greg Proops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-proops/) > [Players only understand substitutions when they become managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/players-only-understand-substitutions-when-they-become-managers/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [For me, temporary concussion substitutions are a must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/for-me-temporary-concussion-substitutions-are-a-must/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [Generally, if you're a baker who's still learning the ropes, substitutions can be risky. It's always best to make a recipe the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/generally-if-you-re-a-baker-who-s-still-learning-the-ropes/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [If you understand football you make substitutions during the game, if you don't you make comments after it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hristo-stoichkov/if-you-understand-football-you-make-substitutions-during-the-game-if/) [Hristo Stoichkov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hristo-stoichkov/) > [Those experienced in work must take up the study of theory and must read seriously; only then will they be able to systematize and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/those-experienced-in-work-must-take-up-the-study-of-theory-and-must/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [One of the worst things that can happen to a man is for him to work and study hard in order to benefit others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-vasari/one-of-the-worst-things-that-can-happen-to-a-man-is-for-him-to-work/) [Giorgio Vasari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-vasari/) > [I am a working person. I always work, study or do research for my novel. I even work on Sunday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/i-am-a-working-person-i-always-work-study-or-do-research-for-my-novel/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [My advice would be to look at the things you do to make money as ways to inform your work in the end. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/my-advice-would-be-to-look-at-the-things-you-do-to-make-money-as-ways/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [Work. Study. Focus. Dedicate yourself to it and don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mateus-ward/work-study-focus-dedicate-yourself-to-it-and-don-t-give-up/) [Mateus Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mateus-ward/) > [When you want to know how things really work, study them when they're coming apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/when-you-want-to-know-how-things-really-work-study-them-when-they-re/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Study and work and work and study will keep in active exercise both the physical and mental. These two, rightly conducted, will not war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/study-and-work-and-work-and-study-will-keep-in-active-exercise-both/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) ## More by Michael Marshall Smith > [“I wash with the can of water I set aside the night before, and eat whatever I put next to it. The washing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/i-wash-with-the-can-of-water-i-set-aside-the-night-before-and-eat/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [You have to accept gifts occasionally, because there are some things you can’t give yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/you-have-to-accept-gifts-occasionally-because-there-are-some-things/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/the-greatest-hazard-of-all-losing-one-s-self-can-occur-very-quietly/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Hell is being alive, and being alive is all there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/hell-is-being-alive-and-being-alive-is-all-there-is/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“When you’re born a light is switched on, a light which shines up through your life. As you get older the light still reaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/when-you-re-born-a-light-is-switched-on-a-light-which-shines-up/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“The mind is like a pool of water, and rain falls as you age. The water gets deeper, and looks so still: occasionally some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/the-mind-is-like-a-pool-of-water-and-rain-falls-as-you-age-the-water/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [When you meet someone you love, then you change for good. That’s why the other person will never know or understand the earlier you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/when-you-meet-someone-you-love-then-you-change-for-good-that-s-why/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [One of the most subtle and powerful writers of dark fiction - a unique voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/one-of-the-most-subtle-and-powerful-writers-of-dark-fiction-a-unique/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Growing older, it appears, does not mean growing up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/growing-older-it-appears-does-not-mean-growing-up/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“I caught one last glimpse of her face, howling something at me. There were too many vowels in what she said, and they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/i-caught-one-last-glimpse-of-her-face-howling-something-at-me-there/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Death is real. Death changes things. Everything else is filler, merely a message from our sponsor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/death-is-real-death-changes-things-everything-else-is-filler-merely-a/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Nobody likes to see a body, but it's better than seeing a ghost. Bodies just make you doubt the world and the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/nobody-likes-to-see-a-body-but-it-s-better-than-seeing-a-ghost-bodies/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Everyone’s alone in their world, because everybody’s life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/everyone-s-alone-in-their-world-because-everybody-s-life-is-different/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“If people knew that I really am what I say I am,' he said, 'you know they'd never forgive me.' 'Don't worry,' I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/if-people-knew-that-i-really-am-what-i-say-i-am-he-said-you-know-they/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [My limited experience of such things told me that you get closest to the truth by not giving it advance warning that you're coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/my-limited-experience-of-such-things-told-me-that-you-get-closest-to/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) [Explore all 34 Michael Marshall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## More Editing quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [Whenever I finish a film, I feel that this is the worst film that I have made. This is bound to happen because while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/whenever-i-finish-a-film-i-feel-that-this-is-the-worst-film-that-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Songwriting is like editing. You write down all this stuff - all this bad, stupid stuff - and then you have to get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/songwriting-is-like-editing-you-write-down-all-this-stuff-all-this/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [I think what holds people up in creative processes is the expectation of what it is they're doing. It's also the sense of judgement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/i-think-what-holds-people-up-in-creative-processes-is-the-expectation/) [Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/) > [And then to see the whole movie, you're pretty much waiting until the end of production. And the major lifting in terms of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/and-then-to-see-the-whole-movie-you-re-pretty-much-waiting-until-the/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I believe there's a platonic ideal for every book that is written, like there's the perfect version of the book somewhere in the ether,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-believe-there-s-a-platonic-ideal-for-every-book-that-is-written/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [“It’s easy to see what to do once it’s already been done. 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