--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-editing is the way I write. Ten…" description: "\"Self-editing is the way I write. Ten verses of a song and it's finished. Then we start playing it and if I see that it's too long, I'll start cutting.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/nick-cave-1153_cutting_self-editing-is-the-way-i-write-ten-vers_3083612.jpg" --- # Self-editing is the way I write. Ten verses of a song and… ![“Self-editing is the way I write. Ten verses of a song and it's finished. Then we start playing it and if I see that it's too long, I'll start cutting.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/nick-cave-1153_cutting_self-editing-is-the-way-i-write-ten-vers_3083612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/nick-cave-1153_cutting_self-editing-is-the-way-i-write-ten-vers_3083612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/nick-cave-1153_cutting_self-editing-is-the-way-i-write-ten-vers_3083612.jpg) > “Self-editing is the way I write. Ten verses of a song and it's finished. Then we start playing it and if I see that it's too long, I'll start cutting.” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is iterative; after drafting, the author refines by cutting excess to achieve clarity and impact. **In simple terms:** Write, then edit down to essentials. Key Takeaway Embrace editing as essential to craft. Themes writing editing creativity process discipline Mood introspective pragmatic motivational Type creative process When to use this quote - songwriting - poetry - novel drafting - academic papers - marketing copy Key Concepts self‑editing iterative refinement minimalism Questions to Reflect On - What parts of your work are essential? - When does editing become loss? A Different Perspective Editing can strip emotional depth if over‑done. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Editing Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing-way-5270381/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [I see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-see/) [I write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-write/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Self Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-editing-2218513/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-finished-1341167/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is probably one-fifth coming up with the stuff, and four-fifths self-editing again and again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/writing-is-probably-one-fifth-coming-up-with-the-stuff-and-four/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Writing is all about self-editing; it's all about being present being aware of what's happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/writing-is-all-about-self-editing-it-s-all-about-being-present-being/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [My self-editing process is intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/my-self-editing-process-is-intense/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [When I have just sat down and tried to write the lyrics of a song, usually about half of it sounds like bullshit. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/when-i-have-just-sat-down-and-tried-to-write-the-lyrics-of-a-song/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [“Self editing is the path to the dark side. Self editing leads to self delusion, self delusion leads to missed mistakes, missed mistakes lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-t-benoit/self-editing-is-the-path-to-the-dark-side-self-editing-leads-to-self/) [Eric T. Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-t-benoit/) > [“Self-editing a novel is like trying to put pants on a cat: yes, it's painful and time consuming, but in the end, satisfying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jack/self-editing-a-novel-is-like-trying-to-put-pants-on-a-cat-yes-it-s/) [Robert Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jack/) > [Very rarely is there any confusion as to when a painting or a song is finished. You just know when it's done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/very-rarely-is-there-any-confusion-as-to-when-a-painting-or-a-song-is/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [“ Dude! Get a fucking grip, it's just a song! When had I turned into a 5-yr-old girl? At the very least, I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-lavocat/dude-get-a-fucking-grip-it-s-just-a-song-when-had-i-turned-into-a-5/) [M.C. Lavocat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-lavocat/) > [I really, really enjoy fitting words together - but I only enjoy it when it's easy, when it sort of rolls along by itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-really-really-enjoy-fitting-words-together-but-i-only-enjoy-it-when/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [I have a huge note on my phone where things just start popping up. It doesn't make that much sense to me at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/i-have-a-huge-note-on-my-phone-where-things-just-start-popping-up-it/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) > [At the start of the band's career, I had ideas for songs and thoughts I figured out, but at the time I wasn't sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/at-the-start-of-the-band-s-career-i-had-ideas-for-songs-and-thoughts/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [It's so important, after a song is finished, to go to sleep and listen to the song with fresh ears the next day. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/it-s-so-important-after-a-song-is-finished-to-go-to-sleep-and-listen/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [I am never excited to play through a song all the way, because it can reveal more flaws that mean more work. For some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/i-am-never-excited-to-play-through-a-song-all-the-way-because-it-can/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [“I finally found him sitting on his balcony. He was leaning back against the wall with his eyes closed. Soft music played, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-finally-found-him-sitting-on-his-balcony-he-was-leaning-back/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [And then, one day, they program a new tune, and it really catches your ear, you know, because you can be doing the washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/and-then-one-day-they-program-a-new-tune-and-it-really-catches-your/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More Cutting quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [What's the difference between obsolete and cutting edge? Obsolete works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/what-s-the-difference-between-obsolete-and-cutting-edge-obsolete-works/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) [Browse all 6,010 Cutting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self-editing is the way I write. Ten verses of a song and it's finished. 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