--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers know all the good reasons for…" description: "\"“Writers know all the good reasons for subjecting their work to a sharp trim. Early drafts are notorious for repetition, indirection and overdevelopmen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/pamela-erens-76455_revision_writers-know-all-the-good-reasons-for-su_1514819.jpg" --- # Writers know all the good reasons for subjecting their… ![“Writers know all the good reasons for subjecting their work to a sharp trim. Early drafts are notorious for repetition, indirection and overdevelopment of the trivial.” quote by Pamela Erens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/pamela-erens-76455_revision_writers-know-all-the-good-reasons-for-su_1514819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/pamela-erens-76455_revision_writers-know-all-the-good-reasons-for-su_1514819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/pamela-erens-76455_revision_writers-know-all-the-good-reasons-for-su_1514819.jpg) > ““Writers know all the good reasons for subjecting their work to a sharp trim. Early drafts are notorious for repetition, indirection and overdevelopment of the trivial.”” Pamela Erens ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers must trim drafts, removing excess to sharpen clarity and impact. **In simple terms:** Editing removes fluff to strengthen writing. Key Takeaway Edit ruthlessly for clarity. Themes writing editing clarity Mood analytical thoughtful Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - novel drafts - academic papers - blog posts Key Concepts revision process conciseness literary craft Questions to Reflect On - When does trimming become harmful? - How do you preserve voice while cutting? A Different Perspective Over‑editing can strip voice and nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-process/) ## Related quotes > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [So much of writing is about what characters don't say, and in the early drafts, sometimes things get overwritten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/so-much-of-writing-is-about-what-characters-don-t-say-and-in-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [When I made '1983,' there were a bunch of tracks that were in the early drafts that didn't make it because they just sounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/when-i-made-1983-there-were-a-bunch-of-tracks-that-were-in-the-early/) [Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/) > [It is simply not part of my culture to preserve notes. 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Trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/everyone-thinks-writers-must-know-more-about-the-inside-of-the-human/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Jealousy is such a direct attack on whatever measure of confidence you’ve been able to muster. But if you continue to write, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/jealousy-is-such-a-direct-attack-on-whatever-measure-of-confidence/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Pamela Erens > [“Children were in fact ferocious little animals, sharp and canny and hurt and eager to inflict hurt themselves, who were trying to get what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-erens/children-were-in-fact-ferocious-little-animals-sharp-and-canny-and/) Pamela Erens > [“In my experience, cutting back is the crucial act that allows the vitality, precision and emotional heart of a piece of writing to emerge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-erens/in-my-experience-cutting-back-is-the-crucial-act-that-allows-the/) Pamela Erens Explore all 3 Pamela Erens quotes ## More Revision quotes > [“That's religion in America, under constant revision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sharlet/that-s-religion-in-america-under-constant-revision/) [Jeff Sharlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sharlet/) > [For products with revision possibilities, there is no better source available than a company going out of business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-joseph-cossman/for-products-with-revision-possibilities-there-is-no-better-source/) [E. Joseph Cossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-joseph-cossman/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I am particularly horrified by the use of propaganda and the manipulation of the truth and the revision of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-particularly-horrified-by-the-use-of-propaganda-and-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-lord-of-the-rings-is-of-course-a-fundamentally-religious-and/) [J. R. R. 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