Belief Quote by Patrick Rothfuss
“It's my belief that you should never show your work to anyone in the publishing world until it shines like a diamond. Rough drafts don't shine, as a rule. Mine certainly didn't. That's why I was rejected for years and years.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing advice, 2010s
Showcase polished work only after it reaches high quality; early drafts are expected to be rough and may lead to rejection.
In simple terms: Polish before publishing.
Key Takeaway
Refine until it shines.
Themes
writing
creativity
perfectionism
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- submission
- editing
- peer review
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
drafting
editing
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- How many drafts are enough?
- When is work ready to share?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stall progress.
![“What I miss most since computers is the existence of rough drafts. […]. I miss the mistakes, the words scribbled in the margin, the chaos, the arrows pointing all over the place – all those signs of movement, of life, of unresolved searching.” quote by Jean-Claude Carrière](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/56d/jean-claude-carri-re-29812_computers_what-i-miss-most-since-computers-is-the_1061545.jpg)
