--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write by hand in my notebooks and…" description: "\"I write by hand in my notebooks and number the drafts, so I know how crazy I can get with this. Some writers, like my teacher Marilynne Robinson, she o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/peter-orner-12957_crazy_i-write-by-hand-in-my-notebooks-and-numb_1934722.png" --- # I write by hand in my notebooks and number the drafts, so… ![“I write by hand in my notebooks and number the drafts, so I know how crazy I can get with this. Some writers, like my teacher Marilynne Robinson, she only writes one draft. I've thought about this a lot; I think it's because she writes it 80 times in her head before it comes out.” quote by Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/peter-orner-12957_crazy_i-write-by-hand-in-my-notebooks-and-numb_1934722.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/peter-orner-12957_crazy_i-write-by-hand-in-my-notebooks-and-numb_1934722.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/peter-orner-12957_crazy_i-write-by-hand-in-my-notebooks-and-numb_1934722.png) > “I write by hand in my notebooks and number the drafts, so I know how crazy I can get with this. Some writers, like my teacher Marilynne Robinson, she only writes one draft. I've thought about this a lot; I think it's because she writes it 80 times in her head before it comes out.” [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author contrasts his meticulous, numbered drafting process with a writer who mentally rehearses many drafts before committing to paper, suggesting different creative workflows. **In simple terms:** He drafts on paper; she drafts mentally. Key Takeaway Find a workflow that balances planning and spontaneity. Themes creativity process discipline Mood introspective inquisitive Type reflective process-oriented When to use this quote - novel writing - academic work - personal journaling - creative projects Key Concepts drafting mental rehearsal writing habits Questions to Reflect On - Do you need physical drafts to refine ideas? - How does mental rehearsal affect creativity? A Different Perspective Relying solely on mental drafts may limit external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) [Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts/) [Drafts Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts-know-3048691/) [Notebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notebook/) [Number Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-drafts-1638291/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writes Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writes-draft-3048690/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“The other six or seven drafts are going to be pure torture. So why not enjoy the first draft, in the hope that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-other-six-or-seven-drafts-are-going-to-be-pure-torture-so-why-not/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/with-my-first-book-i-was-hired-to-write-a-draft-of-the-script-i-was/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [The first draft you're pretty much on your own, so I love that. I can let my imagination go wild. I just go crazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/the-first-draft-you-re-pretty-much-on-your-own-so-i-love-that-i-can/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [I'll play for whoever drafts me. I'm just not going to be presumptuous about what they want to do. It's the draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/i-ll-play-for-whoever-drafts-me-i-m-just-not-going-to-be-presumptuous/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) > [This is all you have to do. Sit down once a day to the novel and start working without internal criticism, without debilitating expectations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/this-is-all-you-have-to-do-sit-down-once-a-day-to-the-novel-and-start/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I write an actual script rather quickly - a draft will take me two weeks - but I write a lot of drafts. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abi-morgan/i-write-an-actual-script-rather-quickly-a-draft-will-take-me-two/) [Abi Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abi-morgan/) > [ I was so mad at my agent. I had polished and polished and polished \[the play\], and he referred to it as a draft.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/i-was-so-mad-at-my-agent-i-had-polished-and-polished-and-polished-the/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [The problem is once you've written the opening paragraph and worked out how the rest of the story will go in your head, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/the-problem-is-once-you-ve-written-the-opening-paragraph-and-worked/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [I'm pretty obsessive-compulsive, and I'm very fast. I tend to not write for a long period of time until I can't not write, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-m-pretty-obsessive-compulsive-and-i-m-very-fast-i-tend-to-not-write/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [I'd really be happy with any team that drafts me. It means they see something in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/i-d-really-be-happy-with-any-team-that-drafts-me-it-means-they-see/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [Obviously, drafts sometimes are good ones, or bad ones; I think you can get a good, quality player late in the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-hill/obviously-drafts-sometimes-are-good-ones-or-bad-ones-i-think-you-can/) [Grant Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-hill/) > [I don't read anything electronically. I don't write electronically, either - except e-mails to my family and friends. I write in longhand. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-don-t-read-anything-electronically-i-don-t-write-electronically/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I have to re-write a lot. I couldn't tell you how many drafts I write, but I know I've done at least twenty rewrites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-willis-holt/i-have-to-re-write-a-lot-i-couldn-t-tell-you-how-many-drafts-i-write/) [Kimberly Willis Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-willis-holt/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) ## More by Peter Orner > [“The lake is always east. East is always the lake. Anywhere else he's ever been he never knows where he is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/the-lake-is-always-east-east-is-always-the-lake-anywhere-else-he-s/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [“For we are like olives: only when we are crushed do we yield what is best in us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/for-we-are-like-olives-only-when-we-are-crushed-do-we-yield-what-is/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [Rarely is the pain of losing someone expressed with such directness, energy, and, yes, humor. The grief in Evan Kuhlman'sWolf Boyis palpable, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/rarely-is-the-pain-of-losing-someone-expressed-with-such-directness/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I think some writers should wait for something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-think-some-writers-should-wait-for-something-to-say/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I've spent so many years living in one place and imaging another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-ve-spent-so-many-years-living-in-one-place-and-imaging-another/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I'm pretty tight - I rewrite, in some cases, 70 to 80 times before I show it to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-m-pretty-tight-i-rewrite-in-some-cases-70-to-80-times-before-i-show/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I feel like there are too many words in the world, and I think silence is so much more powerful than the glut of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-feel-like-there-are-too-many-words-in-the-world-and-i-think-silence/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I usually have a location and then I put the character there. I love place names. I think I'm tricking myself by being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-usually-have-a-location-and-then-i-put-the-character-there-i-love/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [People have to follow their own strangeness. The minute they start making their own vision of the world flattened out so everyone can read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/people-have-to-follow-their-own-strangeness-the-minute-they-start/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I revise and revise and revise. I'm not even sure "revise" is the right word. I work a story almost to death before it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-revise-and-revise-and-revise-i-m-not-even-sure-revise-is-the-right/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [“Considering the multitude of things that happen in any one person’s life, it seems fairly unlikely that those little boys remembered the incident for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/considering-the-multitude-of-things-that-happen-in-any-one-person-s/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [“Chicago does not go to the world, the world comes to Chicago! Who needs New York? Who has taller buildings than our tall buildings?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/chicago-does-not-go-to-the-world-the-world-comes-to-chicago-who-needs/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [We don't want emotion handed to us - that's not emotion. You have to build and come from the reader's soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/we-don-t-want-emotion-handed-to-us-that-s-not-emotion-you-have-to/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [I think anything we do - eating, walking down the street, online shopping - gives you another perspective on writing stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-think-anything-we-do-eating-walking-down-the-street-online-shopping/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [“Leo wondered what unknown sin they must have committed in some previous life to deserve this. The answer came the same way their feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/leo-wondered-what-unknown-sin-they-must-have-committed-in-some/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) [Explore all 52 Peter Orner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) ## More Crazy quotes > [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/) [Dot Dot Curve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-dot-curve/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [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/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. 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It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) [Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write by hand in my notebooks and number the drafts, so I know how crazy I can get with this. Some writers, like my teacher Marilynne Robinson, she only writes one draft. 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