Books Quote by Porochista Khakpour
“I write very raw, ugly, illiterate first drafts very quickly (novels are always in first draft in under a year) and then I spend years and years fine-tuning, revising, editing, etc. What inspires me? Who knows. I am not inspired that much. That’s why I write long form fiction—I am not much of a short story writer. Ideas come seldom, but when a good one comes, I really stick to it and see it out. I’m a problem-solver—I've never thrown out an entire manuscript; I've always forced myself to repair it until it was a lovable thing again.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast "The Creative Process", 2023
The author emphasizes rapid first drafts followed by extensive revision, viewing writing as a problem‑solving, iterative craft.
In simple terms: Fast drafts, long revisions.
Key Takeaway
Embrace quick drafts, then refine.
Themes
writing
revision
creativity
perseverance
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
process
advice
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- short story attempts
- editing workflow
- creative blocks
Key Concepts
Iterative process
problem solving
authorial discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance speed with initial quality?
- What strategies help sustain motivation during long revisions?
A Different Perspective
Rapid drafting may produce low‑quality drafts that need heavy editing.
![“It [9/11 tragedy] has affected us on so many levels: economically, morally, spiritually, ethically. It's been all over the place. A new American identity emerged - we now live in a very different America. This is the power of the definitive event.” quote by Porochista Khakpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3b7/porochista-khakpour-20047_affected_it-9-11-tragedy-has-affected-us-on-so-ma_821622.jpg)
