90 Quote by Raymond Carver
““Evan Connell said once that he knew he was finished with a short story when he found himself going through it and taking out commas and then going through the story again and putting the commas back in the same places. I like that way of working on something. I respect that kind of care for what is being done. That's all we have, finally, the words, and they had better be the right ones, with the punctuation in the right places so that they an best say what they are meant to say. If the words are heavy with the writer's own unbridled emotions, or if they are imprecise and inaccurate for some other reason -- if the worlds are in any way blurred -- the reader's eyes will slide right over them and nothing will be achieved. Henry James called this sort of hapless writing 'weak specification'.””
About This Quote
Meticulous editing, especially punctuation, ensures clarity and emotional precision; sloppy writing blurs meaning and disengages readers.
In simple terms: Careful editing makes writing clear and powerful.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize precise language and punctuation.
Themes
writing
editing
clarity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
instructional
reflective
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- academic papers
- blog posts
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
punctuation
precision
authorial intent
Questions to Reflect On
- How does punctuation affect tone?
- When is it okay to leave imperfections?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing can stifle creativity.
