--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For twenty years I have sat alone at a…" description: "\"“For twenty years I have sat alone at a desk tinkering with sentences and then sending them out, and for most of my literary life the difference betwee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/rebecca-solnit-569_activism_for-twenty-years-i-have-sat-alone-at-a-d_1592405.png" --- # For twenty years I have sat alone at a desk tinkering with… ![“For twenty years I have sat alone at a desk tinkering with sentences and then sending them out, and for most of my literary life the difference between throwing something in the trash and publishing it was imperceptible...” quote by Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/rebecca-solnit-569_activism_for-twenty-years-i-have-sat-alone-at-a-d_1592405.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/rebecca-solnit-569_activism_for-twenty-years-i-have-sat-alone-at-a-d_1592405.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/rebecca-solnit-569_activism_for-twenty-years-i-have-sat-alone-at-a-d_1592405.png) > ““For twenty years I have sat alone at a desk tinkering with sentences and then sending them out, and for most of my literary life the difference between throwing something in the trash and publishing it was imperceptible...”” [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing involves endless drafts where the line between discard and publish is blurry, highlighting the labor behind creation. **In simple terms:** Writing is a constant process of editing and deciding what to keep. Key Takeaway Embrace revision and trust your judgment. Themes creativity writing process Mood reflective determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - author workshops - personal journaling - blogging - self‑publishing Key Concepts drafting self‑critique publication literary labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when a piece is ready? - What criteria help you discard drafts? A Different Perspective Even after many revisions, uncertainty can linger, making decisions stressful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literary Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-life-529764/) [Publishing Imperceptible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing-imperceptible-6038124/) [Sending Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sending-literary-6038125/) [Tinkering Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tinkering-sentences-6038123/) [Trash Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash-publishing-6038126/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I did not consider that I would lead a literary life. 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