--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've reached that final moment of editing…" description: "\"“I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one where the text manifests as a living breathing person and starts slugging me in the face.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg" --- # I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one… ![“I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one where the text manifests as a living breathing person and starts slugging me in the face.” quote by Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg) > ““I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one where the text manifests as a living breathing person and starts slugging me in the face.”” [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Editing a book can feel like the text becomes alive and confronts the author, reflecting deep immersion. **In simple terms:** Editing feels like the book fights back. Key Takeaway Embrace the book’s feedback during editing. Themes creativity author‑reader relationship process Mood introspective inspirational Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing - workshops - self‑editing Key Concepts self‑reflection narrative voice editing dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does personifying a manuscript affect revision? - What strategies help authors stay objective? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate normal editing challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you're rereading or editing your book and you start to expect that this work is going to be reviewed, and you can sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/when-you-re-rereading-or-editing-your-book-and-you-start-to-expect/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [“I’m an open book—an open book I’m still writing and editing. My book is a romance novel, sort of like The Secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-an-open-book-an-open-book-i-m-still-writing-and-editing-my-book/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Remember that the first rule when editing a book is to DO NO HARM.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-coyne/remember-that-the-first-rule-when-editing-a-book-is-to-do-no-harm/) [Shawn Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-coyne/) > [Winning the Pulitzer is wonderful and it's an honor and I feel so humbled and so grateful, but I think that I'll think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/winning-the-pulitzer-is-wonderful-and-it-s-an-honor-and-i-feel-so/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) > [ The reality of the final moment, just before shooting \[the scene\], is so powerful that all previous analysis must yield before the impressions you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/the-reality-of-the-final-moment-just-before-shooting-the-scene-is-so/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [“Death came as a whisper. It wasn't frightening or horrible at all. In that final moment, it washed over me like a gentle wave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-lovett/death-came-as-a-whisper-it-wasn-t-frightening-or-horrible-at-all-in/) Terry Lovett > [The last and final moment is yours, so here's to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-and-final-moment-is-yours-so-here-s-to-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If this is my final moment,” she says, “then I can die happy.” “Is that why you’re saying all this? Because you think we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/if-this-is-my-final-moment-she-says-then-i-can-die-happy-is-that-why/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [“I have so many priceless memories to embrace at that final moment that it will soften the blow. I know my friends will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-swart/i-have-so-many-priceless-memories-to-embrace-at-that-final-moment/) [Karen Swart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-swart/) > [Most men go through life unchallenged, except at the final moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/most-men-go-through-life-unchallenged-except-at-the-final-moment/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I miss dating only for that final moment you kiss goodnight, watch her get out of your car and run into the police station.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/i-miss-dating-only-for-that-final-moment-you-kiss-goodnight-watch-her/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“When the final moment came, signalled to him by the dramatic stoppage of her loud, rasping breathing (whereas their son had departed so quietly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/when-the-final-moment-came-signalled-to-him-by-the-dramatic-stoppage/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > ['The heavens wont punish me if, in the final moment of my life, I am unable to hold back these last words: I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-the-best/the-heavens-wont-punish-me-if-in-the-final-moment-of-my-life-i-am/) SAM (THE BEST > [All the men and women whom I have faced at that final moment, convince me that in what I have done, I have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pierrepoint/all-the-men-and-women-whom-i-have-faced-at-that-final-moment-convince/) Albert Pierrepoint > [“Timothy said there were just those people who, when it all came down to that final moment and you were leaving Earth on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-blackburn/timothy-said-there-were-just-those-people-who-when-it-all-came-down/) [Wendy Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-blackburn/) ## More by Richard Due > [“I was asked the age old question today: why are you an author? I suppose there are lots of answers to this question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-was-asked-the-age-old-question-today-why-are-you-an-author-i/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Odd names: Winter, Autumn—they almost sound as if someone just made them up.” —Dubb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/odd-names-winter-autumn-they-almost-sound-as-if-someone-just-made/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“You won't find the tales I bear in any books . . . My tales are from the Moon Realm.” —Ebb Autumn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/you-won-t-find-the-tales-i-bear-in-any-books-my-tales-are-from-the/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Some people are just sad when there aren't talking squirrels.” —Lily Winter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/some-people-are-just-sad-when-there-aren-t-talking-squirrels-lily/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“I must warn you, my story isn’t a pretty one: abductions, time-traveling dragons, the Order of the Black Fez, highly verbal cats, a secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-must-warn-you-my-story-isn-t-a-pretty-one-abductions-time-traveling/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Editing is like walking across a room strewn with rose petals and thorns. When you can walk across mostly unbloodied, you're finished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/editing-is-like-walking-across-a-room-strewn-with-rose-petals-and/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“History is always older. —Black Fez axiom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/history-is-always-older-black-fez-axiom/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Never mess with the Fez.” —Heather Peaceout, Black Fez, Second Order”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/never-mess-with-the-fez-heather-peaceout-black-fez-second-order/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Tavin cupped his hands to his mouth. “Here, dragon-dragon-dragon!” he yelled. Lily stared in amazement. Well, that was bold, she thought, and stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/tavin-cupped-his-hands-to-his-mouth-here-dragon-dragon-dragon-he/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“You’d be surprised what an eleven-year-old can get away with.” —Tuppence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/you-d-be-surprised-what-an-eleven-year-old-can-get-away-with-tuppence/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Just a cat! Just a cat! I am the stealer of breaths, the walker of shadows, the keeper of nine lives.” —the Magnificent Lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/just-a-cat-just-a-cat-i-am-the-stealer-of-breaths-the-walker-of/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“Do not stare directly into his eyes!” she warned, in an accent I couldn’t place. “Why not?” I said, but she was already too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/do-not-stare-directly-into-his-eyes-she-warned-in-an-accent-i-couldn/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [“But—" yelped Twizbang, “Greydor will eat us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/but-yelped-twizbang-greydor-will-eat-us/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) [Explore all 14 Richard Due quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one where the text manifests as a living breathing person and starts slugging me in the face.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Due" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editing-a-book-the-one-where-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editing-a-book-the-one-where-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/002/richard-due-33547_book_i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editin_887350.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've reached that final moment of editing a book—the one where the text manifests as a living breathing…” — Richard Due", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Due", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I've reached that final moment of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editing-a-book-the-one-where-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-ve-reached-that-final-moment-of-editing-a-book-the-one-where-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```