Acceptable Quote by Richard Meltzer
“I didn't mind writing incoherently, up until about 1980, occasionally. But after that, I decided, might as well be articulate. And I found, though, that writing poetry affected my prose to the point where I never again wrote in one draft, and my prose just took longer and longer and longer. It took longer and longer to come up with an acceptable text. And that's probably one of the reasons that my output has slowed down.”
About This Quote
Writing became more deliberate after 1980, slowing output as poetic influence made prose more labor‑intensive.
In simple terms: Poetry made prose slower and more careful.
Embrace deliberate writing.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing practice
- editing
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How balance speed and depth?
- When to prioritize polish?
Slower output may affect productivity.