--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When my first draft of a novel is done, I…" description: "\"“When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away, warts and all, to mellow. Some period of time later—six months, a year, two years, it doesn’t r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg" --- # When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away… ![“When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away, warts and all, to mellow. Some period of time later—six months, a year, two years, it doesn’t really matter—I can come back to it with a cooler (but still loving) eye, and begin the task of revising. And although each book of the Tower series…” quote by Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg) > ““When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away, warts and all, to mellow. Some period of time later—six months, a year, two years, it doesn’t really matter—I can come back to it with a cooler (but still loving) eye, and begin the task of revising. And although each book of the Tower series was revised as a separate entity, I never really looked at the work as a whole until I’d finished Volume Seven, The Dark Tower. When”” [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After completing a draft, set it aside to gain perspective; later, return with a critical yet compassionate eye to revise effectively. **In simple terms:** Step away, then revise with fresh eyes. Key Takeaway Take breaks before editing. Themes writing revision patience Mood thoughtful determined Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - novel drafting - academic paper editing - software code review - personal journal revision Key Concepts creative process self‑critique growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What distance helps you see flaws? - How do you balance criticism with affection? A Different Perspective Time away may cause loss of momentum. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Revised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revised/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I'm constantly revising. Once the book is written and typed, I go through the entire draft again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-m-constantly-revising-once-the-book-is-written-and-typed-i-go/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [The novel is never really in the first draft. The novel really happens in the revisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/the-novel-is-never-really-in-the-first-draft-the-novel-really-happens/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [“I started the first drafts of the book during my sophomore year of college. I wasn’t thinking at all about kids at the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-j-ross/i-started-the-first-drafts-of-the-book-during-my-sophomore-year-of/) Caleb J. Ross > [Because your goal is a complete rough draft of a novel, and every rough draft, by being complete, is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/because-your-goal-is-a-complete-rough-draft-of-a-novel-and-every/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [I wrote the first draft of my first novel at Michigan, and then I wrote the first draft of 'Salvage the Bones' at Stanford.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wrote-the-first-draft-of-my-first-novel-at-michigan-and-then-i/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“Roland of Gilead responded as he ever had and ever would when such useless, mystifying questions were raised: 'Ka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/roland-of-gilead-responded-as-he-ever-had-and-ever-would-when-such/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Any statement beginning with the words 'In truth' is almost always a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/any-statement-beginning-with-the-words-in-truth-is-almost-always-a-lie/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The gunslinger said, "I used to think the most terrible thing would be to reach the Dark Tower and find the top room empty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-gunslinger-said-i-used-to-think-the-most-terrible-thing-would-be/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“He walked out of nowhere toward nowhere, a man from another time who, it seemed, had reached a point of pointless ending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-walked-out-of-nowhere-toward-nowhere-a-man-from-another-time-who/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“What seems solid to us is actually only a loose net held together by gravity. Everything in the Universe denies 'nothing'. To suggest an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-seems-solid-to-us-is-actually-only-a-loose-net-held-together-by/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“In this universe there might grow roses which sing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-this-universe-there-might-grow-roses-which-sing/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“If,' Roland said. 'An old teacher of mine used to call it the only word a thousand letters long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/if-roland-said-an-old-teacher-of-mine-used-to-call-it-the-only-word-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The scariest, most terrifying thing that I fear? Yes. My Imagination. I thought you were going to say "Fear, itself." Then you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-scariest-most-terrifying-thing-that-i-fear-yes-my-imagination-i/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [They had discovered one could grow as hungry for light as for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/they-had-discovered-one-could-grow-as-hungry-for-light-as-for-food/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Eddie saw great things and near misses. Albert Einstein as a child, not quite struck by a run-away milk-wagon as he crossed a street.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/eddie-saw-great-things-and-near-misses-albert-einstein-as-a-child-not/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Stephen King > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“October 3, 2017 The clown, Hagarty said, looked like a cross between Ronald McDonald and that old TV clown, Bozo—or so he thought at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/october-3-2017-the-clown-hagarty-said-looked-like-a-cross-between/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Eddie saw great things and near misses. Albert Einstein as a child, not quite struck by a run-away milk-wagon as he crossed a street.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/eddie-saw-great-things-and-near-misses-albert-einstein-as-a-child-not/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The sun had burned through and the day had gone from dull to dazzling, yet in the west blask-satin thunderheads continued to stack up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-sun-had-burned-through-and-the-day-had-gone-from-dull-to-dazzling/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Flakes of snow swirled and danced across the porch. The Overlook faced it as it had for nearly three-quarters of a century, its darkened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/flakes-of-snow-swirled-and-danced-across-the-porch-the-overlook-faced/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Who gets to be best-liked in any community? Who is the most trusted? Why, the man who does the dirty job, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/who-gets-to-be-best-liked-in-any-community-who-is-the-most-trusted/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“¿Lo ves, tonto? Volvió a regañarse. Tú lo inventaste todo, gato asustado. No fue más que tu imaginación, gato asustado, gato asustado... No te…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/lo-ves-tonto-volvi-a-rega-arse-t-lo-inventaste-todo-gato-asustado-no/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Death . . . but not for you. That was what Walter, clever as Satan even at the end, had said. A lawyer’s answer . . . so close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/death-but-not-for-you-that-was-what-walter-clever-as-satan-even-at/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The ghost story movie that scared me the most was The Changeling with George C. Scott. I think that's sometimes overlooked, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-ghost-story-movie-that-scared-me-the-most-was-the-changeling-with/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Climb aboard, Jonesy. I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) [Explore all 3,589 Stephen King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More Books 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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [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/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [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/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [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/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away, warts and all, to mellow. Some period of time later—six months, a year, two years, it doesn’t really matter—I can come back to it with a cooler (but still loving) eye, and begin the task of revising. And although each book of the Tower series was revised as a separate entity, I never really looked at the work as a whole until I’d finished Volume Seven, The Dark Tower. When”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i-put-it-away-warts-and-all-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i-put-it-away-warts-and-all-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/stephen-king-13_books_when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i_2539256.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When my first draft of a novel is done, I put it away, warts and all, to mellow. Some period of time…” — Stephen King", "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": "Stephen King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When my first draft of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i-put-it-away-warts-and-all-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-my-first-draft-of-a-novel-is-done-i-put-it-away-warts-and-all-to/#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 } } ] } ```