Hardest Quote by Tad Williams
“Learn a lot about the world and finish things, even if it is just a short story. Finish it before you start something else. Finish it before you start rewriting it. That's really important. It's to find out if you're going to be a writer or not, because that's one of the most important lessons. Most, maybe 90% of people, will start writing and never finish what they started. If you want to be a writer that's the hardest and most important lesson: Finish it. Then go back to fix it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author Talk, 2015
Finishing a piece, even a short story, tests whether you have the discipline to be a writer; it reveals commitment and helps you learn from the process.
In simple terms: Finish what you start to discover your writer’s path.
Key Takeaway
Complete first, then revise.
Themes
discipline
creativity
self‑assessment
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- starting a novel
- short story exercise
- blog post
- academic paper
- personal journal
Key Concepts
writing process
commitment
self‑discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- What unfinished project could you complete today?
- How does completion change your view of the work?
A Different Perspective
Finishing may limit exploration of new ideas before they’re fully formed.
