Caterpillars Quote by Terry Pratchett
“I am a technophile, so there is no such thing as a first draft. The first draft plunges on, and about a quarter of the way through it I realise I'm doing things wrong, so I start rewriting it. What you call the first draft becomes rather like a caterpillar; it is progressing fairly slowly, but there is movement up and down its whole length, the whole story is being changed. I call this draft zero, telling myself how the story is supposed to go.”
About This Quote
The author sees drafts as iterative, constantly rewriting, likening the process to a moving caterpillar rather than a fixed first version.
In simple terms: Writing is a continuous rewrite process.
Key Takeaway
Embrace iterative drafting and flexibility.
Themes
writing
creativity
process
iteration
growth
Mood
reflective
motivational
Type
creative
process
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- editing tools
- creative retreats
Key Concepts
drafting
creative workflow
revision strategies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers set milestones during iterative drafts?
- When is it appropriate to stop revising?
A Different Perspective
The process can be time‑consuming and may stall progress without clear goals.
