I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.
James A. MichenerRead
I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good writing often comes from rewriting; the process of refining and improving ideas is crucial.
James A. Michener emphasizes the importance of rewriting as a key component of writing well. He implies that while one may not start with perfect prose, the act of revising allows for clarity, depth, and improvement, highlighting that mastery in writing often involves diligent editing and refinement.
Themes
WritingRewritingRevisionCreativityImprovement
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, you could say this quote to emphasize the value of peer reviews and revisions.
More from James A. Michener
All quotes →Whenever I start a book, I swear it's going to be a short one. But then it's, 'Who was his grandfather? And how did he get there in the first place? And what kind of animals is he chasing?'
James A. MichenerRead
Rampaging horsemen can conquer; only the city can civilize.
James A. MichenerRead
I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody else does is of no concern whatever except as an interesting variation.
James A. MichenerRead
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
James A. MichenerRead
I was brought up in the great tradition of the late nineteenth century: that a writer never complains, never explains and never disdains.
James A. MichenerRead
Similar quotes
And there was that poor sucker Flaubert rolling around on his floor for three days looking for the right word.
Dorothy ParkerRead
I do not like to write - I like to have written.
Gloria SteinemRead
When I'm working on a book, I constantly retype my own sentences. Every day I go back to page one and just retype what I have. It gets me into a rhythm.
Joan DidionRead
You most likely need a thesaurus, a rudimentary grammar book, and a grip on reality. This latter means: there's no free lunch. Writing is work. It's also gambling. You don't get a pension plan. Other people can help you a bit, but essentially you're on your own. Nobody is making you do this: you chose it, so don't whine.
Margaret AtwoodRead
Above all, have a good time. If you aren’t enjoying writing it, you can hardly expect someone else to enjoy reading it.
Tom RobbinsRead
Write every day, just to keep in the habit, and remember that whatever you have written is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. Just keep going, and tell yourself that you will fix it later.
Jane SmileyRead