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?'
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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.
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If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
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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
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