“Writing a first draft is like groping one's way into a dark room, or overhearing a faint conversation, or telling a joke whose punchline you've forgotten. As someone said, one writes mainly to rewrite, for rewriting and revising are how one's mind comes to inhabit the material fully.”
Quote by Ted Solotaroff
Work
The Literary Community: Selected Essays : 1967-2007
This book is a compilation of essays that delve into the evolution and dynamics of the literary world from 1967 to 2007, offering insights into the authors, movements, and cultural shifts that shaped the landscape of literature during that period. more
Author
Ted Solotaroff
Ted Solotaroff (October 9, 1928 – August 8, 2008) was an American literary critic, editor, and writer. He is best known for his work at Commentary magazine and The New York Review of Books, and for founding the influential literary magazine The New American Review. Solotaroff was renowned for his sharp literary insights and support for emerging writers, significantly shaping American literature in the latter half of the 20th century. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Columbia University. His notable works include The Red Hot Vacuum and Truths and Lies, reflecting his deep engagement with literature and culture. more
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“Rewriting is like scrubbing the basement floor with a toothbrush.”
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“No time for poetry but exactly what is.”
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“First thought, best thought.”
Source: The Essential Ginsberg
Source: Ernest Hemingway Selected Letters 1917-1961
“I'd have stopped writing years ago if it were for the money.”