What the Honest Writer Does

"What the honest writer does, when he's finished a rough draft, is go over it and over it, time after time, refusing to let anything stay if it looks awkward, phony, or forced."—John Gardner in his book, The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers

I've not often seen revision referred to as being honest, but I think that Gardner makes an interesting point. One thing I'm sure of is that readers will notice the "awkward, phony, or forced" in a flash.

 

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