“I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.”
What this quote means
Capote expresses his preference for revision and rewriting over initial inspiration. The 'scissors' symbolize the ability to cut, trim, and refine, while the 'pencil' represents the first draft. This quote underscores the importance of revision in the creative process: it is by pruning that one achieves perfection. It applies to any form of creation, but also to life, where sometimes we must know how to cut to move forward.
How to apply it daily
Take a project or a text you have written, and without hesitation remove anything superfluous, focusing on the essential.
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