Perhaps the biggest takeaway from George Saunders treatise on writing (which also applies to all forms of creative expression) is this:
The constant iterative changes made to any piece of art are what infuses the final work with our essence. With each of a thousand edits the piece becomes a purer expression of ourselves.
I’m not sure if I completely agree with this all of the time, but there’s no question that the essence of his point is true.
It’s a provocative idea.