First draft: I say things. Second draft: This is what I meant to say. Third draft: This is what I meant to say but now in the right order and with less words.

(whispers) "fewer".

Twenty-third draft: No, but really 'This' is what I've been trying to say, and that whole sidetrack with the cat anecdotes added in the last twenty drafts was just totally unnecessary. I'll save that cut content for a separate book though, just in case.

Rough draft: Well, there's some words here that don't make me want to crawl into a hole and die, so that's cool.

Fifth draft: I don't know how I got here but there's like eight new characters now.

Proofread draft: This is what I meant to say but now in the correct order and with fewer words. followed by Final draft: This is what I meant to say but now in the right order and with less words (note for proofreader: my character doesn't speak like Data, you smug fuck).

Pendant alert: fewer, not less.

I take the "write drunk edit sober" approach a lot

Ninth draft: Where was I going with this?

I think you nailed it.

Have you shown this to Kemi Badenoch?