"And I'm a slow writer: five, six hundred words is a good day. That's the reason it took me 20 years to write those million and a half words of the Civil War"

In this quote, author Shelby Foote is discussing his writing procedure and the amount of time it took him to complete his famous work on the Civil War. He reveals that he is a slow author, only able to produce five or 6 hundred words in a day. This might seem like a small amount compared to other writers, however Foote highlights that this is a good day for him. He then describes that this is the reason it took him 20 years to edit a million words on the Civil War. This quote highlights the commitment and perseverance required for a writer to produce a substantial and impactful piece of work.