William Steig letter to Paul Heins (June, 1970)

by Horn Book
Jun 13, 1970 | Filed in Our Story

William Steig letter June 1970


June 12, ’70


Dear Mr. Heins -


I hope you’ll understand if I tell you that I tend to be a bit “uptight”, even neurotic perhaps, about being edited. It’s not vanity — I don’t think I’m a great writer, or even a good one (in fact, I’m not a writer) — but I like to sound like myself when I talk or write. The sentence I added to my speech, an addition you seem to approve of, was in the original draft but was apparently edited out by my publisher, or by his secretary. I see the logic of your suggested changes, but don’t hate me if I say I like it better my way. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by the New Yorker where, in forty years, neither my drawings nor their captions have been edited.


Sincerely yours,


William Steig

Horn Book
Horn Book

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