When the first-rate author wants an exquisite heroine or a lovely morning, he finds that all the superlatives have been worn shoddy by his inferiors. It should be a rule that bad writers must start with plain heroines and ordinary mornings, and, if they are able, work up to something better.

Summary

This quote suggests that exceptional writers face a challenge when creating exceptional characters or settings. When they desire to portray a captivating heroine or a beautifully described morning, they find that lesser writers have already exhausted all the clichéd and overused descriptions. Therefore, it proposes a rule stating that less skilled writers should begin with ordinary characters and settings and, if they possess the ability, gradually improve their writing to create more extraordinary and original creations.

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