Annie Dillard's quote highlights the essential struggle of a writer creating multiple works. Each book serves as a canvas for the author's thoughts and ideas, which are often rich and compelling. However, the constraints of structure and form can necessitate the omission of certain urgent points that the writer initially wanted to convey.

This process reveals the complexity of the writing craft, where the transformation of vibrant ideas into a cohesive narrative can lead to the loss of some elements. Writers must navigate this challenge, balancing their creative intentions with the rigidity of the book's structure, ultimately leading to a refined yet incomplete expression of their original vision.