I don't know where the characters are going to go or…
“I don't know where the characters are going to go or what's going to happen. I know that something inevitable will happen. I know that they want certain things and they're in a certain room and they smell like this and they look like that. More often than not, an entropy creeps in that strangles me, and then the inevitable happens. I don't know if I have the ability to write an ending like My Fair Lady's, when everyone gets what they want after a few minor conflicts. If I tried to write that it would just be false. Or I'd have someone enter with a machine gun.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Storytelling often feels like an unseen force drives characters toward inevitable outcomes, making controlled endings elusive.
In simple terms: Stories seem guided by unseen forces.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in narrative.
Themes
creativity
inevitability
storytelling
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- theatre
- improvisation
Key Concepts
narrative theory
entropy
character motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What forces shape your characters?
- How can you embrace uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Predictable endings can feel artificial and limit depth.