Structure 19. You worried about structure when you came up…
““Structure 19. You worried about structure when you came up with your story! If you did, I’m sorry. You missed some of the most joyous moments in writing. Character and story come first. Before anything. Certainly before all that Act One, Two, and Three crapola. When you’re teasing out your story, make lots of notes. Think out loud. Talk to a tape recorder. Make more notes. Fill up oceans of 3x5 cards. Write on yellow legal pads. Write on white legal pads. Scribble on napkins or beer coasters. Write down cool stuff for characters to do that may never find its way into the movie. Make notes and more notes and more notes, but do not trouble yourself with structure. Screw structure. Have fun. Structure is for later. For now, just let your incredibly creative mind run free. Make notes about character and plot and story and funny moments and locations you’d like to visit. Tape record dialogue for your””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Focus on character and spontaneous ideas before imposing rigid structure; capture thoughts freely in any medium.
In simple terms: Prioritize characters and fun ideas over planning.
Key Takeaway
Start writing without a preset outline.
Themes
creativity
writing
process
improvisation
note‑taking
Mood
enerusiastic
playful
Type
advice
process
When to use this quote
- screenwriting
- novel drafting
- brainstorming sessions
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
character development
story generation
creative flow
Questions to Reflect On
- How will you organize the abundant notes later?
- What methods help you later raw ideas into a cohesive story?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on unstructured notes can lead to incoherence later.