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Before I start, I trick myself into thinking I know what's…

“Before I start, I trick myself into thinking I know what's going to happen in the story, but the characters have ideas of their own, and I always go with the character's choices. Most of the time I discover plot twists and directions that are better than what I originally had planned.” quote by Neal Shusterman
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“Before I start, I trick myself into thinking I know what's going to happen in the story, but the characters have ideas of their own, and I always go with the character's choices. Most of the time I discover plot twists and directions that are better than what I originally had planned.”

Neal Shusterman

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authors often discover better story directions by following characters' instincts rather than rigid plans.

In simple terms: Follow characters to improve plot.

Key Takeaway

Trust your characters.

Themes

creativity storytelling intuition

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

creative guiding

When to use this quote

  • novel writing
  • screenwriting
  • improvisation

Key Concepts

character agency narrative development

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should you stick to your outline?
  • How do you balance planning and spontaneity?
A Different Perspective

Too much improvisation can cause incoherence.

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