--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no idea who the characters are…" description: "\"I have no idea who the characters are, later, their personalities take over anything I might want to do. I end up writing not from my own will, but fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/akira-kurosawa-14889_alive_i-have-no-idea-who-the-characters-are-la_2870917.png" --- # I have no idea who the characters are, later, their… ![“I have no idea who the characters are, later, their personalities take over anything I might want to do. I end up writing not from my own will, but from theirs-they come alive as I write and make me do things that I couldn't have planned.” quote by Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/akira-kurosawa-14889_alive_i-have-no-idea-who-the-characters-are-la_2870917.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/akira-kurosawa-14889_alive_i-have-no-idea-who-the-characters-are-la_2870917.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/akira-kurosawa-14889_alive_i-have-no-idea-who-the-characters-are-la_2870917.png) > “I have no idea who the characters are, later, their personalities take over anything I might want to do. I end up writing not from my own will, but from theirs-they come alive as I write and make me do things that I couldn't have planned.” [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When writing, characters can dominate the author’s intent, leading the writer to follow their emergent personalities rather than personal plans. **In simple terms:** Characters take over the writer. Key Takeaway Listen to your characters. Themes creativity character development authorial voice Mood reflective creative Type artistic process When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay drafting - improvisational storytelling Key Concepts narrative agency creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance character and author intent? - What boundaries guide your storytelling? A Different Perspective May reduce authorial control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-later-3926607/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [No idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-idea/) [Personalities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personalities/) [Personalities Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personalities-want-930796/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Theirs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-theirs-3926608/) ## Related quotes > [I'm always interested in trying to investigate different personalities. I want to keep myself guessing and keep the fear element alive, so that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/i-m-always-interested-in-trying-to-investigate-different/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [In terms of personalities - I don't care about the personalities, I want leadership that's in favor of my principles: free markets, adherence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/in-terms-of-personalities-i-don-t-care-about-the-personalities-i-want/) [Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/) > [I want to do this for as long as I possibly can and coach as many different teams and opportunities and different kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-spoelstra/i-want-to-do-this-for-as-long-as-i-possibly-can-and-coach-as-many/) [Erik Spoelstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-spoelstra/) > [Love asks for nothing. Only personalities want something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/love-asks-for-nothing-only-personalities-want-something/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [My last two characters have been Denethor and Walter Bishop. Both will be hard acts to follow. That sits in the hands of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble/my-last-two-characters-have-been-denethor-and-walter-bishop-both-will/) [John Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-noble/) > [That's the beauty of the acting world. You can play so many different characters who know and do so many things that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-ruah/that-s-the-beauty-of-the-acting-world-you-can-play-so-many-different/) [Daniela Ruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-ruah/) > [I have two little kids, and they both came out completely different, with their own personalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-barker/i-have-two-little-kids-and-they-both-came-out-completely-different/) [Nigel Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-barker/) > [The weird thing about metal fans is we're all so maladjusted in a lot of ways. We're individualistic and opinionated and severe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/the-weird-thing-about-metal-fans-is-we-re-all-so-maladjusted-in-a-lot/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I've learned a lot from being a chameleon, sort of adopting the musical personalities of who I was playing with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-denk/i-ve-learned-a-lot-from-being-a-chameleon-sort-of-adopting-the/) [Jeremy Denk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-denk/) > [“There are always far better things ahead than what we will leave behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-vonada/there-are-always-far-better-things-ahead-than-what-we-will-leave/) [Chris Vonada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-vonada/) > [“Our personalities are often molded by how we are treated: if a parent or spouse is defensive or argumentative in dealing with us, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-personalities-are-often-molded-by-how-we-are-treated-if-a-parent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [“Sandman had two personalities. One could turn a female into his angel for the night in a blink, and the other could make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/sandman-had-two-personalities-one-could-turn-a-female-into-his-angel/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [All the teams you have have different personalities, and you kind of want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/all-the-teams-you-have-have-different-personalities-and-you-kind-of/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [People with big personalities are best in the center of the table. They can help carry the conversation from that place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-smith/people-with-big-personalities-are-best-in-the-center-of-the-table/) [Michael S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-smith/) ## More by Akira Kurosawa > [The truth is in the mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/the-truth-is-in-the-mystery/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [The Japanese see self-assertion as immoral and self- sacrifice as the sensible course to take in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/the-japanese-see-self-assertion-as-immoral-and-self-sacrifice-as-the/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Take me, subtract movies, and you get zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/take-me-subtract-movies-and-you-get-zero/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“IT IS QUITE ENOUGH IF A HUMAN BEING HAS BUT ONE FIELD WHERE HE OR SHE IS STRONG. IF A HUMAN BEING WERE STRONG…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-quite-enough-if-a-human-being-has-but-one-field-where-he-or-she/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/i-like-unformed-characters-this-may-be-because-no-matter-how-old-i/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/human-beings-are-unable-to-be-honest-with-themselves-about-themselves/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [If you look at everything straight on, there is nothing to be afraid of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/if-you-look-at-everything-straight-on-there-is-nothing-to-be-afraid-of/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [It is the power of memory that gives rise to the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [I suppose all of my films have a common theme. If I think about it, though, the only theme I can think of is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/i-suppose-all-of-my-films-have-a-common-theme-if-i-think-about-it/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [During the shooting of a scene the director’s eye has to catch even the minutest detail. But this does not mean glaring concentratedly at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/during-the-shooting-of-a-scene-the-director-s-eye-has-to-catch-even/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Of all my films, people wrote to me most about this one... ...I had wanted to make The Idiot long before Rashomon. Since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/of-all-my-films-people-wrote-to-me-most-about-this-one-i-had-wanted/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [If you want to be a great director, be a great screenwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/if-you-want-to-be-a-great-director-be-a-great-screenwriter/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Movie directors, or should I say people who create things, are very greedy and they can never be satisfied... That's why they can keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/movie-directors-or-should-i-say-people-who-create-things-are-very/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [A truly good movie is enjoyable too. There’s nothing complicated about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/a-truly-good-movie-is-enjoyable-too-there-s-nothing-complicated-about/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [Man is a genius when he is dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/man-is-a-genius-when-he-is-dreaming/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) [Explore all 45 Akira Kurosawa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have no idea who the characters are, later, their personalities take over anything I might want to do. 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