Dangerous Quote by Andrew Bujalski
“Writing a story starts out as a puzzle in your mind, of "What is it I'm fantasizing about right now that makes me think this is going to be worth years of work?" And you just keep pushing and trying to figure it out, and once you've hit on these resonances... Then as a screenwriter, it can be dangerous if you get too hooked on just finding things that resonate with each other, because then you risk getting into stuff that's too neat, and becomes stifled as storytelling. But you do feel like you're on the right track when you start to have a sense of what goes with what.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Filmmaker Andrew Bujalski on screenwriting, 2020
The creative process begins as a mental puzzle, seeking a compelling idea, but over‑focus on internal resonance can lead to overly tidy, stifling stories.
In simple terms: Finding a story starts as a puzzle, but too much focus on matching parts can limit creativity.
Key Takeaway
Balance intuition with structural discipline.
Themes
creativity
screenwriting
balance
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
advice
process
When to use this quote
- writing a screenplay
- developing a film script
- creative brainstorming
- story workshops
Key Concepts
narrative structure
creative intuition
story resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure originality while seeking resonance?
- When does resonance become constraint?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on internal resonance may produce formulaic narratives.
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