Books Quote by Andrew Greeley
“I write easily, let's put it that way. And in a novel particularly, the characters take over. And they tell me what to say and they tell me what they're doing. And I'm a third of the way into a novel and then I just let the characters finish it for me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Process Discussion, 1998
Creative writing can be guided by characters’ own agency.
In simple terms: Characters can drive the story.
Key Takeaway
Listen to your characters’ instincts.
Themes
creativity
authorial trust
storytelling
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- improvisational theater
Key Concepts
psychology
narrative theory
intuition
Questions to Reflect On
- When did your characters surprise you?
- Do you trust them often?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance may dilute author’s vision.
