--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write easily, let's put it that way…" description: "\"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'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/andrew-greeley-14152_books_i-write-easily-let-s-put-it-that-way-and_2193863.png" --- # I write easily, let's put it that way. And in a novel… ![“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.” quote by Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/andrew-greeley-14152_books_i-write-easily-let-s-put-it-that-way-and_2193863.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/andrew-greeley-14152_books_i-write-easily-let-s-put-it-that-way-and_2193863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/andrew-greeley-14152_books_i-write-easily-let-s-put-it-that-way-and_2193863.png) > “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.” [Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-finish-4790361/) [Characters Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-tell-2087317/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-just-274170/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Easily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-easily-1421386/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I wish I could write easily. 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I now say it's a learning disability... but a nun who was a very troubled woman hit me over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/i-have-terrible-handwriting-i-now-say-it-s-a-learning-disability-but/) [Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/) > [Yet, if the most frequent sex and apparently the best sex is that between married partners who are faithful to one another, is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/yet-if-the-most-frequent-sex-and-apparently-the-best-sex-is-that/) [Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/) > [Everyone takes surveys. 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