--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time is what makes good stories. Much has…" description: "\"Time is what makes good stories. Much has been cooking for a long time, and at last finds an out in narration one day. That's a supreme joy. And why th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/barry-hannah-10920_character_time-is-what-makes-good-stories-much-has_1985605.jpg" --- # Time is what makes good stories. Much has been cooking for… ![“Time is what makes good stories. Much has been cooking for a long time, and at last finds an out in narration one day. That's a supreme joy. And why the characters keep showing up.” quote by Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/barry-hannah-10920_character_time-is-what-makes-good-stories-much-has_1985605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/barry-hannah-10920_character_time-is-what-makes-good-stories-much-has_1985605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/barry-hannah-10920_character_time-is-what-makes-good-stories-much-has_1985605.jpg) > “Time is what makes good stories. Much has been cooking for a long time, and at last finds an out in narration one day. That's a supreme joy. And why the characters keep showing up.” [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories gain depth over time; patience and revision lead to narrative richness and lasting joy. **In simple terms:** Good stories improve with time and editing. Key Takeaway Embrace patience in storytelling. Themes creativity writing patience Mood thoughtful inspired reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - short story craft - editing workshops - literary criticism Key Concepts narrative development revision process Questions to Reflect On - What steps can writers take to allow stories to mature? - How does patience affect character development? A Different Perspective Rushed work may lack depth; market pressure can shorten creative cycles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Cooking Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking-long-3413847/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Good stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-stories/) [Good story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-story/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Narration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narration/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Showing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-up/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-cooking-3413846/) [Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme/) ## Related quotes > [Most of the stories I have go downhill quickly. 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Our audience deserves more from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/too-often-we-tell-kids-pleasant-stories-devoid-of-truth-and-stories/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“Good stories are not written, they are rewritten”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-a-whitney/good-stories-are-not-written-they-are-rewritten/) [Phyllis A. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-a-whitney/) > [“I realized that the good stories were affecting the organs of my body in various ways, and the really good ones were stimulating more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-vogler/i-realized-that-the-good-stories-were-affecting-the-organs-of-my-body/) [Christopher Vogler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-vogler/) > [Good stories are not written by people who live in a city of dirty strip malls, forced to listen to the machinated opinions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-antle/good-stories-are-not-written-by-people-who-live-in-a-city-of-dirty/) [Spencer Antle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-antle/) > [It had that comfortably sprung, lived-in look that library books with a lively circulation always get; bent page corners, a dab of mustard on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-had-that-comfortably-sprung-lived-in-look-that-library-books-with/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I think the good stories are those where the character decides to break away and do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-think-the-good-stories-are-those-where-the-character-decides-to/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [People just want good stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/people-just-want-good-stories/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [You can't tell a good story without conflict - the story can't be beautiful or meaningful. We're taught to run from conflict, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/you-can-t-tell-a-good-story-without-conflict-the-story-can-t-be/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [The good stories, of course, write themselves. And somebody wants to know who are the really good writers, and how many of them there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-good-stories-of-course-write-themselves-and-somebody-wants-to/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [I love telling good stories and I love playing powerful, strong women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-gonzalez-nacer/i-love-telling-good-stories-and-i-love-playing-powerful-strong-women/) [Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-gonzalez-nacer/) > [(I want to) make good stories that have a redemptive message and allow people to dig into their own lives and personal struggles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/i-want-to-make-good-stories-that-have-a-redemptive-message-and-allow/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [Even the sad roots songs have a lot of good stories to them, and the murder ballads are good too. I mean, who doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-june/even-the-sad-roots-songs-have-a-lot-of-good-stories-to-them-and-the/) [Valerie June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-june/) ## More by Barry Hannah > [I always intended to be light and open. I misjudged the American audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-always-intended-to-be-light-and-open-i-misjudged-the-american/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I was born in Clinton, Mississippi, which had 1,500-2,500 people when I was growing up - a village.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-was-born-in-clinton-mississippi-which-had-1-500-2-500-people-when-i/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I never pulled a loaded pistol on anybody, but it got around that I did. It got turned into lore. It's a myth. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-never-pulled-a-loaded-pistol-on-anybody-but-it-got-around-that-i/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [“Many robins got in the church from the trees and roosted among the congregation. They were drunk from some berries and fallen persimmons. Come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/many-robins-got-in-the-church-from-the-trees-and-roosted-among-the/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [You need to see a bit of hell now and then. That, and great joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/you-need-to-see-a-bit-of-hell-now-and-then-that-and-great-joy/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [“In Mississippi it is difficult to achieve a vista.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/in-mississippi-it-is-difficult-to-achieve-a-vista/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [Where is the angry machine of all of us? Why is God such a blurred magician? Why are you begging for your life if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/where-is-the-angry-machine-of-all-of-us-why-is-god-such-a-blurred/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [My stories do have plot. They're not just scattered language; they're controlled, toward an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/my-stories-do-have-plot-they-re-not-just-scattered-language-they-re/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I wake my wife up at 3 a.m. and say, "Listen to this!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-wake-my-wife-up-at-3-a-m-and-say-listen-to-this/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I lost my second marriage because of drinking, and I loved the woman very much. But I thought I needed booze to write. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-lost-my-second-marriage-because-of-drinking-and-i-loved-the-woman/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [“...it's always your first attempt every time you write, with your only companions being fear and coffee. That's the way it is a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/it-s-always-your-first-attempt-every-time-you-write-with-your-only/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [Honestly, I envy painters, who can have a masterpiece in one morning. Or musicians, who can write something in 30 minutes and arrange it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/honestly-i-envy-painters-who-can-have-a-masterpiece-in-one-morning-or/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [Professional Southerners sicken me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/professional-southerners-sicken-me/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I hate editing. I love to write, but I hate to reread my stuff. To revise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-hate-editing-i-love-to-write-but-i-hate-to-reread-my-stuff-to-revise/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [I don't go around thinking about regret; regret doesn't consume me as a person... I'm not certain about whether any writer, any artist, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-don-t-go-around-thinking-about-regret-regret-doesn-t-consume-me-as/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) [Explore all 62 Barry Hannah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Time is what makes good stories. 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