--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I need, as a reader, is a character…" description: "\"What I need, as a reader, is a character with a heart and a voice and a pulse. I need a character so vivid and so specific that she doesn't feel like f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/becky-albertalli-5626_books_what-i-need-as-a-reader-is-a-character-w_2808400.jpg" --- # What I need, as a reader, is a character with a heart and… ![“What I need, as a reader, is a character with a heart and a voice and a pulse. I need a character so vivid and so specific that she doesn't feel like fiction.” quote by Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/becky-albertalli-5626_books_what-i-need-as-a-reader-is-a-character-w_2808400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/becky-albertalli-5626_books_what-i-need-as-a-reader-is-a-character-w_2808400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/becky-albertalli-5626_books_what-i-need-as-a-reader-is-a-character-w_2808400.jpg) > “What I need, as a reader, is a character with a heart and a voice and a pulse. I need a character so vivid and so specific that she doesn't feel like fiction.” [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Readers crave characters that feel alive, authentic, and emotionally resonant. **In simple terms:** Seek vivid, authentic characters. Key Takeaway Create relatable, lifelike characters. Themes writing character development authenticity empathy Mood introspective inspired Type literary creative When to use this quote - novels - short stories - screenplays - character workshops Key Concepts voice heart pulse specificity Questions to Reflect On - How can you make a character both specific and relatable? - What traits make a character feel truly alive? A Different Perspective Balancing specificity with universal appeal is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-heart-1672548/) [Character Vivid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-vivid-3502537/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Need Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-character-412185/) [Reader Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-character-372927/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I feel I do my best work when it's all there on the page, and I feel that the character is very vivid as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-feel-i-do-my-best-work-when-it-s-all-there-on-the-page-and-i-feel/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [When I read, I don't need a character to look like me, act like me, or think like me. I don't need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/when-i-read-i-don-t-need-a-character-to-look-like-me-act-like-me-or/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“Werther identifies himself with the madman, with the footman. As a reader, I can identify myself with Werther. Historically, thousands of subjects have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/werther-identifies-himself-with-the-madman-with-the-footman-as-a/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [You do not characterize by telling the reader about the character. You do it by showing the character thinking, speaking and acting in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/you-do-not-characterize-by-telling-the-reader-about-the-character-you/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [“The character for 'love' is composed of two parts...the character for 'heart' embraced by 'acceptance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamura-yumi/the-character-for-love-is-composed-of-two-parts-the-character-for/) [Tamura Yumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamura-yumi/) > [I don't know. I always love to find where a character's heart is, and by that I mean where they're intrinsically vulnerable, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hurst/i-don-t-know-i-always-love-to-find-where-a-character-s-heart-is-and/) [Ryan Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hurst/) > [Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/give-the-reader-at-least-one-character-he-or-she-can-root-for/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I'm very emotion-based, I approach character very much from the heart. Building up their heart, their inner world, their imagination, their childhood memories, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrika-hinton/i-m-very-emotion-based-i-approach-character-very-much-from-the-heart/) [Jerrika Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrika-hinton/) > [“Action is the pulse of any good story, but the character is the heart. If the action has no consequence to the character, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-yezak/action-is-the-pulse-of-any-good-story-but-the-character-is-the-heart/) [Linda Yezak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-yezak/) > [“1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/1-use-the-time-of-a-total-stranger-in-such-a-way-that-he-or-she-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Show the reader what the character thinks about, and then the reader will think about it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-v-higgins/show-the-reader-what-the-character-thinks-about-and-then-the-reader/) [George V. Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-v-higgins/) > [Sometimes you have to get to the heart of a character through your heart. Your own heart. And it's what makes us similar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-swank/sometimes-you-have-to-get-to-the-heart-of-a-character-through-your/) [Hilary Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-swank/) > [I used to need the character but as I've gotten older I need it less and less - I prefer to play some version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-used-to-need-the-character-but-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-need-it-less/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I mean, I do whatever I need to do to get into character. Sometimes it's being incredibly quiet, and sometimes it's being loose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-sexton-iii/i-mean-i-do-whatever-i-need-to-do-to-get-into-character-sometimes-it/) [Brendan Sexton III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-sexton-iii/) > [A rich man has no need of character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-rich-man-has-no-need-of-character/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) ## More by Becky Albertalli > [“I bring the leftovers to rehearsal, and Ms. Albright lets us have a cake picnic on the stage. And by cake picnic, I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-bring-the-leftovers-to-rehearsal-and-ms-albright-lets-us-have-a/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [When I read, I don't need a character to look like me, act like me, or think like me. I don't need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/when-i-read-i-don-t-need-a-character-to-look-like-me-act-like-me-or/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“It’s just a lot of me. Way too much of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/it-s-just-a-lot-of-me-way-too-much-of-me/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“You don’t get to say it’s not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? 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Not”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-wish-there-were-a-secret-signal-you-could-use-to-communicate-hello/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“It’s really amazing, isn’t it? Someone can trigger your sexual identity crisis and not have a clue they’re doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/it-s-really-amazing-isn-t-it-someone-can-trigger-your-sexual-identity/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“Leah has a girlcrush on Jenny Lewis. You can't not have a crush on Jenny Lewis. I'm twenty years younger than her and unquestionably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/leah-has-a-girlcrush-on-jenny-lewis-you-can-t-not-have-a-crush-on/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“Same first name as a president and an obscure comic book character. Half-Jewish. Excellent grammar. Easily nauseated. Likes Reese's and Oreos (i.e. not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/same-first-name-as-a-president-and-an-obscure-comic-book-character/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“And suddenly, I feel like crying, but not in a bad way. More like in the way you feel when someone gives you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/and-suddenly-i-feel-like-crying-but-not-in-a-bad-way-more-like-in-the/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“I catch a sudden glimpse of myself in the mirror across the room. It's the weirdest thing. My hair is unbrushed. I'm wearing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-catch-a-sudden-glimpse-of-myself-in-the-mirror-across-the-room-it-s/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“You can't imagine how much I hated middle school. Remember the way people would look at you blankly and say, "Um, okaaay," after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/you-can-t-imagine-how-much-i-hated-middle-school-remember-the-way/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“I mean, when you think about it, it’s a little fucked up that teachers think they get to dictate what you think about. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-mean-when-you-think-about-it-it-s-a-little-fucked-up-that-teachers/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [“Except, if I'm totally honest, I do believe it. Reid likes me. And I like that he likes me. But I'm not used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/except-if-i-m-totally-honest-i-do-believe-it-reid-likes-me-and-i-like/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) [Explore all 100 Becky Albertalli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [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 have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I need, as a reader, is a character with a heart and a voice and a pulse. 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