--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each kind of story has its own problems…" description: "\"Each kind of story has its own problems in writing, but my main concern really is to keep the reader on his toes, or to keep the strip unpredictable. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/bill-watterson-728_achieve_each-kind-of-story-has-its-own-problems_2909910.png" --- # Each kind of story has its own problems in writing, but my… ![“Each kind of story has its own problems in writing, but my main concern really is to keep the reader on his toes, or to keep the strip unpredictable. I try to achieve some sort of balance between the two that keeps the reader wondering what's going to happen next and be surprised.” quote by Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/bill-watterson-728_achieve_each-kind-of-story-has-its-own-problems_2909910.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/bill-watterson-728_achieve_each-kind-of-story-has-its-own-problems_2909910.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/bill-watterson-728_achieve_each-kind-of-story-has-its-own-problems_2909910.png) > “Each kind of story has its own problems in writing, but my main concern really is to keep the reader on his toes, or to keep the strip unpredictable. I try to achieve some sort of balance between the two that keeps the reader wondering what's going to happen next and be surprised.” [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing suspense and predictability keeps readers engaged and eager for the next twist. **In simple terms:** Keep readers guessing and surprised. Key Takeaway Maintain tension and surprise. Themes storytelling engagement suspense Mood excited curious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - comic strips - serial storytelling - screenwriting Key Concepts Narrative pacing reader expectation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance surprise with coherence? - What techniques sustain tension without confusing? A Different Perspective Too much unpredictability can alienate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-writing-768270/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-toes-4185101/) [Reader Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-wondering-4185100/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-problems-1993509/) [Strip Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strip-unpredictable-4185099/) [Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toes/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone has a story and problems, we can't judge so quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-has-a-story-and-problems-we-can-t-judge-so-quickly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm having bigger problems when I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-having-bigger-problems-when-i-m-writing/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“It’s very hard — weirdly hard — to clear your mind of all that crap so that you can just sit down and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/it-s-very-hard-weirdly-hard-to-clear-your-mind-of-all-that-crap-so/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [Aquarius have a hard time expressing themselves and talking about their problems. But they can through writing, drawing, or music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aquarius-have-a-hard-time-expressing-themselves-and-talking-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the problems of writing is that anyone who commits themselves to that process has to believe that they're good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bochco/one-of-the-problems-of-writing-is-that-anyone-who-commits-themselves/) [Steven Bochco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bochco/) > [But what struck me was the book-madness of the place--books lay scattered across the unmade bed and the top of a battered-looking desk, books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/but-what-struck-me-was-the-book-madness-of-the-place-books-lay/) [Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/) > [Things change very quickly. 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I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [United Features had given me a development contract, which meant I was to work exclusively with them and rather than completing everything on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/united-features-had-given-me-a-development-contract-which-meant-i-was/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [What assurance do I have that your parenting isn't screwing me up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/what-assurance-do-i-have-that-your-parenting-isn-t-screwing-me-up/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [In the right hands, a comic strip attains a beauty and elegance that, really, I would put against any other art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/in-the-right-hands-a-comic-strip-attains-a-beauty-and-elegance-that/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [If you give a little credit to the concept of the artist, I think you ought to indulge excesses a bit, because that reflects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/if-you-give-a-little-credit-to-the-concept-of-the-artist-i-think-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I tell you all this because it's worth recognizing that there is no such thing as an overnight success. 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And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. 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