--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I check once I’m inside a…" description: "\"“The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the emotional weather. Is there a storm coming? What’s the temperature, and how powerful are the wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/bob-thurber-36977_emotional-intelligen_the-first-thing-i-check-once-i-m-inside_2599429.jpg" --- # The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the… ![“The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the emotional weather. Is there a storm coming? What’s the temperature, and how powerful are the winds? The difference between walking on water and sliding one’s ass across slick ice is only a matter of degree.” quote by Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/bob-thurber-36977_emotional-intelligen_the-first-thing-i-check-once-i-m-inside_2599429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/bob-thurber-36977_emotional-intelligen_the-first-thing-i-check-once-i-m-inside_2599429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/bob-thurber-36977_emotional-intelligen_the-first-thing-i-check-once-i-m-inside_2599429.jpg) > ““The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the emotional weather. Is there a storm coming? What’s the temperature, and how powerful are the winds? The difference between walking on water and sliding one’s ass across slick ice is only a matter of degree.”” [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assess a story’s emotional climate to gauge tension and narrative difficulty. **In simple terms:** Check emotional tone to guide story flow. Key Takeaway Gauge emotional stakes early. Themes storytelling creative writing emotional intelligence Mood reflective instructive Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - editing workshops - author coaching Key Concepts tone analysis narrative pacing Questions to Reflect On - How does emotional weather affect character decisions? - What tools help measure narrative tension? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on mood can stall plot progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotional intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-intelligence/) [Emotional Weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-weather-1931376/) [Ice Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-matter-1931378/) [Inside Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inside-story-615069/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) [Story Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-emotional-1931377/) [Temperature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperature/) [Walking on water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-on-water/) [Writing fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-fiction/) [Writing-tips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-tips/) ## Related quotes > [The key is a good story. If you have a good story, you have enough emotional beats that you can hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/the-key-is-a-good-story-if-you-have-a-good-story-you-have-enough/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [An emotional story is an emotional story no matter how big or small it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kurtzman/an-emotional-story-is-an-emotional-story-no-matter-how-big-or-small/) [Alex Kurtzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kurtzman/) > [Telling a story is an emotional and personal experience for me and I can't do without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanika-dhillon/telling-a-story-is-an-emotional-and-personal-experience-for-me-and-i/) [Kanika Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanika-dhillon/) > [Sometimes, when you get into a record, it's like writing a book, and you get so far inside the story you can't tell anymore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/sometimes-when-you-get-into-a-record-it-s-like-writing-a-book-and-you/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/you-either-walk-inside-your-story-and-own-it-or-you-stand-outside/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm always drawn to stories that people don't know about, particularly when they're inside of a story that everyone knows about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-m-always-drawn-to-stories-that-people-don-t-know-about-particularly/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“Everything that’s important goes on in the darkness, no doubt about it. We never know anyone’s real inside story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/everything-that-s-important-goes-on-in-the-darkness-no-doubt-about-it/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“The inside story on a man was that if he wanted to be successful, he must become a rugged individualist, but then should make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-inside-story-on-a-man-was-that-if-he-wanted-to-be-successful-he/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“American Tragedy: The Inside Story of the Simpson Defense,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gilbert/american-tragedy-the-inside-story-of-the-simpson-defense/) [Mike Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gilbert/) > [I'm not standing above the audience trying to manipulate them as a puppet master or a trickster; I'm inside the story I'm writing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/i-m-not-standing-above-the-audience-trying-to-manipulate-them-as-a/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [The writer works on the inside and the critic works on the outside. I don't know what it looks like on the outside, sometimes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-l-pez/the-writer-works-on-the-inside-and-the-critic-works-on-the-outside-i/) [Barry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-l-pez/) > [The wrong word is like a lie jammed inside the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/the-wrong-word-is-like-a-lie-jammed-inside-the-story/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [“He shook his head in disbelief that such a thing could have happened. "Shall we ever know the inside story?" he said. "Uncle Eric's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-king-smith/he-shook-his-head-in-disbelief-that-such-a-thing-could-have-happened/) [Dick King-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-king-smith/) > [In fact, whenever I go and watch a film I don't like to read about them beforehand - I like to go in fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-anaya/in-fact-whenever-i-go-and-watch-a-film-i-don-t-like-to-read-about/) [Elena Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-anaya/) > [“When you're inside your own story, you don't see things like a reader. You don't see your life in tidy paragraphs and chapters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/when-you-re-inside-your-own-story-you-don-t-see-things-like-a-reader/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) ## More by Bob Thurber > [“Time heals nothing. Wounds fester and ooze. Life drags you by a rope over rocks and stones and one day you look up, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/time-heals-nothing-wounds-fester-and-ooze-life-drags-you-by-a-rope/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“I've already got the storm figured out. Some idiot blew up the sun. Some dumb Russian general pushed the wrong button and launched one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/i-ve-already-got-the-storm-figured-out-some-idiot-blew-up-the-sun/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Things I Used to Get Hit For: Talking back. Being smart. Acting stupid. Not listening. Not answering the first time. 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I did it hungry, I did it after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/throughout-my-entire-miserable-childhood-i-woke-at-least-once-a-night/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“A new day always forgives you, unless it's raining and you wake up in jail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/a-new-day-always-forgives-you-unless-it-s-raining-and-you-wake-up-in/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Over the years our mother has beaten us with belts, shoes, rulers, extension cords, hair brushes, a wooden spoon, a fly swatter, a toilet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/over-the-years-our-mother-has-beaten-us-with-belts-shoes-rulers/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“People like to make up stories about things they don’t understand, so there are over a thousand myths about the moon. One legend claims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/people-like-to-make-up-stories-about-things-they-don-t-understand-so/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) [Explore all 12 Bob Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) ## More Emotional intelligence quotes > [“The Gift that Keeps on Giving I once had a lovely real estate client named Jane who was an elderly lady living alone. Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-i-once-had-a-lovely-real-estate-client/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Instead of labelling your emotions as problems to solve, you can see them as signals to interpret. 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Nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [The strength of character and emotional intelligence to face your failures and learn from them are at the core of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-strength-of-character-and-emotional-intelligence-to-face-your/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“The more we practice mindfulness the more we understand the emotional dynamics of the self and others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/the-more-we-practice-mindfulness-the-more-we-understand-the-emotional/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“The key to lasting love is remaining open to learning. It is recognizing that love is not about finding someone who perfectly understands you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donell-m-winder/the-key-to-lasting-love-is-remaining-open-to-learning-it-is/) [Donell M. Winder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donell-m-winder/) > [“People love to be happy, enjoy a hearty laugh, and simply have fun. When you’re happy, everything feels right in the world and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/people-love-to-be-happy-enjoy-a-hearty-laugh-and-simply-have-fun-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“If people would read more of these humor books, they wouldn’t need all those self-improvement books!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/if-people-would-read-more-of-these-humor-books-they-wouldn-t-need-all/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Strategic Commonality “Social media has capitalized on helping people find others who share their similar interests, shared experiences, and common passions. With social media,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/strategic-commonality-social-media-has-capitalized-on-helping-people/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman describes seven key abilities most beneficial for human beings: the ability to motivate ourselves, to persist against frustration, to delay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/emotional-intelligence-daniel-goleman-describes-seven-key-abilities/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [“The family discussed some of the things they could do to stop the forest from being cut down. They talked about making flyers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-lewinberg/the-family-discussed-some-of-the-things-they-could-do-to-stop-the/) [Ellen J. Lewinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-lewinberg/) > [Psychological factors are vital. We don't learn how to improve our emotional intelligence. Even in ancient cultures, such as the Greeks, cultivation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-holford/psychological-factors-are-vital-we-don-t-learn-how-to-improve-our/) [Patrick Holford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-holford/) > [“In our digital world today, handwritten notes are an “old school” way to make people feel important. Email is easy and Facebook birthday messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/in-our-digital-world-today-handwritten-notes-are-an-old-school-way-to/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Our immune system is evolving through trials of use in fighting illnesses and the bombardment of our modern world toxins and that this evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-char-love/our-immune-system-is-evolving-through-trials-of-use-in-fighting/) [Martha Char Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-char-love/) [Browse all 269 Emotional intelligence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-intelligence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the emotional weather. Is there a storm coming? What’s the temperature, and how powerful are the winds? 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