--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are just so many options that…" description: "\"There are just so many options that people have. But as a writer, you'll drive yourself crazy, if you worry about that too much. People watch a lot of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg" --- # There are just so many options that people have. But as a… ![“There are just so many options that people have. But as a writer, you'll drive yourself crazy, if you worry about that too much. People watch a lot of TV, so they think certain things are going to happen, and you're always trying to subvert expectations.” quote by Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg) > “There are just so many options that people have. But as a writer, you'll drive yourself crazy, if you worry about that too much. People watch a lot of TV, so they think certain things are going to happen, and you're always trying to subvert expectations.” [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers face overwhelming choices but overthinking them leads to paralysis; focus on story rather than endless possibilities. **In simple terms:** Too many options can paralyze writers; ignore TV expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity, trust your voice. Themes creativity focus expectations Mood reflective determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - novel writing - personal projects Key Concepts choice overload storytelling media influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you prioritize core ideas? - What expectations are you trying to subvert? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on novelty can dilute authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We have more possibilities, more freedom, more options than any people who have ever lived. Yet there is more junk, more mediocrity, more garbage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-gelb/we-have-more-possibilities-more-freedom-more-options-than-any-people/) [Michael J. Gelb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gelb/) > [“But it's better to have bad options than no options. And people won't save you either, ya know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/but-it-s-better-to-have-bad-options-than-no-options-and-people-won-t/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [When there are no other options, people fight harder. If the choice is life or death they have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/when-there-are-no-other-options-people-fight-harder-if-the-choice-is/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Directing is a unique endeavor where you are in charge of so many people. As a writer, it is sort of the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/directing-is-a-unique-endeavor-where-you-are-in-charge-of-so-many/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [I believe that people should write biographies only about people they love, or understand, or both. Novels, on the other hand, are often better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/i-believe-that-people-should-write-biographies-only-about-people-they/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [A lot of people get writer's block, and I think you just have to show up for work, sit down, and be like, 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/a-lot-of-people-get-writer-s-block-and-i-think-you-just-have-to-show/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [“Was the dividing line between life and fiction as hazy for other people as it was for a writer?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/was-the-dividing-line-between-life-and-fiction-as-hazy-for-other/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [In a writer there must always be two people - the writer and the critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/in-a-writer-there-must-always-be-two-people-the-writer-and-the-critic/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [People have writer's block not because they can't write, but because they despair of writing eloquently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-writer-s-block-not-because-they-can-t-write-but-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I write mostly in my office in the shed outside at home, but it can get very cold. I write best on the train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-healy/i-write-mostly-in-my-office-in-the-shed-outside-at-home-but-it-can/) [Dermot Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-healy/) > [Sometimes what I'm looking for is the thing that will help renew people's interest in a writer that they may have written off as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/sometimes-what-i-m-looking-for-is-the-thing-that-will-help-renew/) [John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/) > [You must learn to be three people at once: writer, character, and reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kress/you-must-learn-to-be-three-people-at-once-writer-character-and-reader/) [Nancy Kress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kress/) > [I certainly wouldn't feel safe telling people I was writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/i-certainly-wouldn-t-feel-safe-telling-people-i-was-writer/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [“Sigh. These were my people now that I was a writer, people who didn't understand anything. I mean, they understood perfectly the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-dederer/sigh-these-were-my-people-now-that-i-was-a-writer-people-who-didn-t/) [Claire Dederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-dederer/) ## More by Carlton Cuse > [If you go to a movie and it's a great experience, the experience at the end of it is always like this sadness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/if-you-go-to-a-movie-and-it-s-a-great-experience-the-experience-at/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I really think that as good of a job as you do as a writer, you're absolutely indebted to the actors that have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-really-think-that-as-good-of-a-job-as-you-do-as-a-writer-you-re/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [That's one of the reasons why 'Lost' has to end: because we can't sit around and envision, 'What is the flashback for Jack in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/that-s-one-of-the-reasons-why-lost-has-to-end-because-we-can-t-sit/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [As a writer, I always think about who my prototype actors are, in my brain. It's helpful, as a writer, to think about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/as-a-writer-i-always-think-about-who-my-prototype-actors-are-in-my/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [The Following and Hannibal are really well made, but the tone is very consistently dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/the-following-and-hannibal-are-really-well-made-but-the-tone-is-very/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [TV showrunners have become known entities to people who watch television in the way that movie directors have been known to filmgoers for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/tv-showrunners-have-become-known-entities-to-people-who-watch/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [As hard as you try to write a good script and you have great intentions, this alchemy has to occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/as-hard-as-you-try-to-write-a-good-script-and-you-have-great/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I think that the best television now is giving you a three-act experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-think-that-the-best-television-now-is-giving-you-a-three-act/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [When 'Lost' was over, we expected that there'd be some people who'd really like it and other people who wouldn't. The Emmy nominations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/when-lost-was-over-we-expected-that-there-d-be-some-people-who-d/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I love 'Titanic' and the idea that you're kind of rooting for Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet to survive despite the fact that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-love-titanic-and-the-idea-that-you-re-kind-of-rooting-for-leonardo/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I think everyone in Hollywood works on multiple things because you never know what's going to happen with your projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-think-everyone-in-hollywood-works-on-multiple-things-because-you/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I think there's this essential human desire to have a unified field theory. Everyone is like, 'I want to unlock the single secret to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-think-there-s-this-essential-human-desire-to-have-a-unified-field/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I didn't know at all I wanted to do TV. I thought I might go to law school. I might want to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-didn-t-know-at-all-i-wanted-to-do-tv-i-thought-i-might-go-to-law/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [We feel like 'Lost' deserved a real resolution, not a 'snow globe, waking up in bed, it's all been a dream, cut to black'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/we-feel-like-lost-deserved-a-real-resolution-not-a-snow-globe-waking/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I'm a big baseball fan, and I feel proprietary about the Dodgers. I'm not the owner. I'm not the manager. But I feel passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-m-a-big-baseball-fan-and-i-feel-proprietary-about-the-dodgers-i-m/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) [Explore all 47 Carlton Cuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) ## More Always trying quotes > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I think we're always trying to push ourselves to do new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-preciado/i-think-we-re-always-trying-to-push-ourselves-to-do-new-things/) [Jaime Preciado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-preciado/) > [I'm always trying to remember that kindness goes a long, long way. I think that's something that people will definitely take out of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-m-always-trying-to-remember-that-kindness-goes-a-long-long-way-i/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [I like embracing kind of normal forms but am always trying to approach them as if no one's ever done that before. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-like-embracing-kind-of-normal-forms-but-am-always-trying-to/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I believe in believing. My coach John Kavanagh is a big atheist, and he is always trying to persuade people to his way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-believe-in-believing-my-coach-john-kavanagh-is-a-big-atheist-and-he/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [I'm always trying to do something active because I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-agdal/i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-active-because-i-love-it/) [Nina Agdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-agdal/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I'm always trying to encourage people not to limit themselves in the same way that many of our parents stayed with one job forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-m-always-trying-to-encourage-people-not-to-limit-themselves-in-the/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My thing was always trying to do as much as I possibly could do. I wanted to do all the things the other kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/my-thing-was-always-trying-to-do-as-much-as-i-possibly-could-do-i/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Your parents were always trying to get you to be careful when you were a kid, and that's all pervasive in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/your-parents-were-always-trying-to-get-you-to-be-careful-when-you/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [I would not call myself an optimist, even though I would aspire to be. I am innately a skeptic. There's kind of an incessant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-would-not-call-myself-an-optimist-even-though-i-would-aspire-to-be/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [They say that to be a writer you must first have an unhappy childhood. I don't know if unhappiness is necessary, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/they-say-that-to-be-a-writer-you-must-first-have-an-unhappy-childhood/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) [Browse all 232 Always trying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are just so many options that people have. But as a writer, you'll drive yourself crazy, if you worry about that too much. People watch a lot of TV, so they think certain things are going to happen, and you're always trying to subvert expectations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carlton Cuse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/there-are-just-so-many-options-that-people-have-but-as-a-writer-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always trying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/there-are-just-so-many-options-that-people-have-but-as-a-writer-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/carlton-cuse-14363_always-trying_there-are-just-so-many-options-that-peop_1656530.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are just so many options that people have. But as a writer, you'll drive yourself crazy, if you worry…” — Carlton Cuse", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carlton Cuse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are just so many options...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/there-are-just-so-many-options-that-people-have-but-as-a-writer-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/there-are-just-so-many-options-that-people-have-but-as-a-writer-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```