--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plot is what happens in your story. Every…" description: "\"Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs structure, just as every body needs a skeleton. It is how you 'flesh out and clothe' your structu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg" --- # Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs… ![“Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs structure, just as every body needs a skeleton. It is how you 'flesh out and clothe' your structure that makes each story unique.” quote by Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg) > “Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs structure, just as every body needs a skeleton. It is how you 'flesh out and clothe' your structure that makes each story unique.” [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Storytelling needs a framework; structure is the skeleton that supports narrative, while details give it unique flesh. **In simple terms:** Structure is the backbone of a story, details make it unique. Key Takeaway Build a clear outline before adding details. Themes storytelling structure creativity Mood inspired analytical Type educational motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - teaching writing - editing - story workshops Key Concepts narrative architecture character development Questions to Reflect On - How does structure guide creativity? - When should you break the rules? A Different Perspective A rigid structure can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-needs/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) ## Related quotes > [I have a plot, but not much happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-nemerov/i-have-a-plot-but-not-much-happens/) [Howard Nemerov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-nemerov/) > [Plot and scene are still the hardest things for me, though I think they're the building blocks of what makes a story work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/plot-and-scene-are-still-the-hardest-things-for-me-though-i-think/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [ Do not think your story \[for a one-person show\] is unique. . . . your story is the same as millions of others. But… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halston/do-not-think-your-story-for-a-one-person-show-is-unique-your-story-is/) [Julie Halston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halston/) > [In any war story, but especially a true one, it's difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seems to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/in-any-war-story-but-especially-a-true-one-it-s-difficult-to-separate/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [You can read a dozen different textbooks or how-to manuals that will tell you the basic rules of what makes a story - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wein/you-can-read-a-dozen-different-textbooks-or-how-to-manuals-that-will/) [Len Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wein/) > [I like getting under the skin of the protagonists of every book I read, it makes the whole story so much more personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/i-like-getting-under-the-skin-of-the-protagonists-of-every-book-i/) [Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/) > [What makes a story is how well it manages to connect with the reader, the visceral effect it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wein/what-makes-a-story-is-how-well-it-manages-to-connect-with-the-reader/) [Len Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wein/) > [The seminal elements of what makes a story great - challenge, struggle, resolution - are the same whether we're talking about story content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/the-seminal-elements-of-what-makes-a-story-great-challenge-struggle/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [My family's story isn't special. What's special is the America that makes our story possible. Ours is a nation like no other, a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/my-family-s-story-isn-t-special-what-s-special-is-the-america-that/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [When you got a great cast around you, it makes the story easier to tell, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-segarra/when-you-got-a-great-cast-around-you-it-makes-the-story-easier-to/) [Josh Segarra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-segarra/) > [I compose the frame literally with the camera. Unless it makes a story point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-compose-the-frame-literally-with-the-camera-unless-it-makes-a-story/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [When a man makes up a story for his child, he becomes a father and a child together, listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/when-a-man-makes-up-a-story-for-his-child-he-becomes-a-father-and-a/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Anyone can have a once-upon-a-time or a happily-ever-after, but it's the journey between that makes the story worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/anyone-can-have-a-once-upon-a-time-or-a-happily-ever-after-but-it-s/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [What makes a story a story is that something changes. Internal, external, small or large, trivial or of earth-shattering importance. Doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-monette/what-makes-a-story-a-story-is-that-something-changes-internal/) [Sarah Monette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-monette/) > [“Love fails for a million reasons - distance, infidelity, pride, religion, money, illness. Why is this story any more worthy? It felt like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/love-fails-for-a-million-reasons-distance-infidelity-pride-religion/) [Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/) ## More by Caroline Lawrence > [Of the two 'True Grits,' the John Wayne version one is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/of-the-two-true-grits-the-john-wayne-version-one-is-better/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [When I was nine, we moved to Stanford University in San Francisco so that my father could do a Ph.D. I went to Terman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/when-i-was-nine-we-moved-to-stanford-university-in-san-francisco-so/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I write about times and places I would visit in a time machine, like ancient Rome or the Wild West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-write-about-times-and-places-i-would-visit-in-a-time-machine-like/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [When someone talks about Western films, you probably think of those old black and white cowboy films your granddad likes. But the Western is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/when-someone-talks-about-western-films-you-probably-think-of-those/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [Aim to write for an hour per day. I used to be a teacher, and an hour a day before school was all it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/aim-to-write-for-an-hour-per-day-i-used-to-be-a-teacher-and-an-hour-a/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [To create a character who really interests you, try combining aspects of your favourite fictional character with a real person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/to-create-a-character-who-really-interests-you-try-combining-aspects/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I thought it might be fun to set my books in Nevada, which is in the West and still pretty Wild. You can still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-thought-it-might-be-fun-to-set-my-books-in-nevada-which-is-in-the/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I discovered John Truby ten years ago when a friend told me about his screenwriting course. I studied Truby's principles for a year and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-discovered-john-truby-ten-years-ago-when-a-friend-told-me-about-his/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I loved every minute of my three years majoring in classics at Berkeley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-loved-every-minute-of-my-three-years-majoring-in-classics-at/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [I wanted to know if the 'Iliad' in the original was as relevant and contemporary as it was in translation. I then started Latin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/i-wanted-to-know-if-the-iliad-in-the-original-was-as-relevant-and/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [After I had written seventeen full-length mysteries, two volumes of mini-mysteries, a travel guide and some quiz books, not to mention a spin-off Roman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/after-i-had-written-seventeen-full-length-mysteries-two-volumes-of/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [Now, if I had an Indian name, it would be 'Stands in Confusion'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/now-if-i-had-an-indian-name-it-would-be-stands-in-confusion/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [At 16, when I was at Henry M. Gunn High School, I had a crush on the English teacher, and my grades improved dramatically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/at-16-when-i-was-at-henry-m-gunn-high-school-i-had-a-crush-on-the/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [Like every child growing up in America, I read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Huckleberry Finn.' I liked them well enough, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/like-every-child-growing-up-in-america-i-read-the-adventures-of-tom/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) [Explore all 15 Caroline Lawrence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs structure, just as every body needs a skeleton. It is how you 'flesh out and clothe' your structure that makes each story unique.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Caroline Lawrence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every-story-needs-structure-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every-story-needs-structure-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/caroline-lawrence-33495_body_plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every_2530567.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Plot is what happens in your story. Every story needs structure, just as every body needs a skeleton. It is…” — Caroline Lawrence", "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": "Caroline Lawrence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Plot is what happens in your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every-story-needs-structure-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/plot-is-what-happens-in-your-story-every-story-needs-structure-just/#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 } } ] } ```