--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm big on story structure. I studied…" description: "\"I'm big on story structure. I studied with John Truby, who mapped out story by means of moral wants and needs, and that's what I do. Hey, so does John ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d23/caroline-leavitt-11280_big_i-m-big-on-story-structure-i-studied-wit_2445137.jpg" --- # I'm big on story structure. I studied with John Truby, who… ![“I'm big on story structure. I studied with John Truby, who mapped out story by means of moral wants and needs, and that's what I do. Hey, so does John Irving.” quote by Caroline Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d23/caroline-leavitt-11280_big_i-m-big-on-story-structure-i-studied-wit_2445137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d23/caroline-leavitt-11280_big_i-m-big-on-story-structure-i-studied-wit_2445137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d23/caroline-leavitt-11280_big_i-m-big-on-story-structure-i-studied-wit_2445137.jpg) > “I'm big on story structure. I studied with John Truby, who mapped out story by means of moral wants and needs, and that's what I do. Hey, so does John Irving.” [Caroline Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leavitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I focus on story structure, studying John Truby’s moral wants and needs, a method also used by John Irving. **In simple terms:** Story structure uses moral goals to shape narrative. Key Takeaway Study moral motivations in storytelling. Themes writing structure morality Mood analytical creative Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - workshops Key Concepts narrative theory character development Questions to Reflect On - How do moral wants drive plot? - When should you break structural rules? A Different Perspective Rigid structures may limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-story-522065/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irving/) [John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-irving-522063/) [Mapped Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mapped-story-522064/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-structure-522062/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied/) [Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [I love John Irving's stuff. It's that marriage of comedy and tragedy. It's really terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-love-john-irving-s-stuff-it-s-that-marriage-of-comedy-and-tragedy/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Anything I've ever read by John Irving has been really well written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/anything-i-ve-ever-read-by-john-irving-has-been-really-well-written/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [John Irving once told me he doesn't start a novel until he knows the last sentence. 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Ever. Give. Up. No doesn't always mean no. Sometimes it's just takes a little work to find the yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leavitt/never-ever-give-up-no-doesn-t-always-mean-no-sometimes-it-s-just/) [Caroline Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leavitt/) > [I love rewriting because that is where and how you discover the story. 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