--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Creating characters is like throwing…" description: "\"Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients for a recipe. I take characteristics I like and dislike in real people I know, or know of, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/cassandra-clare-9_character_creating-characters-is-like-throwing-tog_2676887.jpg" --- # Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients… ![“Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients for a recipe. I take characteristics I like and dislike in real people I know, or know of, and use them to embellish and define characters.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/cassandra-clare-9_character_creating-characters-is-like-throwing-tog_2676887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/cassandra-clare-9_character_creating-characters-is-like-throwing-tog_2676887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/cassandra-clare-9_character_creating-characters-is-like-throwing-tog_2676887.jpg) > “Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients for a recipe. I take characteristics I like and dislike in real people I know, or know of, and use them to embellish and define characters.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character creation blends observed traits into a unique fictional persona. **In simple terms:** Mix real traits to craft characters. Key Takeaway Observe, select, and combine traits creatively. Themes writing creativity character design Mood creative analytical enthusiastic Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - role‑playing games - character workshops Key Concepts archetypes psychology storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Which real traits inspire your favorite characters? - How do you ensure fictional characters remain distinct? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on real people can limit originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-like/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-characters/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Define Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-characters-2548383/) [Dislike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike/) [Ingredients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-people/) [Recipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recipes/) [Throwing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwing/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You don't want to have a character say what's bothering him; you want to define characters by action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/you-don-t-want-to-have-a-character-say-what-s-bothering-him-you-want/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [I always talk about my characters like they're real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-fanning/i-always-talk-about-my-characters-like-they-re-real-people/) [Dakota Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-fanning/) > [The identity of Studio Ghibli movies are how the characters move. They move like live, real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/the-identity-of-studio-ghibli-movies-are-how-the-characters-move-they/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [No matter what the recipe, any baker can do wonders in the kitchen with some good ingredients and an upbeat attitude!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-valastro/no-matter-what-the-recipe-any-baker-can-do-wonders-in-the-kitchen/) [Buddy Valastro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-valastro/) > [Don't be afraid to adapt new ingredients into your own techniques, and traditional ingredients into new recipes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-garces/don-t-be-afraid-to-adapt-new-ingredients-into-your-own-techniques-and/) [Jose Garces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-garces/) > [If I had one piece of advice for people - if they are cooking from the Alinea cookbook, the Betty Crocker cookbook or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-achatz/if-i-had-one-piece-of-advice-for-people-if-they-are-cooking-from-the/) [Grant Achatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-achatz/) > [If you're cooking for someone important - whether it's your boss or a date - never try a new recipe and a new ingredient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/if-you-re-cooking-for-someone-important-whether-it-s-your-boss-or-a/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We become aware of this if we scrupulously follow a recipe, which is essentially a list of ingredients and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/oddly-though-lists-are-reassuring-we-become-aware-of-this-if-we/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [What is the recipe for successful achievement? Choose a career you love. Give it the best there is in you. Seize your opportunities. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/what-is-the-recipe-for-successful-achievement-choose-a-career-you/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Although Grandma's passion had led me to the power of food, not all of her recipes were healthy. I kept her gusto and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/although-grandma-s-passion-had-led-me-to-the-power-of-food-not-all-of/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [I do the meatball recipe a lot. I think the army stew probably too. It's the most useful dish because it was born out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-do-the-meatball-recipe-a-lot-i-think-the-army-stew-probably-too-it/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [The major ingredient of any recipe for fear is the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-major-ingredient-of-any-recipe-for-fear-is-the-unknown/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [If there would be a recipe for a poem, these would be the ingredients: word sounds, rhythm, description, feeling, memory, rhyme, and imagination. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-kuskin/if-there-would-be-a-recipe-for-a-poem-these-would-be-the-ingredients/) [Karla Kuskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-kuskin/) > [The thing with food is that you can give 20 people the same recipe and the same ingredients, and somebody's going to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dweezil-zappa/the-thing-with-food-is-that-you-can-give-20-people-the-same-recipe/) [Dweezil Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dweezil-zappa/) > [Once you start cooking, one thing leads to another. A new recipe is as exciting as a blind date. A new ingredient, heaven help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/once-you-start-cooking-one-thing-leads-to-another-a-new-recipe-is-as/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients for a recipe. 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