--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are things the story must have or…" description: "\"There are things the story must have or else look incomplete. And these will almost automatically present themselves. When they don't, you are in troub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/chinua-achebe-781_books_there-are-things-the-story-must-have-or_357723.png" --- # There are things the story must have or else look… ![“There are things the story must have or else look incomplete. And these will almost automatically present themselves. When they don't, you are in trouble and then the novel stops.” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/chinua-achebe-781_books_there-are-things-the-story-must-have-or_357723.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/chinua-achebe-781_books_there-are-things-the-story-must-have-or_357723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/chinua-achebe-781_books_there-are-things-the-story-must-have-or_357723.png) > “There are things the story must have or else look incomplete. And these will almost automatically present themselves. When they don't, you are in trouble and then the novel stops.” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A story must contain essential elements; without them it feels unfinished and stalls. **In simple terms:** Stories need key parts to stay complete. Key Takeaway Ensure narrative completeness. Themes storytelling structure completion Mood concerned analytical Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - editing - creative workshops Key Concepts plot character theme conflict Questions to Reflect On - Which element feels missing in your current project? - How can you introduce it organically? A Different Perspective Missing elements can cause plot collapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Incomplete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incomplete/) [Incomplete Automatically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incomplete-automatically-3291390/) [Look Incomplete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-incomplete-3291389/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Stops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-stops-3291388/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-look-326185/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-novel-3291391/) ## Related quotes > [A short story is what you see when you look out of the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-gallant/a-short-story-is-what-you-see-when-you-look-out-of-the-window/) [Mavis Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-gallant/) > [You can make up your own story when you look at a photo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/you-can-make-up-your-own-story-when-you-look-at-a-photo/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Take a look at this picture. 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If it's not working, try something else; maintain an experimental mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/when-you-feel-you-have-good-although-incomplete-expertise-start/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. 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