---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was trained in storytelling by Jim…"
description: "\"I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Larry Hama. Doesn't make me a genius, and there really isn't anything fancy about the stage..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg"
---

#  I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee…

![“I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Larry Hama. Doesn't make me a genius, and there really isn't anything fancy about the stage direction in my scripts.” quote by Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg)

> “I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Larry Hama. Doesn't make me a genius, and there really isn't anything fancy about the stage direction in my scripts.”

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He learned storytelling from industry legends, but skill still requires effort, not innate genius.

**In simple terms:** Learning from masters doesn’t guarantee brilliance.

Key Takeaway

Practice and humility matter more than pedigree.

Themes

craft humility learning

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

advice personal development

When to use this quote

- comic writing
- career development
- skill building

Key Concepts

storytelling mentor influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you apply lessons without copying style?
- What daily habits improve storytelling?

A Different Perspective

Talent alone isn’t enough without hard work.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Direction Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction-scripts-4263978/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Shooter Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooter-stan-4263976/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-direction-4263977/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stan-lee/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained/) [Trained Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained-storytelling-4263975/)

## Related quotes

> [I started on the original comics from Stan Lee and all the artists and storytellers did from there, and I got to the graphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-helman/i-started-on-the-original-comics-from-stan-lee-and-all-the-artists/)

[Josh Helman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-helman/)

> [I didn't know why I was coming to this room. Someone just told me to go to Sam Raimi's office. I knew that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/i-didn-t-know-why-i-was-coming-to-this-room-someone-just-told-me-to/)

[Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/)

> [Stan Lee is like the universal hero. He got every culture together by storytelling. He gave every community their own hero to follow, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/stan-lee-is-like-the-universal-hero-he-got-every-culture-together-by/)

[apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/)

> [Superheroes? In New York? Give me a break! -Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-avengers/superheroes-in-new-york-give-me-a-break-stan-lee/)

[The Avengers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-avengers/)

> [Growing up, I had the weird fantasy list: I wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, and Stan Lee. You have to have almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/growing-up-i-had-the-weird-fantasy-list-i-wanted-to-be-alice-cooper/)

[Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/)

> [What's true of the Marvel brand is that we're not as invested in the cape and the cowl as we are in the individuals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/what-s-true-of-the-marvel-brand-is-that-we-re-not-as-invested-in-the/)

[Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/)

> [I was there when Sam Raimi showed Stan Lee the first cut of the first Spider-Man movie. I was on a couch next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/i-was-there-when-sam-raimi-showed-stan-lee-the-first-cut-of-the-first/)

[Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/)

> [Oh yeah, I was one of the first guys writing comic books, I wrote Captain America, with guys like Stan Lee, who became famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-spillane/oh-yeah-i-was-one-of-the-first-guys-writing-comic-books-i-wrote/)

[Mickey Spillane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-spillane/)

> [It was an honor to meet the iconic Stan Lee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/it-was-an-honor-to-meet-the-iconic-stan-lee/)

[Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/)

> [Stan Lee always wanted to do another syndicated strip while we were doing Spider-Man. I was working two jobs, and he wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romita-sr/stan-lee-always-wanted-to-do-another-syndicated-strip-while-we-were/)

[John Romita, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romita-sr/)

> [“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick The Secret Meaning of Things, Lawrence Ferlinghetti Fantastic Four #89, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/do-androids-dream-of-electric-sheep-philip-k-dick-the-secret-meaning/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

> [There is no substitute for practical experience, and if you want to write about people you ought to put down that comic book and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/there-is-no-substitute-for-practical-experience-and-if-you-want-to/)

[Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/)

> [I started working with Timely in 1946. Stan Lee hired me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-decarlo/i-started-working-with-timely-in-1946-stan-lee-hired-me/)

[Dan DeCarlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-decarlo/)

> [It was cool to meet Stan Lee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/it-was-cool-to-meet-stan-lee/)

[Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/)

> [The most interesting to me were Doctor Strange, because he was so mystic, and Thor, because that was really cool. I mean, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina-robbins/the-most-interesting-to-me-were-doctor-strange-because-he-was-so/)

[Trina Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina-robbins/)

## More by Christopher Priest

> [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [What makes a good villain is someone who doesn't just challenge the hero but comes organically out of that character's history and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/what-makes-a-good-villain-is-someone-who-doesn-t-just-challenge-the/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [“An illusion has three stages. "First there is the setup, in which the nature of what might be attempted at is hinted at, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/an-illusion-has-three-stages-first-there-is-the-setup-in-which-the/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [Deathstroke is the dark-mirror version of Batman, basically. He is every bit as resourceful, every bit as ruthless, every bit as powerful as Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/deathstroke-is-the-dark-mirror-version-of-batman-basically-he-is/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [“Magicians protect their secrets not because the secrets are large and important, but because they are so small and trivial. The wonderful effects created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/magicians-protect-their-secrets-not-because-the-secrets-are-large-and/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [I think everybody wants to feel validated in some way, and when you're looking for leisure activities or if you're looking for escapism or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-think-everybody-wants-to-feel-validated-in-some-way-and-when-you-re/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [Writing 'Deathstroke' presents a number of challenges to me. As a Christian, as a minister, it's difficult for me to write a comic book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/writing-deathstroke-presents-a-number-of-challenges-to-me-as-a/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> ['Deathstroke' became an interesting challenge - not just because of his ethnicity, but because he's a villain. I've never written a villain as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/deathstroke-became-an-interesting-challenge-not-just-because-of-his/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [If you could access 90 percent of your brain, you'd be Charles Xavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/if-you-could-access-90-percent-of-your-brain-you-d-be-charles-xavier/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [I'm a little insane, and I'm going to be a little different. But hopefully, somewhere in there, in that creative arena, something will emerge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-m-a-little-insane-and-i-m-going-to-be-a-little-different-but/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [“Cutter: Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/cutter-every-great-magic-trick-consists-of-three-parts-or-acts-the/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [I think, personally, nothing comes from violence other than more violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-think-personally-nothing-comes-from-violence-other-than-more/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [The 'Black Panther' series was never really about the Black Panther at all. The State Department guy, Everett K. Ross, was the series protagonist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/the-black-panther-series-was-never-really-about-the-black-panther-at/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [Escapism has its place. I used to write 'Conan the Barbarian' for Marvel, which takes place in an environment completely removed from the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/escapism-has-its-place-i-used-to-write-conan-the-barbarian-for-marvel/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [My first draft of Marvel Knights 'Black Panther' was not funny at all. They smartly rejected the entire script and counseled me to inject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/my-first-draft-of-marvel-knights-black-panther-was-not-funny-at-all/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

[Explore all 64 Christopher Priest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

## More Direction quotes

> [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/)

[Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/)

> [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/)

[Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/)

> [Every time you think a negative thought, it's one step in the wrong direction, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/every-time-you-think-a-negative-thought-it-s-one-step-in-the-wrong/)

[Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/)

> [“No matter how many times you get turned around,you will still find yourself going in the right direction \*B\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-easley/no-matter-how-many-times-you-get-turned-around-you-will-still-find/)

[B. Easley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-easley/)

> [Life's lessons don't come with books, notes nor instructions...just mistakes and EVERYONE makes them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-lessons-don-t-come-with-books-notes-nor-instructions-just/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/)

[Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/)

> [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/)

[Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/)

> [Napster has pointed the way for a new direction for music distribution, and we believe it will form the basis of important and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/napster-has-pointed-the-way-for-a-new-direction-for-music/)

[Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/)

> [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/)

[Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/)

> [Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/vote-snp-for-a-party-that-always-stands-up-for-scotland-that-is/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/)

[Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/)

> [When I see Mario Gotze, his development does not go in the right direction. He has outstanding qualities, but he has not reached his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/when-i-see-mario-gotze-his-development-does-not-go-in-the-right/)

[Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/)

> [Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/even-in-hollyoaks-we-were-known-as-the-black-family-as-opposed-to/)

[Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/)

> [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/)

[Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/)

> [Nobody had anticipated that chemicals was the direction in which Reliance was headed. I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/nobody-had-anticipated-that-chemicals-was-the-direction-in-which/)

[Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/)

[Browse all 2,024 Direction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Larry Hama. Doesn't make me a genius, and there really isn't anything fancy about the stage direction in my scripts.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Priest"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-shooter-stan-lee-and-larry-hama/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Direction"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-shooter-stan-lee-and-larry-hama/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/christopher-priest-10472_direction_i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-sho_2922355.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was trained in storytelling by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Larry Hama. Doesn't make me a genius, and there…” — Christopher Priest",
                "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": "Christopher Priest",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was trained in storytelling by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-shooter-stan-lee-and-larry-hama/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-was-trained-in-storytelling-by-jim-shooter-stan-lee-and-larry-hama/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
