--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're writing a thriller, and you…" description: "\"If you're writing a thriller, and you don't make it compelling, then you've really not done your job. So it's easier for me not to set out with certain..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/claire-messud-1372_done_if-you-re-writing-a-thriller-and-you-don_2385217.png" --- # If you're writing a thriller, and you don't make it… ![“If you're writing a thriller, and you don't make it compelling, then you've really not done your job. So it's easier for me not to set out with certain goals, and then I can't see them as unmet. It's like life generally: If I'm not aiming to be physically fit, then I'm not always thinking about…” quote by Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/claire-messud-1372_done_if-you-re-writing-a-thriller-and-you-don_2385217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/claire-messud-1372_done_if-you-re-writing-a-thriller-and-you-don_2385217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/claire-messud-1372_done_if-you-re-writing-a-thriller-and-you-don_2385217.png) > “If you're writing a thriller, and you don't make it compelling, then you've really not done your job. So it's easier for me not to set out with certain goals, and then I can't see them as unmet. It's like life generally: If I'm not aiming to be physically fit, then I'm not always thinking about being unfit.” [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A thriller must engage readers; without compelling storytelling, the work fails. It also reflects how vague goals can lead to lack of direction in life. **In simple terms:** Compelling writing is essential; clear goals guide action. Key Takeaway Focus on strong narrative and set specific goals. Themes writing motivation goal setting Mood inspirational reflective Type creative self‑help When to use this quote - novel planning - fitness routines - career planning Key Concepts thriller genre creative process personal development Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story truly compelling? - How do clear goals influence personal growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-goals-2355387/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fit Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit-thinking-5921455/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Unmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-unmet-5921454/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Unfit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-unfit-5921453/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-thriller-2962727/) ## Related quotes > [I was pregnant with my daughter when I started writing my first thriller, so I guess you could blame hormones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-was-pregnant-with-my-daughter-when-i-started-writing-my-first/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [Well, if you're writing a thriller, you have to have your character in mortal jeopardy on page 1 or it's not a thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/well-if-you-re-writing-a-thriller-you-have-to-have-your-character-in/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [“It is not wrong to change in order to achieve certain goals in life. If you want a happy relationship, for example, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/it-is-not-wrong-to-change-in-order-to-achieve-certain-goals-in-life/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [The basic idea of governance, as I see it, is to hold the society together so that it can develop and march towards certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lal-bahadur-shastri/the-basic-idea-of-governance-as-i-see-it-is-to-hold-the-society/) [Lal Bahadur Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lal-bahadur-shastri/) > [I still have certain goals that I want. Grammies... Other awards... an Oscar one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-still-have-certain-goals-that-i-want-grammies-other-awards-an-oscar/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [We should see the leadership from the White House setting dates certain for certain goals of achieving greater alliance on alternative and renewable energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kind/we-should-see-the-leadership-from-the-white-house-setting-dates/) [Ron Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kind/) > [When you have certain goals that you want to reach, you have to do whatever it takes to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerami-grant/when-you-have-certain-goals-that-you-want-to-reach-you-have-to-do/) [Jerami Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerami-grant/) > [I don't really set certain goals on myself because I'm just like, 'Whatever happens, happens.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-don-t-really-set-certain-goals-on-myself-because-i-m-just-like/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [Make certain that your goals are not measured in comparison with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/make-certain-that-your-goals-are-not-measured-in-comparison-with/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“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/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Claire Messud > [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Life is about deciding what matters. It’s about the fantasy that determines the reality. Have you ever asked yourself whether you’d rather fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-is-about-deciding-what-matters-it-s-about-the-fantasy-that/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [Life's funny. 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'I want -- for God's sake, I want to wake up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-my-mother-said-i-want-for-god-s-sake-i-want-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It was supposed to say “Great Artist” on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say “such a good teacher/​daughter/​friend” instead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-was-supposed-to-say-great-artist-on-my-tombstone-but-if-i-died/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Live, my dear Nora. Satisfy your hunger. There's food all around you, you know.' 'What kind of food, I'd like to know?' 'Ah'-he smiled-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/live-my-dear-nora-satisfy-your-hunger-there-s-food-all-around-you-you/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [We think that - as kids, you know - that kids make up stories and live in a sort of fictional place, but that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/we-think-that-as-kids-you-know-that-kids-make-up-stories-and-live-in/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It makes sense that if you stand almost daily in the middle of a perfect crescent of shore, with a vista open to eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-makes-sense-that-if-you-stand-almost-daily-in-the-middle-of-a/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Once aware of my isolation, I was afraid not of it but of its interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/once-aware-of-my-isolation-i-was-afraid-not-of-it-but-of-its/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“who I am in my head, very few people really get to see that. Almost none. It’s the most precious gift I can give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/who-i-am-in-my-head-very-few-people-really-get-to-see-that-almost/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“My everyday Appleton life, my phones calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/my-everyday-appleton-life-my-phones-calls-to-my-father-my-occasional/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) [Explore all 249 Claire Messud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [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/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [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/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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