--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you…" description: "\"You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you really need to start with a good script and with characters that are three-dimensional and with great dialogu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/corey-stoll-14800_bad_you-can-make-bad-writing-ok-but-you-real_2390468.jpg" --- # You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you really need to… ![“You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you really need to start with a good script and with characters that are three-dimensional and with great dialogue. It's a difficult lesson to learn because good writing is hard to come by, but it's definitely worth chasing.” quote by Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/corey-stoll-14800_bad_you-can-make-bad-writing-ok-but-you-real_2390468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/corey-stoll-14800_bad_you-can-make-bad-writing-ok-but-you-real_2390468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/corey-stoll-14800_bad_you-can-make-bad-writing-ok-but-you-real_2390468.jpg) > “You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you really need to start with a good script and with characters that are three-dimensional and with great dialogue. It's a difficult lesson to learn because good writing is hard to come by, but it's definitely worth chasing.” [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective storytelling requires a solid script, three‑dimensional characters, and strong dialogue; without these foundations, writing falls flat. **In simple terms:** Good writing needs a strong script, deep characters, and great dialogue. Key Takeaway Focus on building strong characters and dialogue first. Themes writing character development dialogue craftsmanship Mood determined reflective Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - playwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts Narrative structure character depth dialogue quality Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure characters feel three‑dimensional? - What techniques improve dialogue authenticity? A Different Perspective Even with good characters, poor pacing can undermine the story. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-writing/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“In my life I haven’t done anything worth writing about, but that’s OK. That’s why I write fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/in-my-life-i-haven-t-done-anything-worth-writing-about-but-that-s-ok/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Good writers hate bad writing but hating bad writing doesn’t make you good. Writing badly does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/good-writers-hate-bad-writing-but-hating-bad-writing-doesn-t-make-you/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [It takes a lot of bad writing to get to a little good writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-takes-a-lot-of-bad-writing-to-get-to-a-little-good-writing/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Bad writing is not easier than good writing. It's just as hard to make a toilet seat as it is a castle window. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/bad-writing-is-not-easier-than-good-writing-it-s-just-as-hard-to-make/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [You do an awful lot of bad writing in order to do any good writing. Incredibly bad. I think it would be very interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/you-do-an-awful-lot-of-bad-writing-in-order-to-do-any-good-writing/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [I just keep following the good writing. I'm not good enough to make bad writing look good. Some people can, and I admire them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sparks/i-just-keep-following-the-good-writing-i-m-not-good-enough-to-make/) [Paul Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sparks/) > [You just can't make bad writing look good. But if you have good writing, you just say it, and it's almost done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/you-just-can-t-make-bad-writing-look-good-but-if-you-have-good/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [“Write at a pace that doesn't surpass your creative flow. Don't be hasty; don't be sloppy. Don't forfeit impressive writing for an impressive word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/write-at-a-pace-that-doesn-t-surpass-your-creative-flow-don-t-be/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [If a man means his writing seriously, he must mean to write well. But how can he write well until he learns to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/if-a-man-means-his-writing-seriously-he-must-mean-to-write-well-but/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [I think finally good writing gets out there, and people like it, and bad writing doesn't. Well, no. Bad writing does get out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-think-finally-good-writing-gets-out-there-and-people-like-it-and/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but that's the only way you can do anything really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/get-it-down-take-chances-it-may-be-bad-but-that-s-the-only-way-you/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [People do not deserve to have good writing, they are so pleased with bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/people-do-not-deserve-to-have-good-writing-they-are-so-pleased-with/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“…After all, it isn't really difficult to write books. Especially if you either write a rotten story in good English or a good story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/after-all-it-isn-t-really-difficult-to-write-books-especially-if-you/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The way the show was conceived originally and developed, has always had good writing at the heart of it, it's very difficult to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/the-way-the-show-was-conceived-originally-and-developed-has-always/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [“Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/bad-writing-is-more-than-a-matter-of-shit-syntax-and-faulty/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Corey Stoll > [Yes, Im a New Yorker, born and bred. While Im not quite the L.A. snob that Woody Allen is, I do find myself happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/yes-im-a-new-yorker-born-and-bred-while-im-not-quite-the-l-a-snob/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [Certain media attracts more pulpy or low-brow things, especially when they're young. Finding the best story, in any particular medium, is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/certain-media-attracts-more-pulpy-or-low-brow-things-especially-when/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I believe that love that is true and real creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-believe-that-love-that-is-true-and-real-creates-a-respite-from/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I think we all understand disappointing yourself. Especially in the acting profession, which is probably similar to a political career, even the most stable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-think-we-all-understand-disappointing-yourself-especially-in-the/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [My parents met when they were 16 and bonded over the antiwar movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/my-parents-met-when-they-were-16-and-bonded-over-the-antiwar-movement/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [My wife was pregnant while we were promoting 'Ant-Man,' and that was very exciting, to see, like, action figures of myself, as we're getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/my-wife-was-pregnant-while-we-were-promoting-ant-man-and-that-was/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I don't know how to play myself. I'm not interested enough in myself. That's just not how I was educated. That's not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-don-t-know-how-to-play-myself-i-m-not-interested-enough-in-myself/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [A play is not a tweet. It can't be compressed and embedded, and it definitely can't be delivered apologetically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/a-play-is-not-a-tweet-it-can-t-be-compressed-and-embedded-and-it/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [It's funny I'm in some ways hopelessly masculine, but I don't fish, I don't hunt, I'm not that into sports. I can't fix a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/it-s-funny-i-m-in-some-ways-hopelessly-masculine-but-i-don-t-fish-i/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [When you're in a theater, it's about reaching the back rows. When you have a camera in your face, it's just about knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/when-you-re-in-a-theater-it-s-about-reaching-the-back-rows-when-you/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [Having an opportunity to play different characters, and work in different mediums, that's what's fun. The worst question you could be asked is, "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/having-an-opportunity-to-play-different-characters-and-work-in/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I was not into B-movies. A lot of it is sloppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-was-not-into-b-movies-a-lot-of-it-is-sloppy/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I started with superhero stuff - 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man' and 'Batman' and 'Hellboy' - but I wasn't familiar with 'The Strain' until I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-started-with-superhero-stuff-x-men-and-spider-man-and-batman-and/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I made a choice in my career to not get hair plugs and not hide the fact that I was balding, and I've managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-made-a-choice-in-my-career-to-not-get-hair-plugs-and-not-hide-the/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [Growing up, I used to babysit, but, thinking back on what I was like at 15, this was probably a terrible idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/growing-up-i-used-to-babysit-but-thinking-back-on-what-i-was-like-at/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) [Explore all 45 Corey Stoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can make bad writing 'OK,' but... you really need to start with a good script and with characters that are three-dimensional and with great dialogue. 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