--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you write a show, every character is…" description: "\"When you write a show, every character is you to some extent.\" — Courtney A. Kemp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/courtney-a-kemp-6529_character_when-you-write-a-show-every-character-is_2242255.jpg" --- # When you write a show, every character is you to some… ![“When you write a show, every character is you to some extent.” quote by Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/courtney-a-kemp-6529_character_when-you-write-a-show-every-character-is_2242255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/courtney-a-kemp-6529_character_when-you-write-a-show-every-character-is_2242255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/courtney-a-kemp-6529_character_when-you-write-a-show-every-character-is_2242255.jpg) > “When you write a show, every character is you to some extent.” [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing a story mirrors the writer’s inner self; each character reflects aspects of the author’s personality or experience. **In simple terms:** Characters act as mirrors of the writer. Key Takeaway Recognize personal traits in your characters. Themes creativity self‑reflection storytelling Mood introspective analytical Type literary psychological When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - character workshops Key Concepts psychology identity character development Questions to Reflect On - How does each character reveal something about you? - What parts of yourself are you avoiding? A Different Perspective Characters may become caricatures if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I would never want to write a character who was not thoroughly herself or himself. She's a very specific creature in my mind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/i-would-never-want-to-write-a-character-who-was-not-thoroughly/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [I have a journal, and every character that I play, I write as the character: how I feel about things and how I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-have-a-journal-and-every-character-that-i-play-i-write-as-the/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I should have asked for credit - but he has no idea how amazing it is that a character that was written as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/i-should-have-asked-for-credit-but-he-has-no-idea-how-amazing-it-is/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [Sometimes the director will want you to write about the character, sometimes he'll want you to live in the location that the character is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/sometimes-the-director-will-want-you-to-write-about-the-character/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [You write a character, but in essence, it's just a concept of what it could be, and then actors come in and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panos-cosmatos/you-write-a-character-but-in-essence-it-s-just-a-concept-of-what-it/) [Panos Cosmatos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panos-cosmatos/) > [Whenever you write a character, you want to make them themselves, you want to make them unique. You don't want fifty characters in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/whenever-you-write-a-character-you-want-to-make-them-themselves-you/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Sometimes you can write about a character's day in under a minute and sometimes it takes a day just to write about a minute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-v-clancy/sometimes-you-can-write-about-a-character-s-day-in-under-a-minute-and/) Jennifer v Clancy > [I've got to write about my character every day. I've got to find out where he lives, what bus he catches to school, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-ve-got-to-write-about-my-character-every-day-i-ve-got-to-find-out/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [You can't write a character more brilliant than yourself. It's just not physically possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/you-can-t-write-a-character-more-brilliant-than-yourself-it-s-just/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [Every character sees the world through a framework of education and experience that they're proud experts about. To write a character, find out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/every-character-sees-the-world-through-a-framework-of-education-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I write in character a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/i-write-in-character-a-lot/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [Don't write about a character. Become that character, and then write your story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/don-t-write-about-a-character-become-that-character-and-then-write/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [If I write a character, instead of looking from the outside, like maybe a journalist would, trying to describe them physically and figuring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/if-i-write-a-character-instead-of-looking-from-the-outside-like-maybe/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I tend to write one character at a time. But I don't write the entirety of one character at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-tend-to-write-one-character-at-a-time-but-i-don-t-write-the/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I want to convince you that humans are, to some extent, natural born essentialists. What I mean by this is we don't just respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-want-to-convince-you-that-humans-are-to-some-extent-natural-born/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) ## More by Courtney A. Kemp > [Wherever I go, stuff accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/wherever-i-go-stuff-accumulates/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [My dad was very, very invested in image. He felt that as a black person, the thing you could control was how did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/my-dad-was-very-very-invested-in-image-he-felt-that-as-a-black-person/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [The only black folks in town when I was growing up were me and my cousins and one other family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/the-only-black-folks-in-town-when-i-was-growing-up-were-me-and-my/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I called my show 'Power' because, for me, the whole series is about the way my main character, Ghost, is power-less over his circumstances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-called-my-show-power-because-for-me-the-whole-series-is-about-the/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [There's a difference between talent and skill. You might have writing talent, but skill is learned. You have to practice. I remain teachable. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/there-s-a-difference-between-talent-and-skill-you-might-have-writing/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [Great partnerships thrive because the people need each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/great-partnerships-thrive-because-the-people-need-each-other/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I really do love male characters, in some ways, for the fact that they get surprised when they're vulnerable. Women are more surprised by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-really-do-love-male-characters-in-some-ways-for-the-fact-that-they/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I thought I was going to be a professor; then I ran screaming from there into magazine journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-professor-then-i-ran-screaming-from/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I had to figure out that finding my place was not about race but about creativity, and connecting with other artists helped me find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-had-to-figure-out-that-finding-my-place-was-not-about-race-but/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [There's this idea that you can have it all, but in my opinion, you can't - not if you're a perfectionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/there-s-this-idea-that-you-can-have-it-all-but-in-my-opinion-you-can/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I think women judge other women more harshly, always, which is a shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-think-women-judge-other-women-more-harshly-always-which-is-a-shame/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I remember watching episodes of 'The Sopranos' and being filled with dread knowing what was coming or anticipating what was coming. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-remember-watching-episodes-of-the-sopranos-and-being-filled-with/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [When I'm at work, I want to be with my daughter, and when I'm with my daughter, I probably should be working, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/when-i-m-at-work-i-want-to-be-with-my-daughter-and-when-i-m-with-my/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [Writers are, for the most part, crazy people. We're like Hephaestus of the forge. We're gnarled. We're curled over. We walk with a limp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/writers-are-for-the-most-part-crazy-people-we-re-like-hephaestus-of/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [If you are other, you don't think twice about hiring people who are other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/if-you-are-other-you-don-t-think-twice-about-hiring-people-who-are/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) [Explore all 99 Courtney A. Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) ## 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 > [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": "When you write a show, every character is you to some extent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Courtney A. 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