---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good fiction writers have an instinctive…"
description: "\"“Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of human nature. That's what makes stories and characters captivating. Good spiritual writers s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg"
---

#  Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of…

![“Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of human nature. That's what makes stories and characters captivating. Good spiritual writers share what they sincerely practice themselves.” quote by Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg)

> ““Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of human nature. That's what makes stories and characters captivating. Good spiritual writers share what they sincerely practice themselves.””

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

## About This Quote

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

Great fiction writers intuitively grasp human nature, while authentic spiritual writers reflect personal practice.

**In simple terms:** Good writers understand people; spiritual writers practice what they preach.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate empathy and personal authenticity.

Themes

writing spirituality human nature intuition

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

literary spiritual

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- spiritual teaching
- leadership

Key Concepts

literature personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal practice shape your work?
- What does intuition reveal about humanity?

A Different Perspective

Lack of practice can weaken authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Author-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-quotes/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-writers/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Human-nature-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature-quotes/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-practice/) [Spiritual quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-quotes/) [Spiritual wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-wisdom/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-process/)

## Related quotes

> [“There’s an analogy I came up with once for an interviewer who asked me how much of my material was autobiographical,” Octavia says. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-parkhurst/there-s-an-analogy-i-came-up-with-once-for-an-interviewer-who-asked/)

[Carolyn Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-parkhurst/)

> [“Open your arms to embrace what you see, and never lose sight of what you have”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-funston/open-your-arms-to-embrace-what-you-see-and-never-lose-sight-of-what/)

Robert Funston

> [“Storytelling creates a healing serum. The thematic unguent of our personal story represents a fusion of the ineffable truths that each of us must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/storytelling-creates-a-healing-serum-the-thematic-unguent-of-our/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Being a writer, I take thing seriously (not too seriously). I may be a young writer/self publisher, I do love to write and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-sunny/being-a-writer-i-take-thing-seriously-not-too-seriously-i-may-be-a/)

[Simi Sunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-sunny/)

> [“Stories shared in your kitchen will strengthen your family than the stories shared your bedroom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-mahuka/stories-shared-in-your-kitchen-will-strengthen-your-family-than-the/)

[Kenneth Mahuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-mahuka/)

> [“Freedom is found within, in the shape of our laughter and the way we love, in the truths that we live by and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/freedom-is-found-within-in-the-shape-of-our-laughter-and-the-way-we/)

[Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/)

> [“Stories trace their roots to impassioned human interactions with the world. I always sense a storyline as an emotional yearning embedded in a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/stories-trace-their-roots-to-impassioned-human-interactions-with-the/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Don't judge me by my books. They're not my voices, and they were never my stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nad-ge-richards/don-t-judge-me-by-my-books-they-re-not-my-voices-and-they-were-never/)

[Nadège Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nad-ge-richards/)

> [“The warp was the source of so much anguish for us, and yet its absence generated the greatest abhorrence of all. I suppose that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wraight/the-warp-was-the-source-of-so-much-anguish-for-us-and-yet-its-absence/)

Chris Wraight

> [“Of course I contradict myself. Why else would I often bite my tongue and attempt to put the fire out?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-tindugan-adoviso/of-course-i-contradict-myself-why-else-would-i-often-bite-my-tongue/)

Jen Tindugan-Adoviso

> [“Certain men are liable to be duped, and there is no creature so gullible as the certain man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-west/certain-men-are-liable-to-be-duped-and-there-is-no-creature-so/)

A.J.West

> [“Let’s be honest: nothing stays pure once humans get involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rove-monteux/let-s-be-honest-nothing-stays-pure-once-humans-get-involved/)

Rove Monteux

> [“It's so easy for humans to blame God for their misery, Manfri said. Really, it's mostly of their own making.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-c-patten/it-s-so-easy-for-humans-to-blame-god-for-their-misery-manfri-said/)

Sarah C. Patten

> [“But then again, can't people just not fucking suck as human beings once in awhile? Is that too much to fucking ask? Is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/but-then-again-can-t-people-just-not-fucking-suck-as-human-beings/)

[Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/)

> [“Man could be utterly beastly at times and his humour abysmally dark, morbid and demoniac. - Page 105, Blue Jeans”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-saxena/man-could-be-utterly-beastly-at-times-and-his-humour-abysmally-dark/)

Manisha Saxena

## More by Donna Goddard

> [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“It was true that common sense wasn’t her forte. It wasn’t that she was silly or stupid, but she heard so many more voices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/it-was-true-that-common-sense-wasn-t-her-forte-it-wasn-t-that-she-was/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“Food for the ego is poison for the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/food-for-the-ego-is-poison-for-the-soul/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“When we love someone, we make it our business to protect them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/when-we-love-someone-we-make-it-our-business-to-protect-them/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“Wise individuals frequently say very little, but what they do say hits the mark. Such remarks often remain in the mind of the recipient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/wise-individuals-frequently-say-very-little-but-what-they-do-say-hits/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“We have already said more goodbyes than are necessary. Those were goodbyes that brought about the end of partings. We taught each other that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/we-have-already-said-more-goodbyes-than-are-necessary-those-were/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“When we are a spiritual student, our gender identity is omni-gender and our relationship status is omni-relationship-status.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/when-we-are-a-spiritual-student-our-gender-identity-is-omni-gender/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“There is a part of us that knows the timing of any relationship. It knows things that we cannot work out. It knows when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/there-is-a-part-of-us-that-knows-the-timing-of-any-relationship-it/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“We all see a different reality and we make decisions based on what we see. Everyone is trying to protect their interests in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/we-all-see-a-different-reality-and-we-make-decisions-based-on-what-we/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“Walking can become an opportunity to move the body easily, graciously, and freely while drawing within to the non-dimensional ease, grace, and freedom that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/walking-can-become-an-opportunity-to-move-the-body-easily-graciously/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“It is, often, in the utter despair of humanness that we become willing to consider deeply spiritual answers. Although the door and the guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/it-is-often-in-the-utter-despair-of-humanness-that-we-become-willing/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“Somewhere along the way, there develops within the soul a yearning that can no longer be ignored, a craving for the great love affair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/somewhere-along-the-way-there-develops-within-the-soul-a-yearning/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“One must beckon the spiritual warrior inside oneself whenever it is necessary for the task at hand. Courage is the fuel. Healing is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/one-must-beckon-the-spiritual-warrior-inside-oneself-whenever-it-is/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“Dance allows people to connect, learn about each other, and learn about themselves without the rather orchestrated context of modern dating apps. It’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/dance-allows-people-to-connect-learn-about-each-other-and-learn-about/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“A balanced inner calmness radiates from a peaceful centre. It neither craves others' approval nor rejects others' presence. It neither pulls towards nor pushes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/a-balanced-inner-calmness-radiates-from-a-peaceful-centre-it-neither/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

[Explore all 142 Donna Goddard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

## More Author-quotes quotes

> [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“Great expectations can lead to inspiring and dramatic results if you're willing to take the next steps, trying to make a way in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/great-expectations-can-lead-to-inspiring-and-dramatic-results-if-you/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“I can take two people, throw a world of obstacles at them, defy the odds, and still give them a happily-ever-after. Together. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-moran/i-can-take-two-people-throw-a-world-of-obstacles-at-them-defy-the/)

[Kelly Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-moran/)

> [“top connecting with the world. Connect with yourself on your beach. Stop thinking. Stop analyzing. Start feeling. Start dreaming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/top-connecting-with-the-world-connect-with-yourself-on-your-beach/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [“A little reminder I needed today as I dive deeper into this incredible publishing journey. Surround yourself with those who lift you higher, believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-rosa/a-little-reminder-i-needed-today-as-i-dive-deeper-into-this/)

Paula Rosa

> [“Words both written and read are my passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-austin/words-both-written-and-read-are-my-passion/)

[Leslie Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-austin/)

> [“Many of us are guilty of not taking enough time to dial into our inner child's voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/many-of-us-are-guilty-of-not-taking-enough-time-to-dial-into-our/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [“I listen to the rainfall, my words wanna flow! Droplets run down the wall, where do they go? Letters in the raw, mesh together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-austin/i-listen-to-the-rainfall-my-words-wanna-flow-droplets-run-down-the/)

[Leslie Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-austin/)

> [“I wonder what brought us here? The analogy of our situation or the void we want to fill? Perhaps, our previous journey was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-alvi/i-wonder-what-brought-us-here-the-analogy-of-our-situation-or-the/)

[Kamil Alvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-alvi/)

> [“Give AI the right to perform any task that a human editor normally performs” in the realm of writing. These include drafting, proofreading, rephrasing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/give-ai-the-right-to-perform-any-task-that-a-human-editor-normally/)

[Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/)

> [“Sometimes the people that w love and care about the most are the ones that end up hurting us the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheree-gay/sometimes-the-people-that-w-love-and-care-about-the-most-are-the-ones/)

[Sheree' Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheree-gay/)

> [Thinking there had to be a better way was a brilliant stroke of serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/thinking-there-had-to-be-a-better-way-was-a-brilliant-stroke-of/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [“You are the author of your own destiny; write yourself into history books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-are-the-author-of-your-own-destiny-write-yourself-into-history/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t be afraid to stand firm on the decisions that you make. Trust yourself. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/say-what-you-mean-and-mean-what-you-say-don-t-be-afraid-to-stand-firm/)

[Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/)

[Browse all 154 Author-quotes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-quotes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of human nature. That's what makes stories and characters captivating. Good spiritual writers share what they sincerely practice themselves.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Donna Goddard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive-understanding-of-human/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Author-quotes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive-understanding-of-human/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/donna-goddard-3029_author-quotes_good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive_133374.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Good fiction writers have an instinctive understanding of human nature. That's what makes stories and…” — Donna Goddard",
                "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": "Donna Goddard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Good fiction writers have an instinctive...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive-understanding-of-human/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/good-fiction-writers-have-an-instinctive-understanding-of-human/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
