--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to be true to the characters that…" description: "\"I try to be true to the characters that I've created and sometimes I disagree with them, but their opinions about the story and the characters really m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png" --- # I try to be true to the characters that I've created and… ![“I try to be true to the characters that I've created and sometimes I disagree with them, but their opinions about the story and the characters really matter to me.” quote by Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png) > “I try to be true to the characters that I've created and sometimes I disagree with them, but their opinions about the story and the characters really matter to me.” [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authors must honor their characters' authenticity, even when it conflicts with personal views, to preserve narrative integrity. **In simple terms:** Stay true to your characters. Key Takeaway Listen to character instincts. Themes character development authenticity creative conflict writing process Mood introspective empathetic Type creative literary When to use this quote - Novel drafting - character workshops - editorial reviews - reader feedback Key Concepts Narrative truth authorial humility Questions to Reflect On - When did a character challenge your beliefs? - How do you resolve such conflicts? A Different Perspective Balancing personal bias with character voice can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Anyhow, I've learned one thing now. You only really get to know people when you've had a jolly good row with them. Then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/anyhow-i-ve-learned-one-thing-now-you-only-really-get-to-know-people/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [We all have defining moments. It is in these moments that we find our true characters. 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Write what is true to the characters in their settings and the audience will find you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/never-try-to-fit-a-target-audience-write-what-is-true-to-the/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [The challenge is to stay true to the characters while also having them be entertaining every day, because it turns out that just watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/the-challenge-is-to-stay-true-to-the-characters-while-also-having/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [I think the main thing to remember when writing a novel is to stay true to the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-the-main-thing-to-remember-when-writing-a-novel-is-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“You only really get to know a person after a fight. Only then can you judge their true characters!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/you-only-really-get-to-know-a-person-after-a-fight-only-then-can-you/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [I'm first and foremost interested in the story, the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lean/i-m-first-and-foremost-interested-in-the-story-the-characters/) [David Lean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lean/) > [“The characters who go to make up my stories and novels are not portraits. Characters I invent along with the story that carries them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/the-characters-who-go-to-make-up-my-stories-and-novels-are-not/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [We try to find the information, the clues, to unlock the play or the story or our characters, especially when they're based on real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/we-try-to-find-the-information-the-clues-to-unlock-the-play-or-the/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [I follow filmmakers, and story, and characters that surprise and delight me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-follow-filmmakers-and-story-and-characters-that-surprise-and/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [For me, as I've said many times, the story is not research. The story is how the characters relate with each other and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwem-akpan/for-me-as-i-ve-said-many-times-the-story-is-not-research-the-story-is/) [Uwem Akpan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwem-akpan/) > [As a rule, I don't worry about genre. I just want to tell a good story, with characters that interest me and my readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/as-a-rule-i-don-t-worry-about-genre-i-just-want-to-tell-a-good-story/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Emily Giffin > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I think exercise is critical to my writing and an essential way to recharge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-think-exercise-is-critical-to-my-writing-and-an-essential-way-to/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Grab his penis like this, and I guarantee, it’s a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/grab-his-penis-like-this-and-i-guarantee-it-s-a-done-deal/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Well, anyway… it’s over,” I say, realizing that those two words lump me right in with a hoard of naive women who say it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/well-anyway-it-s-over-i-say-realizing-that-those-two-words-lump-me/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There are two kinds of sorry. There is the sorry imbued with regret. And a pure sorry. The kind that is merely asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-are-two-kinds-of-sorry-there-is-the-sorry-imbued-with-regret/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Throw in the intensity of emotions that come with that bittersweet summer sandwiched between high school graduation and the rest of your life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/throw-in-the-intensity-of-emotions-that-come-with-that-bittersweet/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“You can never be too sure when it comes to things that matter most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/you-can-never-be-too-sure-when-it-comes-to-things-that-matter-most/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“It occurs to me that she is not unique--that all women compare lives. 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It’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-desperately-want-to-feel-that-way-again-to-be-in-a-relationship/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I always find something in common with my protagonist, particularly when I write in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-always-find-something-in-common-with-my-protagonist-particularly/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There is no grief like heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-is-no-grief-like-heartbreak/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I find my voice and manage to say those three one-syllable words back to him. Words I haven't uttered in a very, very long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-my-voice-and-manage-to-say-those-three-one-syllable-words-back/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [i wish i could freeze this moment, somehow delay my final decision, and just hang here in the balance between two places, two worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-wish-i-could-freeze-this-moment-somehow-delay-my-final-decision-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“never had a good gut feeling. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t have faith in my team, but that I maintained the truest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/never-had-a-good-gut-feeling-it-wasn-t-so-much-that-i-didn-t-have/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) [Explore all 324 Emily Giffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## More Being true quotes > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/life-is-all-about-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-you-believe-in/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [I have spent most of my life unlearning things that were proved not to be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-unlearning-things-that-were-proved-not/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [It seemed too good to be true. That's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/it-seemed-too-good-to-be-true-that-s-grace/) [Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/) > [You create the happiness and the balance that you have, and your own power. This is one thing that I know to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/you-create-the-happiness-and-the-balance-that-you-have-and-your-own/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is not the responsibility of the enlightened teacher to bring the student to enlightenment. That may be true in the classroom, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-not-the-responsibility-of-the-enlightened-teacher-to-bring-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) Browse all 1,447 Being true quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to be true to the characters that I've created and sometimes I disagree with them, but their opinions about the story and the characters really matter to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Giffin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that-i-ve-created-and-sometimes-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being true" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that-i-ve-created-and-sometimes-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/emily-giffin-938_being-true_i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that_716046.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to be true to the characters that I've created and sometimes I disagree with them, but their opinions…” — Emily Giffin", "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": "Emily Giffin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to be true to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that-i-ve-created-and-sometimes-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-be-true-to-the-characters-that-i-ve-created-and-sometimes-i/#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 } } ] } ```