--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can only try to keep the characters…" description: "\"I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up to the readers to decide whether they're still relevant.\" — Garry Trudeau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png" --- # I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up… ![“I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up to the readers to decide whether they're still relevant.” quote by Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png) > “I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up to the readers to decide whether they're still relevant.” [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator strives to make characters engaging, leaving relevance decisions to readers, highlighting collaborative storytelling. **In simple terms:** Readers decide character relevance. Key Takeaway Engage audiences and invite their input. Themes creativity audience relevance storytelling collaboration Mood interactive thoughtful Type media philosophical When to use this quote - comic conventions - fan forums - creative workshops Key Concepts media studies literary theory interactive art Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep characters fresh? - What role should readers play in narrative? A Different Perspective May rely too much on audience feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-interesting-731461/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decide Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-relevant-2913258/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-readers-4205273/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers/) [Readers Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers-decide-4205272/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) ## Related quotes > [Thoughts in your head are really no different than the sound of a bird outside. It is just that you decide that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/thoughts-in-your-head-are-really-no-different-than-the-sound-of-a/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [MySpace News is designed to let users decide what's most relevant to them, and we've given them hundreds of subjects to choose from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/myspace-news-is-designed-to-let-users-decide-what-s-most-relevant-to/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) > [I've always been attracted to characters that were interesting to me, and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-characters-that-were-interesting-to-me/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [I try to pick characters that I find interesting and complex and that I feel I can bring something of myself to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-stanford/i-try-to-pick-characters-that-i-find-interesting-and-complex-and-that/) [Aaron Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-stanford/) > [And also, there's a reason why gay characters are so interesting. Because much like the women in Bridgerton,' there are a lot of hurdles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-bailey/and-also-there-s-a-reason-why-gay-characters-are-so-interesting/) [Jonathan Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-bailey/) > [I'm interested in telling stories about characters that are interesting and who are challenging in some way, one that will make you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/i-m-interested-in-telling-stories-about-characters-that-are/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-interesting-to-watch/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [ That's what makes characters interesting. If Sherlock \[Holmes\] had started out being a straightforward man, we wouldn't be talking about him now. If he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/that-s-what-makes-characters-interesting-if-sherlock-holmes-had/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [I don't mind playing older characters. I find it interesting. There are parts I couldn't have got when I was 30 years old. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-don-t-mind-playing-older-characters-i-find-it-interesting-there-are/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect ones and enjoy the challenge of making readers root for them in spite of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-flawed-characters-much-more-interesting-than-perfect-ones-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I like developing characters who I find to have interesting psychology. Like politics and sex, but I'm really looking at bigger social problems that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mora-stephens/i-like-developing-characters-who-i-find-to-have-interesting/) [Mora Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mora-stephens/) > [Put your characters where they are the most interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-macdonald/put-your-characters-where-they-are-the-most-interesting/) [James D. Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-macdonald/) > [The characters I tend to play are a little more interesting than the standard heroes. Romantic leads can be a little more straightforward, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-rheon/the-characters-i-tend-to-play-are-a-little-more-interesting-than-the/) [Iwan Rheon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-rheon/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters. I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed-2/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [When you have love in a story, it gives you the freedom to really take the characters to very interesting places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/when-you-have-love-in-a-story-it-gives-you-the-freedom-to-really-take/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) ## More by Garry Trudeau > [In their heyday, comics were a dominant force in popular culture, but that's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/in-their-heyday-comics-were-a-dominant-force-in-popular-culture-but/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [I just happen to have one of those skill sets that allows me to work in my underwear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-just-happen-to-have-one-of-those-skill-sets-that-allows-me-to-work/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [Comic-strip artists generally have very modest ambitions. Day to day, we labor to fit together all these little moving parts - a character or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/comic-strip-artists-generally-have-very-modest-ambitions-day-to-day/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [I found that not having a public profile was not hurting the work, and it freed me up to be the satirist I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-found-that-not-having-a-public-profile-was-not-hurting-the-work-and/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [The systematic dismantling of reproductive rights, much like the takedown of collective bargaining, has been taking place in full view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/the-systematic-dismantling-of-reproductive-rights-much-like-the/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [Coming up with ideas is really hard - they don't spontaneously pop into my head while I'm cutting vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/coming-up-with-ideas-is-really-hard-they-don-t-spontaneously-pop-into/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [There is nothing worse than annotated humour,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/there-is-nothing-worse-than-annotated-humour/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [Most writers seem to prefer the morning, or they feel at their best in the morning. Ideas are popping into your head while you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/most-writers-seem-to-prefer-the-morning-or-they-feel-at-their-best-in/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [For the most part, editors no longer view 'Doonesbury' as a rolling provocation, which is fine by me. It makes no sense to intentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/for-the-most-part-editors-no-longer-view-doonesbury-as-a-rolling/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [America: the only country in the world where failing to promote yourself is regarded as being arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/america-the-only-country-in-the-world-where-failing-to-promote/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [That's what fiction writers do: create characters and do terrible things to them for the entertainment of others. If they feel guilty enough, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/that-s-what-fiction-writers-do-create-characters-and-do-terrible/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [I'm still passionately interested in what my fellow humans are up to. For me, a day spent monitoring the passing parade is a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-m-still-passionately-interested-in-what-my-fellow-humans-are-up-to/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [Because I was a diminutive, arty kid, I felt like a misfit in high school - but who doesn't?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/because-i-was-a-diminutive-arty-kid-i-felt-like-a-misfit-in-high/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [Comic strips are like a public utility. They're supposed to be there 365 days a year, and you're supposed to be able to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/comic-strips-are-like-a-public-utility-they-re-supposed-to-be-there/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) > [The poor are the only ones who suffer. And they're used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/the-poor-are-the-only-ones-who-suffer-and-they-re-used-to-it/) [Garry Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) [Explore all 54 Garry Trudeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [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 have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [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/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up to the readers to decide whether they're still relevant.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Garry Trudeau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-interesting-it-s-up-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-interesting-it-s-up-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/garry-trudeau-12606_books_i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-in_2913146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can only try to keep the characters interesting; it's up to the readers to decide whether they're still…” — Garry Trudeau", "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": "Garry Trudeau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-trudeau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can only try to keep...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-interesting-it-s-up-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-trudeau/i-can-only-try-to-keep-the-characters-interesting-it-s-up-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```