Always Quote by Greta Gerwig
“One of the things that happens when you write characters - and maybe this is my own sentimentality - is that I always find I have an instinct to protect them.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 2020
Writers instinctively protect their characters, reflecting personal emotional attachment.
In simple terms: Authors feel a protective urge toward their fictional people.
Honor that instinct but allow characters to evolve.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting workshops
- character arcs
- editing sessions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do you feel the need to shield your characters?
- When should you let a character face hardship?
Over‑protectiveness may limit narrative risk.