--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always argued, in a good novel…" description: "\"I have always argued, in a good novel, interesting things happen to interesting people.\" — Guy Gavriel Kay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_always_i-have-always-argued-in-a-good-novel-int_1138003.png" --- # I have always argued, in a good novel, interesting things… ![“I have always argued, in a good novel, interesting things happen to interesting people.” quote by Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_always_i-have-always-argued-in-a-good-novel-int_1138003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_always_i-have-always-argued-in-a-good-novel-int_1138003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_always_i-have-always-argued-in-a-good-novel-int_1138003.png) > “I have always argued, in a good novel, interesting things happen to interesting people.” [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A compelling story requires engaging characters and events that capture interest. **In simple terms:** Good novels need interesting people and events. Key Takeaway Focus on character depth. Themes literature storytelling character development Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical observational When to use this quote - novel writing - reading groups Key Concepts narrative intrigue plot dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a character interesting to you? - How do events shape character arcs? A Different Perspective Not all interesting events are plausible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-people/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [I just really like Houston despite its craziness. There is a sense of energy and a kind of excitement, 'We're going places and God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/i-just-really-like-houston-despite-its-craziness-there-is-a-sense-of/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Nashville feels like a big little town to me. It's got lots of culture and lots of interesting things to do and lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/nashville-feels-like-a-big-little-town-to-me-it-s-got-lots-of-culture/) [Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/) > [A good novel is one that shows the complexity of individuals, and creates enough space for all these characters to have a voice; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-good-novel-is-one-that-shows-the-complexity-of-individuals-and/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [A good novel cannot be too long nor a bad novel too short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/a-good-novel-cannot-be-too-long-nor-a-bad-novel-too-short/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I think a good novel can be a doorstop to despair. I also think the real bravery comes with those who prepared to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-think-a-good-novel-can-be-a-doorstop-to-despair-i-also-think-the/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I think a good novel would be where a bunch of men on a ship are looking for a whale. They look and look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-a-good-novel-would-be-where-a-bunch-of-men-on-a-ship-are/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [A good novel is a good novel, pointe finale. And I think what I'm writing is exactly that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/a-good-novel-is-a-good-novel-pointe-finale-and-i-think-what-i-m/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [Ideas can come while reading a good novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-van-berkel/ideas-can-come-while-reading-a-good-novel/) [Ben van Berkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-van-berkel/) > [A good novel is an indivisible sum; every scene, sequence and passage of a good novel has to involve, contribute to and advance all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-good-novel-is-an-indivisible-sum-every-scene-sequence-and-passage/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It's got a lot more room for nuance and an assumption that people have started from the beginning. 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They can be portrayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/i-have-never-read-a-really-good-novel-written-by-a-man-where-women/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [A good novel is a conjunction of many factors, the main of which is without a doubt, hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/a-good-novel-is-a-conjunction-of-many-factors-the-main-of-which-is/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [A good novel is an out-of-self experience. It lifts you off the ground so that you have the sensation of flying. It says, 'Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/a-good-novel-is-an-out-of-self-experience-it-lifts-you-off-the-ground/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## More by Guy Gavriel Kay > [“For all his frustrations and his chronic sense of being overburdened. He was proud of that; he’d always felt that it was worth doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/for-all-his-frustrations-and-his-chronic-sense-of-being-overburdened/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“Branching paths. The turning of days and seasons and years. Life offered you love sometimes, sorrow often. If you were very fortunate, true friendship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/branching-paths-the-turning-of-days-and-seasons-and-years-life/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [I never talk about books in progress. I could decide to change it to a series of seafood recipes, after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/i-never-talk-about-books-in-progress-i-could-decide-to-change-it-to-a/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“He’d stopped permitting himself to be unhappy about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/he-d-stopped-permitting-himself-to-be-unhappy-about-it/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“The privacy of pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/the-privacy-of-pride/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“It had taken skill, tact, an ability to choose friends well, and a great deal of luck”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/it-had-taken-skill-tact-an-ability-to-choose-friends-well-and-a-great/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“The soul must bend to endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/the-soul-must-bend-to-endure/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“He sang one whole verse directly to her, then, in fidelity to the song, he sent his vision inward to where his purest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/he-sang-one-whole-verse-directly-to-her-then-in-fidelity-to-the-song/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“Ambitions and dreams put you at a drinking table with unexpected companions. 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A worthy thought: he raised his hand in a certain way, and a moment later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/battles-are-won-en-route-shalhassan-of-cathal-though-a-worthy-thought/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [After a while, you start to realize that you should write a book you would want to read. 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But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. 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