--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Early on in the writing process, there is…" description: "\"Early on in the writing process, there is sometimes this temptation to write around the central drama instead of just aiming for the bull's-eye. The bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/j-courtney-sullivan-7330_drama_early-on-in-the-writing-process-there-is_1745314.png" --- # Early on in the writing process, there is sometimes this… ![“Early on in the writing process, there is sometimes this temptation to write around the central drama instead of just aiming for the bull's-eye. The bullseye is harder to hit, of course, but it's so much more satisfying when you do.” quote by J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/j-courtney-sullivan-7330_drama_early-on-in-the-writing-process-there-is_1745314.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/j-courtney-sullivan-7330_drama_early-on-in-the-writing-process-there-is_1745314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/j-courtney-sullivan-7330_drama_early-on-in-the-writing-process-there-is_1745314.png) > “Early on in the writing process, there is sometimes this temptation to write around the central drama instead of just aiming for the bull's-eye. The bullseye is harder to hit, of course, but it's so much more satisfying when you do.” [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers may avoid tackling central conflict, but aiming for the core challenge yields greater satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Face the main conflict for deeper reward. Key Takeaway Target the core drama. Themes writing creativity conflict focus Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - story workshops - creative retreats Key Concepts narrative structure artistic risk Questions to Reflect On - What central conflict are you avoiding? - How can you confront it effectively? A Different Perspective Avoiding central drama can lead to weaker stories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullseye Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullseye-harder-1556296/) [Central Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-drama-1556297/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-instead-1556299/) [Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Write Central](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-central-1556298/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-process/) ## Related quotes > [To be able to have the space to sit down and write has always been my central policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/to-be-able-to-have-the-space-to-sit-down-and-write-has-always-been-my/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [“When you surround yourself with dramatic people, your life will be driven by drama instead of destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/when-you-surround-yourself-with-dramatic-people-your-life-will-be/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Drama, instead of telling us the whole of a man's life, must place him in such a situation, tie such a knot, that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/drama-instead-of-telling-us-the-whole-of-a-man-s-life-must-place-him/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The central drama of our age is how the Western nations and the Asian peoples are to find a tolerable basis of co-existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-central-drama-of-our-age-is-how-the-western-nations-and-the-asian/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Every civilization sees itself as the center of the world and writes its history as the central drama of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/every-civilization-sees-itself-as-the-center-of-the-world-and-writes/) [Samuel P. 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When I do stand-up, I listen to the audience. I try to understand what's connecting, what's not connecting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/my-writing-process-is-very-feedback-based-when-i-do-stand-up-i-listen/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [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/) ## More by J. Courtney Sullivan > [“She often wondered what the hell was wrong with men. Sex could be fun, natural, good. Why did they have to corrupt it? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/she-often-wondered-what-the-hell-was-wrong-with-men-sex-could-be-fun/) [J. 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Or you could sell a woman, and be back out by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/you-could-sell-crack-on-the-street-and-go-to-jail-for-decades-or-you/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [For whatever reason, various outlets and individuals are committed to making the world think that young girls don't talk or care about feminism anymore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/for-whatever-reason-various-outlets-and-individuals-are-committed-to/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [When I started writing my second novel, I decided that one of the characters would have a passion for dollhouses, which allowed me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/when-i-started-writing-my-second-novel-i-decided-that-one-of-the/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [Reading poetry gives me a sense of calm, well-being, and love for humanity - the same stuff more flexible women get from yoga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/reading-poetry-gives-me-a-sense-of-calm-well-being-and-love-for/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [I read 'Love in the Time of Cholera' when I was 19, and I still think about the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/i-read-love-in-the-time-of-cholera-when-i-was-19-and-i-still-think/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [“awake. James would force himself to close his eyes. For the next few hours, he’d lie there, thrashing around, trying to get comfortable. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/awake-james-would-force-himself-to-close-his-eyes-for-the-next-few/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [“You all seem to think you should marry someone when you feel this intense emotion, which you call love. And then you expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/you-all-seem-to-think-you-should-marry-someone-when-you-feel-this/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [I love making lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/i-love-making-lists/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [“Once this kid came into the world, Sally knew, she would live in constant terror of somehow injuring or losing her. Having her tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/once-this-kid-came-into-the-world-sally-knew-she-would-live-in/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) [Explore all 91 J. Courtney Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) ## More Drama quotes > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [I never wanted to be the lead on a TV drama. It just robs you of your life, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noth/i-never-wanted-to-be-the-lead-on-a-tv-drama-it-just-robs-you-of-your/) [Chris Noth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-noth/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [Dont hate me cause ur man want me dont be jealouse cause hes thinking of when he says he loves u dont hate him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/dont-hate-me-cause-ur-man-want-me-dont-be-jealouse-cause-hes-thinking/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [I hadn't been to drama school. 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I would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roop-durgapal/i-would-love-to-do-a-love-story-or-a-socially-relevant-drama/) [Roop Durgapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roop-durgapal/) > [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) [Browse all 5,150 Drama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Early on in the writing process, there is sometimes this temptation to write around the central drama instead of just aiming for the bull's-eye. The bullseye is harder to hit, of course, but it's so much more satisfying when you do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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