--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Readers find most flashbacks intolerable…" description: "\"“Readers find most flashbacks intolerable. Yet a lot of neophyte writers flash back like mad. Why? No one but the Creator of the Universe knows for sur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/james-n-frey-31646_books_readers-find-most-flashbacks-intolerable_3211392.jpg" --- # Readers find most flashbacks intolerable. Yet a lot of… ![“Readers find most flashbacks intolerable. Yet a lot of neophyte writers flash back like mad. Why? No one but the Creator of the Universe knows for sure, but there is a likely answer: they find the conflicts in the "now" of the story produce anxiety in themselves.” quote by James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/james-n-frey-31646_books_readers-find-most-flashbacks-intolerable_3211392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/james-n-frey-31646_books_readers-find-most-flashbacks-intolerable_3211392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/james-n-frey-31646_books_readers-find-most-flashbacks-intolerable_3211392.jpg) > ““Readers find most flashbacks intolerable. Yet a lot of neophyte writers flash back like mad. Why? No one but the Creator of the Universe knows for sure, but there is a likely answer: they find the conflicts in the "now" of the story produce anxiety in themselves.”” [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novice writers overuse flashbacks, creating anxiety because they avoid present‑moment tension. **In simple terms:** Writers rely on flashbacks instead of building current conflict. Key Takeaway Focus on strong present conflict. Themes writing craft anxiety Mood analytical instructive Type educational literary When to use this quote - fiction workshops - editing sessions - author mentorship - writing groups Key Concepts narrative structure psychology of storytelling creative process Questions to Reflect On - Why do writers feel compelled to revert to past events? - How can you strengthen present‑moment tension? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on flashbacks can stall plot development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Flashbacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flashbacks/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“sometimes in life, short-lived STORIES can have life-lasting effects and MEMORIES.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/sometimes-in-life-short-lived-stories-can-have-life-lasting-effects/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [There's those times you want to forget not because you regret but you just don't want to get the flashbacks to something in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-moran/there-s-those-times-you-want-to-forget-not-because-you-regret-but-you/) Ariana Moran > [Just when you think you're over something, the flashbacks come and take you back to square one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/just-when-you-think-you-re-over-something-the-flashbacks-come-and/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“That’s my bra!” I blurt. 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Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [“Before you go ahead with a flashback, ask yourself if you can make the same impact on your reader through conflict in the now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/before-you-go-ahead-with-a-flashback-ask-yourself-if-you-can-make-the/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [To set a forest on fire, you light a match. To set a character on fire, you put him in conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/to-set-a-forest-on-fire-you-light-a-match-to-set-a-character-on-fire/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [Writer's block is real. It happens. Some days you sit down at the old typewriter, put your fingers on the keys, and nothing pops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/writer-s-block-is-real-it-happens-some-days-you-sit-down-at-the-old/) [James N. 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