Writing Quote by James Scott Bell
““Dwight Swain, the great writing teacher, once said that the secret of excitement is to go deeper into your characters. Create more backstory, more secrets, more complexity, and you'll get excited again.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Tips with James Scott Bell, 2019
Delving deeper into characters by adding backstory, secrets, and complexity revitalizes a writer’s enthusiasm.
In simple terms: Adding depth to characters restores excitement.
Key Takeaway
Explore character history to stay motivated.
Themes
writing
character development
creativity
Mood
inspired
curious
Type
instructional
motivational
When to use this quote
- Novel drafting
- screenwriting
- role‑playing games
Key Concepts
Narrative depth
psychology
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you deepen a character without losing story focus?
- What secrets can reveal hidden motivations?
A Different Perspective
Complexity can overwhelm if not balanced with plot clarity.
