--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The things I discovered when writing…" description: "\"The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were the tools you have available to write a thriller.\" — Jed Mercurio" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg" --- # The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were… ![“The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were the tools you have available to write a thriller.” quote by Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg) > “The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were the tools you have available to write a thriller.” [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revealing that writing a thriller relies on mastering narrative tools and genre conventions. **In simple terms:** Thrillers need strong structure and suspense techniques. Key Takeaway Study and apply thriller storytelling tools. Themes writing thriller craft storytelling genre mastery Mood analytical encouraging Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops - author mentorship Key Concepts plot pacing character development tension building Questions to Reflect On - Which thriller element excites you most? - How can you innovate within genre expectations? A Different Perspective Overreliance on formula may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My mother could never understand why I didn't write a thriller, which I've finally done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-mathews/my-mother-could-never-understand-why-i-didn-t-write-a-thriller-which/) [Harry Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-mathews/) > [One would argue what they do to me on 'Jokers' is already horror. It's an easy transition to write a thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/one-would-argue-what-they-do-to-me-on-jokers-is-already-horror-it-s/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) > [What Stieg Larsson was up to - it was the Swedish guilt over World War II. All of our neighbors had the most terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nyqvist/what-stieg-larsson-was-up-to-it-was-the-swedish-guilt-over-world-war/) [Michael Nyqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nyqvist/) > [The way to write a thriller is to ask a question at the beginning, and answer it at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-way-to-write-a-thriller-is-to-ask-a-question-at-the-beginning-and/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [i still have no way to survive but to keep writing one line, one more line, one more line...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/i-still-have-no-way-to-survive-but-to-keep-writing-one-line-one-more/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“The most difficult thing about writing; is writing the first line.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-most-difficult-thing-about-writing-is-writing-the-first-line/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [It's really hard to talk about writing, and I'm usually conscious if I'm misleading people or misleading the questioner, because the problem with writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-really-hard-to-talk-about-writing-and-i-m-usually-conscious-if-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [As an actor, I go where the good writing is. That's the bottom line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/as-an-actor-i-go-where-the-good-writing-is-that-s-the-bottom-line/) [Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/) > [When I start writing, the first line might come from reality, but the second and the third one, I have to write it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-almodovar/when-i-start-writing-the-first-line-might-come-from-reality-but-the/) [Pedro Almodovar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-almodovar/) > [As a youngster when I started writing and stuff, I did actually write more from other people's perspectives. When I hit 18 and something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/as-a-youngster-when-i-started-writing-and-stuff-i-did-actually-write/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [“I've discovered that sometimes writing badly can eventually lead to something better. Not writing at all leads to nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-ve-discovered-that-sometimes-writing-badly-can-eventually-lead-to/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I discovered the writing of Kirsty Eagar and was blown away. Everyone needs to read her now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-larbalestier/i-discovered-the-writing-of-kirsty-eagar-and-was-blown-away-everyone/) [Justine Larbalestier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-larbalestier/) > [“Garp discovered that when you are writing something, everything seems related to everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/garp-discovered-that-when-you-are-writing-something-everything-seems/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [When I gave up dope and alcohol, my immediate feeling was 'I've saved my life, but there'll be a price because I'll have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-i-gave-up-dope-and-alcohol-my-immediate-feeling-was-i-ve-saved/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Everyone who has ever written will have discovered that writing always awakens something which, though it lay within us, we failed clearly to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/everyone-who-has-ever-written-will-have-discovered-that-writing/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## More by Jed Mercurio > [When I'm writing, I am just doing what feels right for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/when-i-m-writing-i-am-just-doing-what-feels-right-for-me/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > ['Frankenstein' is a timeless classic. As science advances, it becomes more relevant, not less. Its fantasy moves closer to fact, its horrors closer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/frankenstein-is-a-timeless-classic-as-science-advances-it-becomes/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I think a lot of police procedurals are very conventional. With the stuff I'm doing, I'm trying to approach the institution of the police…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-think-a-lot-of-police-procedurals-are-very-conventional-with-the/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [Standards in public life have decayed over time... Incompetence is the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/standards-in-public-life-have-decayed-over-time-incompetence-is-the/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [For something like 'Line of Duty' to work, it has to be both plausible and unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/for-something-like-line-of-duty-to-work-it-has-to-be-both-plausible/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I like to stay away from writing about good versus evil. I think the world is more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-like-to-stay-away-from-writing-about-good-versus-evil-i-think-the/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [In the modern workplace, sexism has adopted a more subtle persona; therefore, people can be accused of sexism where it's far harder to determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/in-the-modern-workplace-sexism-has-adopted-a-more-subtle-persona/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [If you look at American medical fiction written by doctors, like 'The House of God' by Samuel Shem and 'The Blood of Strangers' by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/if-you-look-at-american-medical-fiction-written-by-doctors-like-the/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I'm interested in institutions, particularly in the way institutions close ranks. They have hierarchies and their own ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-m-interested-in-institutions-particularly-in-the-way-institutions/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [It's important that the actor doesn't feel like they're working in a vacuum. If the actor is told, 'Oh, it's a secret; just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/it-s-important-that-the-actor-doesn-t-feel-like-they-re-working-in-a/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I'm always thinking about my work, always thinking about where it's taking me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-m-always-thinking-about-my-work-always-thinking-about-where-it-s/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [The footballer I've admired most in the last ten years is Zinedine Zidane... one of those rare individuals who had the skill but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/the-footballer-i-ve-admired-most-in-the-last-ten-years-is-zinedine/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > ['Line of Duty' is a social realist drama, so it's set in a world that has the recognisable features of the authentic world we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/line-of-duty-is-a-social-realist-drama-so-it-s-set-in-a-world-that/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I like to sit at my desk... sometimes I get inspiration when I'm going about my normal day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-like-to-sit-at-my-desk-sometimes-i-get-inspiration-when-i-m-going/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [So with 'Ascent,' one of the things I wanted to do was not make it too remote from the reader, for it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/so-with-ascent-one-of-the-things-i-wanted-to-do-was-not-make-it-too/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) [Explore all 97 Jed Mercurio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) ## More Duty quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/) [Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were the tools you have available to write a thriller.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jed Mercurio" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-line-of-duty-were-the-tools-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-line-of-duty-were-the-tools-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/jed-mercurio-6761_duty_the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-lin_2148235.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The things I discovered when writing 'Line of Duty' were the tools you have available to write a thriller.” — Jed Mercurio", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jed Mercurio", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The things I discovered when writing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-line-of-duty-were-the-tools-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/the-things-i-discovered-when-writing-line-of-duty-were-the-tools-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```