--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a book has a predictable storyline or…" description: "\"If a book has a predictable storyline or familiar situations, there's little satisfaction for me in writing it. A woman deciding which man she'll spend..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/jillian-medoff-29313_accidents_if-a-book-has-a-predictable-storyline-or_38269.jpg" --- # If a book has a predictable storyline or familiar… ![“If a book has a predictable storyline or familiar situations, there's little satisfaction for me in writing it. A woman deciding which man she'll spend her life with? I've read that story a million times, but a stepmother deciding which of her children she'll save in a freak accident? Now that's a…” quote by Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/jillian-medoff-29313_accidents_if-a-book-has-a-predictable-storyline-or_38269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/jillian-medoff-29313_accidents_if-a-book-has-a-predictable-storyline-or_38269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/jillian-medoff-29313_accidents_if-a-book-has-a-predictable-storyline-or_38269.jpg) > “If a book has a predictable storyline or familiar situations, there's little satisfaction for me in writing it. A woman deciding which man she'll spend her life with? I've read that story a million times, but a stepmother deciding which of her children she'll save in a freak accident? Now that's a challenge.” [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author craves narrative originality, seeking fresh conflicts over clichéd romantic choices, and finds creative fulfillment in unexpected moral dilemmas. **In simple terms:** Desires novel, unpredictable storylines. Key Takeaway Original conflict drives engagement. Themes originality conflict moral dilemma character agency narrative tension Mood curiosity challenge Type observation critique When to use this quote - writing a novel - screenwriting - story pitching - creative brainstorming Key Concepts plot innovation ethical choice character development Practical Applications - Developing unique plot twists - Designing morally complex characters Questions to Reflect On - How can you subvert familiar tropes without losing audience connection? - What ethical dilemmas can you embed to deepen character stakes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Predictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-predictable-447934/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Predictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictable/) [Predictable Storyline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictable-storyline-447933/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Stepmother Deciding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepmother-deciding-447935/) [Stepmothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepmothers/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storyline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyline/) [Storyline Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyline-familiar-447936/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Stepmothers in books usually behave very spitefully towards the children entrusted to them. But he was now learning by his own experience that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/stepmothers-in-books-usually-behave-very-spitefully-towards-the/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [The reason that stepmothers are often the bad guy in fairy tales is because people died in childbirth, all the time, so fathers remarried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weitz/the-reason-that-stepmothers-are-often-the-bad-guy-in-fairy-tales-is/) [Chris Weitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weitz/) > [Strong and rare natures are thus created; misery, almost always a stepmother, is sometimes a mother; privation gives birth to power of soul and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/strong-and-rare-natures-are-thus-created-misery-almost-always-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Cinders, I would've thought you of all people would know better. There are no wicked stepmothers and there are no fairy godmothers, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/cinders-i-would-ve-thought-you-of-all-people-would-know-better-there/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [My mother's a psychologist, my stepfather's a psychologist, my stepmother is a therapist and my dad's a lawyer. So it was all prominent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/my-mother-s-a-psychologist-my-stepfather-s-a-psychologist-my/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [My mother, father, stepmother and surrogate mother have all died of cancer; my best friend has got terminal cancer and at least five of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arabella-weir/my-mother-father-stepmother-and-surrogate-mother-have-all-died-of/) [Arabella Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arabella-weir/) > [“It is through hearing about wicked stepmothers, lost children, good but misguided kings… that children learn or mislearn what a child and what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ward/it-is-through-hearing-about-wicked-stepmothers-lost-children-good-but/) [Michael Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ward/) > [The word 'family' has always posed great difficulties. Until recently, high death rates for women in labour meant many stepmothers and, according to folklore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/the-word-family-has-always-posed-great-difficulties-until-recently/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [Life and stories are alike in one way: They are full of hollows. The king and queen have no children: They have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/life-and-stories-are-alike-in-one-way-they-are-full-of-hollows-the/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [I thought it was her wicked stepmother who poisoned her...' '...Turned out the wicked stepmother had an alibi.' '...Seems she was off poisoning someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/i-thought-it-was-her-wicked-stepmother-who-poisoned-her-turned-out/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“It is customary to have vampires in stories nowadays - they are quite the norm, just like wicked stepmothers used to be. Yes, vampires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-de-suza/it-is-customary-to-have-vampires-in-stories-nowadays-they-are-quite/) [Jane De Suza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-de-suza/) > [When I was about 19, my stepmother said - because this was back in the '80s - that I had Robert Wagner's pompadour. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weatherly/when-i-was-about-19-my-stepmother-said-because-this-was-back-in-the/) [Michael Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-weatherly/) > [...and then she glared at me, the same glare my stepmother used to give me when I gave her the Nazi salute. That woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/and-then-she-glared-at-me-the-same-glare-my-stepmother-used-to-give/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Jane was my wicked stepmother: she was generous, affectionate and resourceful; she salvaged my schooling and I owe her an unknowable debt for that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/jane-was-my-wicked-stepmother-she-was-generous-affectionate-and/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Now it comes to this stage of my career when I get to play the wicked witch all the time. You know you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/now-it-comes-to-this-stage-of-my-career-when-i-get-to-play-the-wicked/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) ## More by Jillian Medoff > [“And the truth is, sometimes my sisters and I do get jealous, and sometimes we do say things to-and about-one another that are thoughtless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/and-the-truth-is-sometimes-my-sisters-and-i-do-get-jealous-and/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [“When it comes to religion, no one knows anything, especially those who claim to know best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/when-it-comes-to-religion-no-one-knows-anything-especially-those-who/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [To be perfectly frank: I don't write women's fiction. I write intimate, gritty, realistic, character-driven fiction that happens to be thrown into the women's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/to-be-perfectly-frank-i-don-t-write-women-s-fiction-i-write-intimate/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [My novels are never truly finished, even if they're published and sitting on the shelf. While I may no longer be interested in spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/my-novels-are-never-truly-finished-even-if-they-re-published-and/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [What I like to do and what I have to do are two separate things. I like to read, swim, watch TV, spend time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/what-i-like-to-do-and-what-i-have-to-do-are-two-separate-things-i/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [My only relief is to sleep. When I'm sleeping, I'm not sad, I'm not angry, I'm not lonely, I'm nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/my-only-relief-is-to-sleep-when-i-m-sleeping-i-m-not-sad-i-m-not-2/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [There's constant drama, and I'm busy, busy, but at the center of the madness is the desire to write, the need to write. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/there-s-constant-drama-and-i-m-busy-busy-but-at-the-center-of-the/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [My entire life has been centered around my writing, and by that I mean finding the time to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/my-entire-life-has-been-centered-around-my-writing-and-by-that-i-mean/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [I hope I'll keep people up at night, unable to stop turning pages. That's my goal: exhausted, emotionally drained readers who can't stop crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/i-hope-i-ll-keep-people-up-at-night-unable-to-stop-turning-pages-that/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [I've always been a writer who tackles complex themes and risky subjects - I write about the things that people think but never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-who-tackles-complex-themes-and-risky/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [To be honest, I want readers to be wrung out. As a novelist, I don't have a political agenda or specific philosophy; I'm trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/to-be-honest-i-want-readers-to-be-wrung-out-as-a-novelist-i-don-t/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [“It's my brain," she says softly. "It's eating me alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/it-s-my-brain-she-says-softly-it-s-eating-me-alive/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [As a writer who happens to be a woman, I am constantly devalued - even by other writers who happen to be women -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/as-a-writer-who-happens-to-be-a-woman-i-am-constantly-devalued-even/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [Part of what compels me to write day after day, chapter after chapter, is the discovery process, seeing the characters evolve as I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/part-of-what-compels-me-to-write-day-after-day-chapter-after-chapter/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [Sometimes you have to say, 'Today's just not my day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/sometimes-you-have-to-say-today-s-just-not-my-day/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) [Explore all 18 Jillian Medoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a book has a predictable storyline or familiar situations, there's little satisfaction for me in writing it. 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