--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't beat at the details, but I do…" description: "\"I don't beat at the details, but I do always keep in mind that anything that isn't A) moving the story forward or B) enlarging my understanding of the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/jim-shepard-20533_analogies_i-don-t-beat-at-the-details-but-i-do-alw_2019725.jpg" --- # I don't beat at the details, but I do always keep in mind… ![“I don't beat at the details, but I do always keep in mind that anything that isn't A) moving the story forward or B) enlarging my understanding of the central characters has to be sacrificed. I have huge folders of details - research - with a story like Netherlands. Only a very small part of it…” quote by Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/jim-shepard-20533_analogies_i-don-t-beat-at-the-details-but-i-do-alw_2019725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/jim-shepard-20533_analogies_i-don-t-beat-at-the-details-but-i-do-alw_2019725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/jim-shepard-20533_analogies_i-don-t-beat-at-the-details-but-i-do-alw_2019725.jpg) > “I don't beat at the details, but I do always keep in mind that anything that isn't A) moving the story forward or B) enlarging my understanding of the central characters has to be sacrificed. I have huge folders of details - research - with a story like Netherlands. Only a very small part of it gets used. The old iceberg analogy again.” [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritize story momentum and character insight over extraneous detail; discard information that doesn't serve these goals. **In simple terms:** Focus on story and characters, cut unnecessary details. Key Takeaway Eliminate details that don't advance plot or deepen characters. Themes writing editing story structure character development focus Mood reflective analytical Type advice instructional When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - research organization - editing sessions Key Concepts narrative economy thematic relevance character arc Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which details are essential? - What impact does removing detail have on reader engagement? A Different Perspective Details may enrich world‑building but can overwhelm if not tightly linked to plot or character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Folders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folders/) [Iceberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iceberg/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Netherlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/netherlands/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, the smaller roles in movies can be the most interesting. If you only take the stance that you'll only play central characters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/sometimes-the-smaller-roles-in-movies-can-be-the-most-interesting-if/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [People who were more concerned with themselves and looking good to their readers then they were with the characters sacrificed a series for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wein/people-who-were-more-concerned-with-themselves-and-looking-good-to/) [Len Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wein/) > [Never neglect details. When everyone's mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/never-neglect-details-when-everyone-s-mind-is-dulled-or-distracted/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“I want to know the mind of God,” Einstein said. “The rest are details.” What is the mind of God? Consciousness. What does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/i-want-to-know-the-mind-of-god-einstein-said-the-rest-are-details/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Tragedy always moves our story forward in a way shalom could never accomplish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/tragedy-always-moves-our-story-forward-in-a-way-shalom-could-never/) [Dan B. 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If everything centers around nice people, then there will be no twists and turns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/see-a-villain-takes-the-story-forward-if-everything-centers-around/) [Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/) > [“Hey, as long as you’re not moving the story forward at all, why not have a pod race?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-wheaton/hey-as-long-as-you-re-not-moving-the-story-forward-at-all-why-not/) [Wil Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-wheaton/) > [I'm not really a plot writer - I'm more interested in the characters and sort of small events that propel the story forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/i-m-not-really-a-plot-writer-i-m-more-interested-in-the-characters/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [In every mutual fund prospectus, in every sales promotional folder, and in every mutual fund advertisement (albeit in print almost too small to read),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/in-every-mutual-fund-prospectus-in-every-sales-promotional-folder-and/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [Why can't you summon a command line and search your real-world home for 'Honda car keys,' and specify rooms in your house to search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dooling/why-can-t-you-summon-a-command-line-and-search-your-real-world-home/) [Richard Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dooling/) > [When I got onto set with him we were given a folder of storyboards. 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I don't much like writers who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/i-very-much-like-people-i-don-t-much-like-writers-who-don-t/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) > [I love the box that such a decision puts you in, and I love the interest the reader has in seeing how you negotiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/i-love-the-box-that-such-a-decision-puts-you-in-and-i-love-the/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) > [I don't think conservativism is about a deficiency. 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You can stick that detail somewhere."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/i-m-tempted-to-do-everything-and-sometimes-i-think-oh-come-on-you-can/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) > [I'll find something in what I read that snags my imagination in emotional terms; it resonates with me for reasons more complicated than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/i-ll-find-something-in-what-i-read-that-snags-my-imagination-in/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) > [It turns out that our intuition is a greater genius than we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/it-turns-out-that-our-intuition-is-a-greater-genius-than-we-are/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) > [“Lately it's started to seem to me that here in America our fetishization of self-reliance has taken a wrong turn and has helped enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shepard/lately-it-s-started-to-seem-to-me-that-here-in-america-our/) [Jim Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) [Explore all 30 Jim Shepard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shepard/) ## More Analogies quotes > [I always use the analogy that when you go to a jeans store and put on a new pair of jeans, it's a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-always-use-the-analogy-that-when-you-go-to-a-jeans-store-and-put-on/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [ Kanye \[West\] just says the funniest analogies that are so random. I should start keeping a book - in 20 years, I'll have a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/kanye-west-just-says-the-funniest-analogies-that-are-so-random-i/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historical-analogy-is-the-last-refuge-of-people-who-can-t-grasp-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [For some people, getting pregnant is as easy as catching cold." And there certainly was an analogy there: Colds and babies were both caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/for-some-people-getting-pregnant-is-as-easy-as-catching-cold-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [That is why the analogy of stealing does not work. With a thief, we want to know how much money he or she stole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/that-is-why-the-analogy-of-stealing-does-not-work-with-a-thief-we/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [The nude does not simply represent the body, but relates it, by analogy, to all structures that have become part of our imaginative experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/the-nude-does-not-simply-represent-the-body-but-relates-it-by-analogy/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [His lessons were chock-full of analogies for a variety of musical situations. Those little things were my favorites. 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