--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In an episodic treatment, such as a…" description: "\"In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have the ability to do what you can do in a novel, which is flash back and flash forward in the sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png" --- # In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have… ![“In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have the ability to do what you can do in a novel, which is flash back and flash forward in the same instant, in the same scene, in the same voice.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png) > “In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have the ability to do what you can do in a novel, which is flash back and flash forward in the same instant, in the same scene, in the same voice.” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teleplays can use novel techniques like flashbacks and flashforwards within a single scene, allowing complex storytelling in real time. **In simple terms:** Teleplays can jump in time like novels, all in one scene. Key Takeaway Use narrative jumps to enrich visual storytelling. Themes storytelling structure media time novelty Mood creative analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - TV scriptwriting - film scene design - live theater - interactive media Key Concepts narrative pacing temporal manipulation screenwriting dramatic tension Questions to Reflect On - How to balance clarity and complexity? - When is a flashback most effective? A Different Perspective Complex jumps may confuse audiences if not clear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Treatment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treatment/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > ['Flash Forward' was one of the big heartbreaks of my career. It was just this very frustrating experience. If we'd been allowed to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/flash-forward-was-one-of-the-big-heartbreaks-of-my-career-it-was-just/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I started out doing things like 'Flash Forward,' where I was the girl-next-door, and then, I did a show called 'Higher Ground,' where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-started-out-doing-things-like-flash-forward-where-i-was-the-girl/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) > [One thing I'm working on is an episodic web series titled 'One Warm Night.' It's a kinda crazy, quirky series, filled with a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee/one-thing-i-m-working-on-is-an-episodic-web-series-titled-one-warm/) [Justin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee/) > [I try to approach all episodic work the same. No matter the content. I look for a dramatic or emotional spine to the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-sapochnik/i-try-to-approach-all-episodic-work-the-same-no-matter-the-content-i/) [Miguel Sapochnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-sapochnik/) > [Ice shelves in general have episodic carvings and there can be large icebergs breaking off - I'm talking 100km or 200km long - every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-allison/ice-shelves-in-general-have-episodic-carvings-and-there-can-be-large/) Ian Allison > [The way television is done, you're kind of set on a certain path, and then episodic directors come in every week to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-way-television-is-done-you-re-kind-of-set-on-a-certain-path-and/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [If you think about it, episodic filmmaking has not been something that people have really done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gilroy/if-you-think-about-it-episodic-filmmaking-has-not-been-something-that/) [Tony Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gilroy/) > [You know, I'm almost out of the habit of watching episodic television now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/you-know-i-m-almost-out-of-the-habit-of-watching-episodic-television/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [One of the tricks that you have to learn, with episodic TV, is you don't know how many years you're going to be blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-heller/one-of-the-tricks-that-you-have-to-learn-with-episodic-tv-is-you-don/) [Bruno Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-heller/) > [It's hard to fit everything in and still have episodic television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/it-s-hard-to-fit-everything-in-and-still-have-episodic-television/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [“Yeah, episodic doesn't work. Your coolest character needs something big and meaningful to do. Otherwise, well, it's just narrative shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/yeah-episodic-doesn-t-work-your-coolest-character-needs-something-big/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [Every Day Is for the Thief is a vivid, episodic evocation of the truism that you can't go home again; but that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/every-day-is-for-the-thief-is-a-vivid-episodic-evocation-of-the/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > ['Lucha Underground' really is the first episodic professional wrestling show. There are storylines in every promotion, but the way 'Lucha Underground' is crafted really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/lucha-underground-really-is-the-first-episodic-professional-wrestling/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [No-one tells you about being in episodic television and it ending. No-one tells you how painful it is. How bizarre it is when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/no-one-tells-you-about-being-in-episodic-television-and-it-ending-no/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [The body moves through space every day, and in architecture in cities that can be orchestrated. Not in a dictatorial fashion, but in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-body-moves-through-space-every-day-and-in-architecture-in-cities/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have the ability to do what you can do in a novel, which is flash back and flash forward in the same instant, in the same scene, in the same voice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-teleplay-is-you-have-the-ability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-teleplay-is-you-have-the-ability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/john-irving-337_ability_in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-telep_745456.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In an episodic treatment, such as a teleplay is, you have the ability to do what you can do in a novel…” — John Irving", "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": "John Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In an episodic treatment, such as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-teleplay-is-you-have-the-ability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/in-an-episodic-treatment-such-as-a-teleplay-is-you-have-the-ability/#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 } } ] } ```