--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always say, \"Never give your lead…" description: "\"I always say, \"Never give your lead character an infant. Make them a recovering alcoholic, or the victim of a horrible violent crime because you can re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/julie-plec-4595_alcoholic_i-always-say-never-give-your-lead-charac_2584592.jpg" --- # I always say, "Never give your lead character an infant… ![“I always say, "Never give your lead character an infant. Make them a recovering alcoholic, or the victim of a horrible violent crime because you can really never truly recover from that." It's a story pitfall.” quote by Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/julie-plec-4595_alcoholic_i-always-say-never-give-your-lead-charac_2584592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/julie-plec-4595_alcoholic_i-always-say-never-give-your-lead-charac_2584592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/julie-plec-4595_alcoholic_i-always-say-never-give-your-lead-charac_2584592.jpg) > “I always say, "Never give your lead character an infant. Make them a recovering alcoholic, or the victim of a horrible violent crime because you can really never truly recover from that." It's a story pitfall.” [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers often give protagonists overly tragic backstories that hinder growth and audience connection. **In simple terms:** Avoid using trauma as a lazy plot device. Key Takeaway Give characters realistic, recoverable challenges. Themes character development storytelling trauma Mood reflective critical Type analytical advice When to use this quote - screenwriting workshops - novel drafting - character arcs - TV pilot pitches Key Concepts psychology narrative design Questions to Reflect On - How can you portray recovery authentically? - What alternatives to trauma can drive conflict? A Different Perspective Overly tragic backstories can alienate viewers if not handled with nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcoholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) [Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Lead characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-characters/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Pitfalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitfalls/) [Recovering alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovering-alcoholics/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-crimes/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I've had male executives say that my lead character was unlikable because she slept with a lot of guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-taymor/i-ve-had-male-executives-say-that-my-lead-character-was-unlikable/) [Julie Taymor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-taymor/) > [I much prefer following a lead character that is doing morally questionable things. How much do you get on board? Do like that? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-much-prefer-following-a-lead-character-that-is-doing-morally/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [No one goes through life thinking that theyre the best friend of the lead character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/no-one-goes-through-life-thinking-that-theyre-the-best-friend-of-the/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [It works better if your lead character is complex and interesting and not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/it-works-better-if-your-lead-character-is-complex-and-interesting-and/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/think-of-it-as-the-doorway-of-no-return-the-feeling-must-be-that-your/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [When I hit Hollywood, it was full-blown. I was a party boy. It amazes me that I made it ... to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/when-i-hit-hollywood-it-was-full-blown-i-was-a-party-boy-it-amazes-me/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I am a recovering alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-kennedy/i-am-a-recovering-alcoholic/) [Patrick J. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-kennedy/) > [“They were like two recovering alcoholics, hopped up on caffeine and Twelve Step gospel, telling each other how glad they were to be sober…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/they-were-like-two-recovering-alcoholics-hopped-up-on-caffeine-and/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [To limit yourself to a label of "alcoholic" is masochistic and false if you have awakened a deeper spiritual identity within and have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/to-limit-yourself-to-a-label-of-alcoholic-is-masochistic-and-false-if/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Reality is an illusion created by a lack of alcohol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-f-simpson/reality-is-an-illusion-created-by-a-lack-of-alcohol/) [N. F. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-f-simpson/) > [To its committed members (the Democratic Party) was still the party of heart, humanity, and justice, but to those removed a few paces it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-von-hoffman/to-its-committed-members-the-democratic-party-was-still-the-party-of/) [Nicholas von Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-von-hoffman/) > [“People lie for many reasons: to save themselves, to get out of trouble, to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. Manipulators lie to get what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/people-lie-for-many-reasons-to-save-themselves-to-get-out-of-trouble/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I found the prospect daunting, but somehow comforting, too, because the counselors insisted it could be done, and, after all, many of them were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-found-the-prospect-daunting-but-somehow-comforting-too-because-the/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who-have-lived-with-a-drinker/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) ## More by Julie Plec > [Daily, I visualize the smart-ass troll who lives deep in my subconscious, and I pelt him with rainbows and unicorns. I fight a battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/daily-i-visualize-the-smart-ass-troll-who-lives-deep-in-my/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > ['The Reckoning' is one of my proudest hours. I love that episode so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/the-reckoning-is-one-of-my-proudest-hours-i-love-that-episode-so-much/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Fans are always talking about endgame as though endgame has been chosen from minute 1. I don't know that you could talk to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/fans-are-always-talking-about-endgame-as-though-endgame-has-been/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Actors have their own processes, and if you want to be respectful of their process, you've got to communicate with them in the language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/actors-have-their-own-processes-and-if-you-want-to-be-respectful-of/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [The problem with ratings is that you can give yourself a million reasons why they are what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/the-problem-with-ratings-is-that-you-can-give-yourself-a-million/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Because I was such a student of pop culture growing up, I love that on the list of things that I got to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/because-i-was-such-a-student-of-pop-culture-growing-up-i-love-that-on/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I think that when you're exploring themes of humanity and what defines a hero and what makes us our best self and what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-think-that-when-you-re-exploring-themes-of-humanity-and-what/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Don't do another show just because someone thinks that there's a dollar to be earned there. Do it because you love the characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/don-t-do-another-show-just-because-someone-thinks-that-there-s-a/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [If the day-to-day culture is saying it's OK to not be inclusive or tolerant, that it's OK to be bigoted, then it's your responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/if-the-day-to-day-culture-is-saying-it-s-ok-to-not-be-inclusive-or/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Once a vampire drinks another vampires blood they are connected to them forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/once-a-vampire-drinks-another-vampires-blood-they-are-connected-to/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [The funny thing about the entertainment business is that we all feel like kids playing in a candy store, but we are entrusted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/the-funny-thing-about-the-entertainment-business-is-that-we-all-feel/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I remember, my freshman year of college, sitting in my TV room at the end of my dorm hallway with one other girl watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-remember-my-freshman-year-of-college-sitting-in-my-tv-room-at-the/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I used to sneak 'General Hospital' when I was a kid. My cousin was my babysitter, and she watched it, so I got hooked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-used-to-sneak-general-hospital-when-i-was-a-kid-my-cousin-was-my/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I'm not a morning person, and yet production is a morning person's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-m-not-a-morning-person-and-yet-production-is-a-morning-person-s-game/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [I do all these panels where people are always talking about the lack of female directors, and I have a lot of opinions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-do-all-these-panels-where-people-are-always-talking-about-the-lack/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) [Explore all 108 Julie Plec quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) ## More Alcoholic quotes > [“I'm an alcoholic, Tara.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-m-an-alcoholic-tara/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) David Norman > [If you decide on having an alcoholic at your party, make sure it's a large gathering. This way, until the alcoholic begins removing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/if-you-decide-on-having-an-alcoholic-at-your-party-make-sure-it-s-a/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I started drinking when I was like 15, and by the time I was 19 everybody knew I was an alcoholic. So I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/i-started-drinking-when-i-was-like-15-and-by-the-time-i-was-19/) [Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/) > [Booze is my escape from reality,If your a drinker,You understand,I'm a Alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/booze-is-my-escape-from-reality-if-your-a-drinker-you-understand-i-m/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [“Medical research has revealed that in about one-tenth of the population, the liver processes alcohol differently, releasing a chemical messenger that creates the craving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylie-jones/medical-research-has-revealed-that-in-about-one-tenth-of-the/) [Kaylie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylie-jones/) > [“The alcoholic retains the ability to condemn his addiction and advise those not subject to it to avoid succumbing to the liquid poison. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitigrilli/the-alcoholic-retains-the-ability-to-condemn-his-addiction-and-advise/) [Pitigrilli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitigrilli/) > [When a woman drinks it's as if an animal were drinking, or a child. Alcoholism is scandalous in a woman, and a female alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/when-a-woman-drinks-it-s-as-if-an-animal-were-drinking-or-a-child/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In Stratford you either turn into an alcoholic or you better write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/in-stratford-you-either-turn-into-an-alcoholic-or-you-better-write/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) > [I don't like the word 'alcoholic'. I like to think of myself as an advanced drinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-don-t-like-the-word-alcoholic-i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-an/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [Because I know I'm an addict, and I know I'm an alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/because-i-know-i-m-an-addict-and-i-know-i-m-an-alcoholic/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Rumor had it that he was homosexual; in reality, in recent years, he was simply a garden-variety alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/rumor-had-it-that-he-was-homosexual-in-reality-in-recent-years-he-was/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/more-than-most-people-the-alcoholic-leads-a-double-life-he-is-very/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [“He’s downed four drinks in the short time it took for me to get myself together and find him. Either he’s shaken by something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-s-downed-four-drinks-in-the-short-time-it-took-for-me-to-get/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) [Browse all 303 Alcoholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always say, \"Never give your lead character an infant. 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