--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm…" description: "\"Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for myself. I'm thinking, 'What will my character say at this time? What will come out of her mouth?' I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/katori-hall-17603_character_most-of-the-time-when-i-m-writing-i-m-wr_118817.png" --- # Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for… ![“Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for myself. I'm thinking, 'What will my character say at this time? What will come out of her mouth?' I create individuals so real to me, I sometimes start talking to them. Then I let them loose on the page.” quote by Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/katori-hall-17603_character_most-of-the-time-when-i-m-writing-i-m-wr_118817.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/katori-hall-17603_character_most-of-the-time-when-i-m-writing-i-m-wr_118817.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/katori-hall-17603_character_most-of-the-time-when-i-m-writing-i-m-wr_118817.png) > “Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for myself. I'm thinking, 'What will my character say at this time? What will come out of her mouth?' I create individuals so real to me, I sometimes start talking to them. Then I let them loose on the page.” [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer treats characters as autonomous voices, allowing them to drive narrative through authentic dialogue. **In simple terms:** Characters speak for themselves. Key Takeaway Authentic voices enrich storytelling. Themes writing character development dialogue Mood creative introspective Type craft artistic When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - playwriting Key Concepts creative process inner narrative Practical Applications - outline character backstories - record spoken monologues Questions to Reflect On - How does hearing a character's voice shape plot decisions? - When might authorial control override character authenticity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Teaching is all armchair. 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Every invention was once just a thought inside someones head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-federer/governments-do-not-create-individuals-create-every-invention-was-once/) [William J Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-federer/) > [“The businessmen wondered if they could create such individuals not from the accidents of news events but from the deliberate manufactures of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/the-businessmen-wondered-if-they-could-create-such-individuals-not/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) > [The point is to create a system where individuals don't work simply for money or personal gain but to support the planet and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-point-is-to-create-a-system-where-individuals-don-t-work-simply/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [As long as we remain committed to holding high our individuals of supreme finish, others will be inspired to loose themselves of the gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-long-as-we-remain-committed-to-holding-high-our-individuals-of/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I always choose the character which has something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/i-always-choose-the-character-which-has-something-to-say/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [“Your life is a movie. You are the main character. You say your scripts and act to your lines. Of course you do your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/happy-positivity/your-life-is-a-movie-you-are-the-main-character-you-say-your-scripts/) Happy Positivity > [If you're playing the character, you could say to yourself in 16 different ways, What if that didn't bother me? What if I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-hirsch/if-you-re-playing-the-character-you-could-say-to-yourself-in-16/) [Judd Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-hirsch/) > [One has to have the strength of character to say the time has come to move on... unless you are a king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/one-has-to-have-the-strength-of-character-to-say-the-time-has-come-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“Never let your character say "how could it get any worse"…it always does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimi-alexandre/never-let-your-character-say-how-could-it-get-any-worse-it-always-does/) Kimi Alexandre > [“True character is what you say and do when no one is looking.” ~John Wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orly-wahba/true-character-is-what-you-say-and-do-when-no-one-is-looking-john/) Orly Wahba > [Of course it's a lot easier for me if I think of myself as a character to say certain things; it gives me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moyra-davey/of-course-it-s-a-lot-easier-for-me-if-i-think-of-myself-as-a/) [Moyra Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moyra-davey/) > [“People tend to overestimate my character,' I say quietly, 'They think because I'm small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can't possibly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/people-tend-to-overestimate-my-character-i-say-quietly-they-think/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Once you're into a story everything seems to apply-what you overhear on a city bus is exactly what your character would say on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/once-you-re-into-a-story-everything-seems-to-apply-what-you-overhear/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) ## More by Katori Hall > [Sometimes, unfortunately, hatred is more powerful than progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/sometimes-unfortunately-hatred-is-more-powerful-than-progress/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I always crave to see more stories about and by people of color, particularly new work by young black writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-always-crave-to-see-more-stories-about-and-by-people-of-color/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I used to think people above me might get jealous because I wanted to do what they did. But no, people are much nicer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-used-to-think-people-above-me-might-get-jealous-because-i-wanted-to/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Theatre is an exclusive place that tends to be dominated by white men, or dying white men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/theatre-is-an-exclusive-place-that-tends-to-be-dominated-by-white-men/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Unlike films, which can be easily disseminated worldwide via DVDs and the Internet, plays struggle to find an international audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/unlike-films-which-can-be-easily-disseminated-worldwide-via-dvds-and/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I always say that I'm a writer who writes more from place than race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-always-say-that-i-m-a-writer-who-writes-more-from-place-than-race/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [You don’t know what’s going to happen in the end, and that’s what the best plays are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/you-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-in-the-end-and-that-s-what-the/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [We expect our leaders to be godlike. But I feel that when people try to sanctify leadership, it puts it out of the realm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/we-expect-our-leaders-to-be-godlike-but-i-feel-that-when-people-try/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I've had frank conversations with theaters who say, 'We love your play, but we've already done a play by another black person this year,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-ve-had-frank-conversations-with-theaters-who-say-we-love-your-play/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [It is expensive to give plays subtitles, especially for a short run, so most new dramas rarely cross the transcontinental bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/it-is-expensive-to-give-plays-subtitles-especially-for-a-short-run-so/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Like most playwrights, I hate talkbacks with a passion that can burn a hole through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/like-most-playwrights-i-hate-talkbacks-with-a-passion-that-can-burn-a/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Follow your intuition, listening to your dreams, your inner voice to guide you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/follow-your-intuition-listening-to-your-dreams-your-inner-voice-to/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Become your dream, and not be told what you are supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/become-your-dream-and-not-be-told-what-you-are-supposed-to-do/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I have so many different voices and stories to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-have-so-many-different-voices-and-stories-to-tell/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [Cultivating relationships with people who've achieved what you want to achieve makes the path fuller and more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/cultivating-relationships-with-people-who-ve-achieved-what-you-want/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) [Explore all 36 Katori Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for myself. 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