--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to leave the reader with more…" description: "\"You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what they're like, what kind of attit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png" --- # You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name… ![“You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what they're like, what kind of attitude they have, what sort of role they play.” quote by Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png) > “You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what they're like, what kind of attitude they have, what sort of role they play.” [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters need depth beyond visual design; personality and role define them. **In simple terms:** Characters are more than looks. Key Takeaway Develop clear traits and purpose for each character. Themes character development storytelling design Mood analytical creative Type instructional creative When to use this quote - scriptwriting - novel writing - game design - animation Key Concepts psychology narrative structure visual arts Questions to Reflect On - What defines a character’s core? - How do you balance visual and narrative? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on visual can neglect inner life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [In a costume, you need very exaggerated body language - as you say, sort of mime-type skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/in-a-costume-you-need-very-exaggerated-body-language-as-you-say-sort/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Sometimes one's very angry and preaches, but I know that to clinch a point is to close it. To leave the reader free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/sometimes-one-s-very-angry-and-preaches-but-i-know-that-to-clinch-a/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I try to end every chapter with an air of suspense. I try to leave the reader wanting to turn the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-try-to-end-every-chapter-with-an-air-of-suspense-i-try-to-leave-the/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [Role-play with dogs can get complicated. (don't try it)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/role-play-with-dogs-can-get-complicated-don-t-try-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Know your role and play it very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-your-role-and-play-it-very-well/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With any role I play, I find out what the human problem is first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/with-any-role-i-play-i-find-out-what-the-human-problem-is-first/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [Sudesh Lahri spotted me in a park playing, and called me for a small role in a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharti-singh/sudesh-lahri-spotted-me-in-a-park-playing-and-called-me-for-a-small/) [Bharti Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharti-singh/) > [I think that you have to find a piece of yourself in every role you play. If you don't believe what you're doing, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-jo-rupp/i-think-that-you-have-to-find-a-piece-of-yourself-in-every-role-you/) Debra Jo Rupp > [My role is to play out the full overs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-role-is-to-play-out-the-full-overs/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [To me, any character that is conflicted inside as well as outside of themselves is always a better role to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-sexton/to-me-any-character-that-is-conflicted-inside-as-well-as-outside-of/) [Brent Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-sexton/) > [Any role I play, which is native or highlights native history or culture, whether or not it's laid out, I'm always going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/any-role-i-play-which-is-native-or-highlights-native-history-or/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [The conversation topic in my head is not what role I should play; it is whether I am going to play at all,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-wilkinson/the-conversation-topic-in-my-head-is-not-what-role-i-should-play-it/) [Jonny Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-wilkinson/) > [The most interesting thing about movies is that with every role you get to play a different person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koena-mitra/the-most-interesting-thing-about-movies-is-that-with-every-role-you/) [Koena Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koena-mitra/) > [It's easy to diet or get off a diet when you've got a juicy role to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/it-s-easy-to-diet-or-get-off-a-diet-when-you-ve-got-a-juicy-role-to/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) ## More by Kurt Busiek > [The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-most-fascinating-powers-don-t-mean-a-thing-if-the-guy-s-poorly/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [The reason I quit being a sales manager over twenty years now is because I hate elevator pitches. I want to write stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-reason-i-quit-being-a-sales-manager-over-twenty-years-now-is/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [If I won the lottery tomorrow - which would be a real trick, since I haven't entered - and was independently wealthy for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/if-i-won-the-lottery-tomorrow-which-would-be-a-real-trick-since-i/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > ["Superhero" is a term that's been borrowed in order to say "big and larger than life and loud and active and dumb." And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/superhero-is-a-term-that-s-been-borrowed-in-order-to-say-big-and/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [That's the way it happens - some characters you set out to use, some are happy accidents. As long as it works, it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/that-s-the-way-it-happens-some-characters-you-set-out-to-use-some-are/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [The metaphor is the story, not the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-metaphor-is-the-story-not-the-character/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I love creator-owned comics. Most of my favorite books these days are creator-owned, from stuff DC publishes, like 'Fables,' to books like 'Saga,' 'Fatale,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/i-love-creator-owned-comics-most-of-my-favorite-books-these-days-are/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [It's fun to take a piece of formula and go someplace else with it and see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/it-s-fun-to-take-a-piece-of-formula-and-go-someplace-else-with-it-and/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I'm not building each one character around one metaphor, so much as trying to build a heroic archetype that can be used to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/i-m-not-building-each-one-character-around-one-metaphor-so-much-as/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [Dracula, if he could see modern corporations, wouldnt like them much. He took care of his people, at least as he saw it. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/dracula-if-he-could-see-modern-corporations-wouldnt-like-them-much-he/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [If there's ever a character who can only serve one metaphor, I'll probably tell one story with that character and be done with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/if-there-s-ever-a-character-who-can-only-serve-one-metaphor-i-ll/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I seem to like playing with form, and the superhero genre has an awful lot of formula to it. It has a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/i-seem-to-like-playing-with-form-and-the-superhero-genre-has-an-awful/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [Marvel's got a crowded universe, and there are already so many characters hogging the spotlight that it's hard to break through that. First off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/marvel-s-got-a-crowded-universe-and-there-are-already-so-many/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [When you have a novel set in a fictional history, you still should get your history right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/when-you-have-a-novel-set-in-a-fictional-history-you-still-should-get/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [“And is that why we do what we do? For public approval, for fame? Do we help people because they will be appropriately grateful--or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/and-is-that-why-we-do-what-we-do-for-public-approval-for-fame-do-we/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) [Explore all 47 Kurt Busiek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what they're like, what kind of attitude they have, what sort of role they play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Busiek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_462121.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the…” — Kurt Busiek", "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": "Kurt Busiek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You've got to leave the reader...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/#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 } } ] } ```