--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Youve got to leave the reader with more…" description: "\"Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what theyre like, what kind of attitud..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png" --- # Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name… ![“Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what theyre like, what kind of attitude they have, what sort of role they play.” quote by Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png) > “Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what theyre 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. A character must be fully fleshed out beyond visual design; personality, motivations, and role give depth and audience connection. **In simple terms:** Characters need personality, not just a look. Key Takeaway Develop characters with clear traits and purpose. Themes character development storytelling creativity Mood inspirational analytical engaging Type creative instructional When to use this quote - writing comics - screenwriting - novel drafting - game design Key Concepts narrative design psychology role theory Questions to Reflect On - What core traits define your character? - How does their role drive the story forward? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on backstory can stall plot progress; balance depth with narrative momentum. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Theyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-theyre-2782778/) [Costume Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costume-need-2505348/) [Costumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Know Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-character/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leave Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-reader-2782779/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Role Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-play/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) ## Related quotes > [You've 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/you-ve-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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [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/) > [You've 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/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/) [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/) [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is, what theyre 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/youve-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/youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/kurt-busiek-14199_attitude_youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more_2707729.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Youve got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character…” — 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": "Youve got to leave the reader...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/youve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/youve-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 } } ] } ```