--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, a lead is the most important thing…" description: "\"Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story.\" — Kurt Loder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png" --- # Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story. ![“Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story.” quote by Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png) > “Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story.” [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The central element of a story is its lead; without a strong protagonist, the narrative loses direction. **In simple terms:** A good lead drives the story. Key Takeaway Focus on developing a compelling main character. Themes storytelling character structure Mood analytical inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - film scripts - marketing pitches - leadership talks Key Concepts narrative focus protagonist importance Questions to Reflect On - What makes a lead compelling? - How do supporting characters enhance the lead? A Different Perspective A strong lead alone may not guarantee a good story if other elements falter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-thing/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Lead Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-important-1272649/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thing Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-story-713197/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The most important thing is that you treat everybody incredibly well and lead with a bit of humility. I've found that when I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-brenneman/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-treat-everybody-incredibly-well/) [Greg Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-brenneman/) > [There are so many different ways to lead. The most important thing is to be genuine. To have people around you trust you, trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/there-are-so-many-different-ways-to-lead-the-most-important-thing-is/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [So what starts is ad hoc and you never know where it's going to lead, so it's important to keep an open mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/so-what-starts-is-ad-hoc-and-you-never-know-where-it-s-going-to-lead/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [“After all, in fairy tales, there was only one thing to do. In every story with a long sleep and a waking in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/after-all-in-fairy-tales-there-was-only-one-thing-to-do-in-every/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I came to believe the green fuse that drives spring and summer through the world is essentially a literary energy. That the world was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alberto-urrea/i-came-to-believe-the-green-fuse-that-drives-spring-and-summer/) [Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/) > [The world was more than a place. Life was more than an event. It was all one thing, and that thing was: story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alberto-urrea/the-world-was-more-than-a-place-life-was-more-than-an-event-it-was/) [Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/) > [That was all Rose, and Rose knew what she was doing. Her main thing was story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goodman/that-was-all-rose-and-rose-knew-what-she-was-doing-her-main-thing-was/) [John Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goodman/) > [“Everyone’s got a version of the same story, or maybe there’s no such thing as the same story; it’s a different story every time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-tei-yamashita/everyone-s-got-a-version-of-the-same-story-or-maybe-there-s-no-such/) [Karen Tei Yamashita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-tei-yamashita/) > [The most important thing is story-telling. It's as singular and old-fashioned as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/the-most-important-thing-is-story-telling-it-s-as-singular-and-old/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I wanted to make sure that 'Up' wasn't a 3D movie about a man who sails his house to South America. It's a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/i-wanted-to-make-sure-that-up-wasn-t-a-3d-movie-about-a-man-who-sails/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [The most important thing is the story. Not the script, but the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-zanuck/the-most-important-thing-is-the-story-not-the-script-but-the-story/) [Richard D. Zanuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-zanuck/) > [The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-unread-story-is-not-a-story-it-is-little-black-marks-on-wood-pulp/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [And that's very important, too, 'cause a lot of people just assume everyone's a Democrat, or everyone's a Republican or whatever, and they're not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/and-that-s-very-important-too-cause-a-lot-of-people-just-assume/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [The most important thing as a leader is your relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/the-most-important-thing-as-a-leader-is-your-relationship-with-god/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [When you have an opportunity to take the lead and you don't, most of the time something bad happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-baker/when-you-have-an-opportunity-to-take-the-lead-and-you-don-t-most-of/) [Dusty Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-baker/) ## More by Kurt Loder > [Rewriting is a large part of the whole job. And get rid of stuff that's not working. Just pare it down until it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/rewriting-is-a-large-part-of-the-whole-job-and-get-rid-of-stuff-that/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [Whomever you're going to interview, you have to be interested in what it is you want to know from them. You have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/whomever-you-re-going-to-interview-you-have-to-be-interested-in-what/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [Well, in features, and in writing especially, it's often the style of the writer comes in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-in-features-and-in-writing-especially-it-s-often-the-style-of/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [It's not a good thing to be friends with people you're covering. There's just no point in doing it. It's tempting, but they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/it-s-not-a-good-thing-to-be-friends-with-people-you-re-covering-there/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [Unless you're doing a feature piece, which is going to be longer, and you have more time to get into stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/unless-you-re-doing-a-feature-piece-which-is-going-to-be-longer-and/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [And that's very important, too, 'cause a lot of people just assume everyone's a Democrat, or everyone's a Republican or whatever, and they're not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/and-that-s-very-important-too-cause-a-lot-of-people-just-assume/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [I know what the structure of the language is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/i-know-what-the-structure-of-the-language-is/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [So you shouldn't really flatter yourself that they want to be your buddy. They don't. Generally. They want you for some reason or other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/so-you-shouldn-t-really-flatter-yourself-that-they-want-to-be-your/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [So, yeah, I think it had a major effect. I think in franchising younger people, it was just an idea that's never been trotted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/so-yeah-i-think-it-had-a-major-effect-i-think-in-franchising-younger/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [I think television often has dismissed younger people. They figure, well, they're not really watching news, that's not our audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/i-think-television-often-has-dismissed-younger-people-they-figure/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [And so popular culture raises issues that are very important, actually, in the country I think. You get issues of the First Amendment rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/and-so-popular-culture-raises-issues-that-are-very-important-actually/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [And the most important thing you can do is learn to edit yourself. And then go back and rewrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/and-the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-is-learn-to-edit-yourself-and/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [I worked for a newspaper in Europe for, I lived in Europe for about seven years, so I worked in this sort of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/i-worked-for-a-newspaper-in-europe-for-i-lived-in-europe-for-about/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [I spent time in, like, criminal courts, and covering murder trials for papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/i-spent-time-in-like-criminal-courts-and-covering-murder-trials-for/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [If your audience is young, it'd be youth culture, if your audience is older, it'd be older people, if it were senior citizens, it'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/if-your-audience-is-young-it-d-be-youth-culture-if-your-audience-is/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) [Explore all 31 Kurt Loder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/) [Wayne Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-williams/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Loder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing-about-the-story/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Important" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing-about-the-story/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/kurt-loder-19993_important_well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing_2148090.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, a lead is the most important thing about the story.” — Kurt Loder", "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 Loder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Well, a lead is the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing-about-the-story/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-a-lead-is-the-most-important-thing-about-the-story/#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 } } ] } ```