--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're writing a script you have the…" description: "\"When you're writing a script you have the option to embellish on life or switch the order of events or make it generally more cinematic. I would stick ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/lena-dunham-1013_accepting_when-you-re-writing-a-script-you-have-th_1606695.jpg" --- # When you're writing a script you have the option to… ![“When you're writing a script you have the option to embellish on life or switch the order of events or make it generally more cinematic. I would stick too closely to my own experience and not necessarily think about the fact that it needs to have an event happen. Realising that I could channel my…” quote by Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/lena-dunham-1013_accepting_when-you-re-writing-a-script-you-have-th_1606695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/lena-dunham-1013_accepting_when-you-re-writing-a-script-you-have-th_1606695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/lena-dunham-1013_accepting_when-you-re-writing-a-script-you-have-th_1606695.jpg) > “When you're writing a script you have the option to embellish on life or switch the order of events or make it generally more cinematic. I would stick too closely to my own experience and not necessarily think about the fact that it needs to have an event happen. Realising that I could channel my own experience into a story that was slightly more cinematic was a very important moment for me - allowing myself to accept that the kind of screenwriting I'm doing is a work of fiction.” [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing that screenwriting requires transforming personal experience into a crafted, cinematic narrative rather than a literal diary. **In simple terms:** Screenwriting is turning life into story. Key Takeaway Embrace fiction in your scripts. Themes creativity storytelling self‑reflection Mood reflective inspired Type advice creative. When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal memoir adaptation - film pitch development Key Concepts narrative structure cinematic technique Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance truth and imagination? - What cinematic tools can heighten personal moments? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on autobiography can limit imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Allowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) [Cinematic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinematic/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Generally Cinematic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally-cinematic-6119949/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-moments/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-screenwriting-6119947/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Realising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realising/) [Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriting/) [Screenwriting Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriting-doing-6119946/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Slightly Cinematic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slightly-cinematic-6119948/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-script/) ## Related quotes > [I can picture certain things in my mind, while writing the script, but then I can also tell that everyone else might be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-can-picture-certain-things-in-my-mind-while-writing-the-script-but/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [When you're making an independent feature, there are so many difficult stages. One, just writing the script is difficult on its own. Then, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/when-you-re-making-an-independent-feature-there-are-so-many-difficult/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [I really get fired up with female protagonists. I can really feel the difference in myself when I am writing a script that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/i-really-get-fired-up-with-female-protagonists-i-can-really-feel-the/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [I don't start writing a script until I can see it all in my head, then it's a matter of getting it down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-don-t-start-writing-a-script-until-i-can-see-it-all-in-my-head-then/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [We can't make movies without scripts, and there's no cost to writing a script, so my advice to newcomers is do it yourself: Write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/we-can-t-make-movies-without-scripts-and-there-s-no-cost-to-writing-a/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [Well, you're in a theater and it's 24 shots a second, your face, your body, your voice, and it's your craft, the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/well-you-re-in-a-theater-and-it-s-24-shots-a-second-your-face-your/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) > [The writing of the script is a continual process. There's the first draft and then many, many re-writes here and there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdellatif-kechiche/the-writing-of-the-script-is-a-continual-process-there-s-the-first/) [Abdellatif Kechiche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdellatif-kechiche/) > [One of the challenges in writing the script Call Me by Your Name was that I had to find something concrete for the professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/one-of-the-challenges-in-writing-the-script-call-me-by-your-name-was/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [Writing a script consumes so much of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/writing-a-script-consumes-so-much-of-time/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [I like to begin every screenplay with a burst of delusional self-confidence. It tends to fade pretty quickly, but (for me, at least) there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-like-to-begin-every-screenplay-with-a-burst-of-delusional-self/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [The hardest thing for me is getting started. If I'm writing a script, really 90 per cent of it would be just walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/the-hardest-thing-for-me-is-getting-started-if-i-m-writing-a-script/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [The hardest thing about writing a script is you finish it, but it doesn't mean anything. It's not like a novel or short story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-carey/the-hardest-thing-about-writing-a-script-is-you-finish-it-but-it/) [Maggie Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-carey/) > [On movies, I like to involve the cast in the writing of the script. I like to have a rehearsal period, after which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/on-movies-i-like-to-involve-the-cast-in-the-writing-of-the-script-i/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I would love to write a script, for sure. I write poetry and songs. But writing a script needs a lot of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayushmann-khurrana/i-would-love-to-write-a-script-for-sure-i-write-poetry-and-songs-but/) [Ayushmann Khurrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayushmann-khurrana/) > [You either learn your way towards writing your own script in life, or you unwittingly become an actor in someone else's script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/you-either-learn-your-way-towards-writing-your-own-script-in-life-or/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) ## More by Lena Dunham > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“Oberlin being a liberal haven where opposition was king, the coolest clique at school was a group of rugby-playing, neon-wearing lesbians. They dominated every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/oberlin-being-a-liberal-haven-where-opposition-was-king-the-coolest/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Calling someone a drama queen is so negative. Why not 'content creator'?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/calling-someone-a-drama-queen-is-so-negative-why-not-content-creator/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My relationship to eating, my relationship to critiquing my own shape, all of that has changed since I've started viewing my body much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-relationship-to-eating-my-relationship-to-critiquing-my-own-shape/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“I am sorry (not to you but in a deeper way, sorry for my brain chemistry and who I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-am-sorry-not-to-you-but-in-a-deeper-way-sorry-for-my-brain/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [At my age, no one is married, no one has kids, no one has a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/at-my-age-no-one-is-married-no-one-has-kids-no-one-has-a-career/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I should do the things that make me feel cool and smart. As I get older, I'm realizing more and more that it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-should-do-the-things-that-make-me-feel-cool-and-smart-as-i-get/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My shape reminds me a lot of my grandmother, whom I was really close to. She died when I was 13, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-shape-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-grandmother-whom-i-was-really-close/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I never set out to make any statements about a specific character, I just set out to tell what feels like is a truthful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-set-out-to-make-any-statements-about-a-specific-character-i/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I would go to work from 9 to 6, go home, nap for two hours, then write from 8 to 2 a.m.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-would-go-to-work-from-9-to-6-go-home-nap-for-two-hours-then-write/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My uncle's a lawyer and I remember going to see him in court and thinking, 'That's cool, too bad I could never be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-uncle-s-a-lawyer-and-i-remember-going-to-see-him-in-court-and/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I love directing scenes that I'm not in because suddenly I really feel like a filmmaker which is a different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-love-directing-scenes-that-i-m-not-in-because-suddenly-i-really/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I'm glad if my work can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-m-glad-if-my-work-can-make-a-difference/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) [Explore all 301 Lena Dunham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're writing a script you have the option to embellish on life or switch the order of events or make it generally more cinematic. I would stick too closely to my own experience and not necessarily think about the fact that it needs to have an event happen. 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