--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As writers and readers, we're drawn to…" description: "\"As writers and readers, we're drawn to conflict. It's that ancient theory of plot that's written on the whiteboard during every fiction workshop, chara..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/leslie-pietrzyk-48295_ancient_as-writers-and-readers-we-re-drawn-to-co_2358282.jpg" --- # As writers and readers, we're drawn to conflict. It's that… ![“As writers and readers, we're drawn to conflict. It's that ancient theory of plot that's written on the whiteboard during every fiction workshop, characters who want something overcoming obstacles as a way to create narrative momentum and suspense. So there's that, that trauma gives us more plot.” quote by Leslie Pietrzyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/leslie-pietrzyk-48295_ancient_as-writers-and-readers-we-re-drawn-to-co_2358282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/leslie-pietrzyk-48295_ancient_as-writers-and-readers-we-re-drawn-to-co_2358282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/leslie-pietrzyk-48295_ancient_as-writers-and-readers-we-re-drawn-to-co_2358282.jpg) > “As writers and readers, we're drawn to conflict. It's that ancient theory of plot that's written on the whiteboard during every fiction workshop, characters who want something overcoming obstacles as a way to create narrative momentum and suspense. So there's that, that trauma gives us more plot.” [Leslie Pietrzyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-pietrzyk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conflict drives narrative; obstacles create tension, and trauma can deepen plot complexity. **In simple terms:** Conflict fuels stories. Key Takeaway Use conflict to deepen storytelling. Themes storytelling conflict plot trauma Mood reflective analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops - psychology of storytelling Key Concepts narrative structure character motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you portray conflict responsibly? - What alternatives to trauma exist for tension? A Different Perspective Overreliance on trauma can be exploitative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Create Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-narrative-456300/) [Drawn Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawn-conflict-5765534/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Narrative Momentum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-momentum-5765532/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Overcoming obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-obstacles/) [Suspense Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspense-trauma-5765531/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Trauma Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma-gives-5765533/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I will throw all my best efforts into it, my thoughts and political observations, but ultimately I want to create a narrative that keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/i-will-throw-all-my-best-efforts-into-it-my-thoughts-and-political/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [I always tend to think, even in residential projects, about what a space is being asked to do - where is it located, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-selldorf/i-always-tend-to-think-even-in-residential-projects-about-what-a/) [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) > [You can create meaning where there was none, you can create feeling where there was none, you can create narrative where there was none.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/you-can-create-meaning-where-there-was-none-you-can-create-feeling/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [I love to dress up and create a narrative with my look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/i-love-to-dress-up-and-create-a-narrative-with-my-look/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [Short fiction is the medium I love the most, because it requires that I bring everything I've learned about poetry - the concision, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/short-fiction-is-the-medium-i-love-the-most-because-it-requires-that/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [If I have a collection of songs for an EP or mixtape, I create the narrative afterwards; but usually with an album, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/if-i-have-a-collection-of-songs-for-an-ep-or-mixtape-i-create-the/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) > [I came from the school of cinema verite documentaries, which was: Do not manipulate reality as it was happening but create a narrative in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-nair/i-came-from-the-school-of-cinema-verite-documentaries-which-was-do/) [Mira Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-nair/) > [Traditionally games never used professional writers to create their narrative, so there's definitely a residual feeling that hiring a proper writer is somewhat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/traditionally-games-never-used-professional-writers-to-create-their/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [The secrets to happiness include enterprise, exploration of one's interests and the overcoming of obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-secrets-to-happiness-include-enterprise-exploration-of-one-s/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Eons shaped us; in adversity, we stand eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-s-crow/eons-shaped-us-in-adversity-we-stand-eternal/) [H.S. 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