--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Characters are not created on paper or…" description: "\"Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.\" — Mani Ratnam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg" --- # Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone. ![“Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.” quote by Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg) > “Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.” [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative characters emerge from lived experience and collaboration, not just from solitary writing. **In simple terms:** Characters need real life and teamwork, not just scripts. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration beyond the page. Themes creativity collaboration storytelling Mood inspirational pragmatic Type artistic educational When to use this quote - screenwriting workshops - director‑actor rehearsals - team brainstorming Key Concepts character development film making artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What sources enrich your character ideas? - How does collaboration shape narrative? A Different Perspective Solo work can limit depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-created-940293/) [Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created/) [Created Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-paper-5018922/) [Laptop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laptop/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Paper Laptop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-laptop-5018923/) ## Related quotes > [I write with a pen and paper. Never on a laptop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-write-with-a-pen-and-paper-never-on-a-laptop/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [God created paper for the purpose of drawing architecture on it. Everything else is at least for me an abuse of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/god-created-paper-for-the-purpose-of-drawing-architecture-on-it/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [The town is as full as ever of 'characters,' all created by each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/the-town-is-as-full-as-ever-of-characters-all-created-by-each-other/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [Before you start production, you have characters you have created without actors in mind, then all of a sudden you've got actors. They bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/before-you-start-production-you-have-characters-you-have-created/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [It's a tremendous challenge, because there have been so many characters created over the years. Every time you think you come up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/it-s-a-tremendous-challenge-because-there-have-been-so-many/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [When I was a kid on the playground, fights were about who got to play Han Solo. He's just one of the best characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-miller/when-i-was-a-kid-on-the-playground-fights-were-about-who-got-to-play/) [Christopher Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-miller/) > [Characters are not created by writers. They pre-exist and have to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/characters-are-not-created-by-writers-they-pre-exist-and-have-to-be/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [After my first book, many of my readers came back to tell me that the female characters I had created were not strong enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/after-my-first-book-many-of-my-readers-came-back-to-tell-me-that-the/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I do not think I will ever write screenplays based on my books. I would not know what to cut out and what portions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/i-do-not-think-i-will-ever-write-screenplays-based-on-my-books-i/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [The characters created cannot just be a mouthpiece for the writer. When you look at a piece of writing, and it's genuine and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-characters-created-cannot-just-be-a-mouthpiece-for-the-writer/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I do indeed write on the road. My laptop goes with me everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-do-indeed-write-on-the-road-my-laptop-goes-with-me-everywhere/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I use a laptop more as a tool, as sort of the central artery. Everything goes through the digital audio card of my computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-fullerton-whitman/i-use-a-laptop-more-as-a-tool-as-sort-of-the-central-artery/) [Keith Fullerton Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-fullerton-whitman/) > [It's flattering that there are lots of Internet fan sites about me. I'm a bit of a technophobe and I don't even own a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-armstrong/it-s-flattering-that-there-are-lots-of-internet-fan-sites-about-me-i/) [Jonas Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-armstrong/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take my laptop with me on the road. When I come home, I log onto AOL, go to the Web site, and answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/i-take-my-laptop-with-me-on-the-road-when-i-come-home-i-log-onto-aol/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) ## More by Mani Ratnam > [I don't believe in giving advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-don-t-believe-in-giving-advice/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I like songs. It's a weakness that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-like-songs-it-s-a-weakness-that-i-have/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [As a filmmaker, every tool you get to tell the scene better is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/as-a-filmmaker-every-tool-you-get-to-tell-the-scene-better-is/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [When Kamal Haasan did 'Nayakan,' he had done a few roles that had him aged and demanded a lot of commitment from. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/when-kamal-haasan-did-nayakan-he-had-done-a-few-roles-that-had-him/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I want to make a film that can reach as many as possible so I want to talk in a language which I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-want-to-make-a-film-that-can-reach-as-many-as-possible-so-i-want-to/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Format is just the language. Content is the only thing that is important. Form is like handwriting. Whether you write in a scribble or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/format-is-just-the-language-content-is-the-only-thing-that-is/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [What I feel is great acting might be rubbish for another filmmaker. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/what-i-feel-is-great-acting-might-be-rubbish-for-another-filmmaker/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Writing is nagging, fascinating, troublesome and exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/writing-is-nagging-fascinating-troublesome-and-exciting/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Film fests are an opportunity to see different kinds of films that you usually don't get to watch. When I'm part of a jury,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/film-fests-are-an-opportunity-to-see-different-kinds-of-films-that/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with-film-making-it-is-how-you/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I grew up on the commercial film format. I have grown up all my life watching films and they have all been mainstream commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-grew-up-on-the-commercial-film-format-i-have-grown-up-all-my-life/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [For a filmmaker, whether the film is liked, understood or appreciated counts as much as the moolah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/for-a-filmmaker-whether-the-film-is-liked-understood-or-appreciated/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [The thing is that when you make a film, it is such an intense experience. It's like being married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/the-thing-is-that-when-you-make-a-film-it-is-such-an-intense/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Indian cinema will continue to grow, I am very sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/indian-cinema-will-continue-to-grow-i-am-very-sure/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [My job as a director is to communicate, and I want to communicate to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/my-job-as-a-director-is-to-communicate-and-i-want-to-communicate-to/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) [Explore all 99 Mani Ratnam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/) [Luckybannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luckybannu/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mani Ratnam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-laptop-alone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-laptop-alone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/mani-ratnam-6434_alone_characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-l_1418778.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.” — Mani Ratnam", "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": "Mani Ratnam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Characters are not created on paper...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-laptop-alone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/characters-are-not-created-on-paper-or-laptop-alone/#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 } } ] } ```