--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It can certainly happen that characters…" description: "\"It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. Well, it cer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/margaret-mahy-9662_character_it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters_407321.jpg" --- # It can certainly happen that characters in more… ![“It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. Well, it certainly happens to me at times.” quote by Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/margaret-mahy-9662_character_it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters_407321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/margaret-mahy-9662_character_it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters_407321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/margaret-mahy-9662_character_it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters_407321.jpg) > “It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. Well, it certainly happens to me at times.” [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative works can evolve beyond the author's original intent, sometimes taking on new meanings. **In simple terms:** Stories can change beyond the author's plan. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in storytelling. Themes creativity authorship evolution storytelling Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - collaborative projects - fan fiction - adaptations Key Concepts narrative dynamics authorial intent interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How does a story change when others contribute? - When is it okay to alter an author's original idea? A Different Perspective May cause tension between original vision and new directions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Original ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-ideas/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [I've had people turn me down. Not all that many, but certainly it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/i-ve-had-people-turn-me-down-not-all-that-many-but-certainly-it/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Wherever I go in the world, people all know about Scotland Street and are always asking me about what's going to happen to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/wherever-i-go-in-the-world-people-all-know-about-scotland-street-and/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [There's a lot about the character. It doesn't always happen, but there are some characters you really create a relationship with, almost as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/there-s-a-lot-about-the-character-it-doesn-t-always-happen-but-there/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [It does not follow because many books are written by persons born in America that there exists an American literature. Books which imitate or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/it-does-not-follow-because-many-books-are-written-by-persons-born-in/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Essayists must not only be succinct but have original ideas and, even harder to come by, or to fake, likable voices. Consciously or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyra-mcfadden/essayists-must-not-only-be-succinct-but-have-original-ideas-and-even/) Cyra McFadden > [Really good original ideas are very hard to come up with. Good ideas - easy. Really good, original ideas - it can take months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/really-good-original-ideas-are-very-hard-to-come-up-with-good-ideas/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Back then, when I had that original idea to write about the seventeenth century, the whole thing was set in 1666. I was thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-dutton/back-then-when-i-had-that-original-idea-to-write-about-the/) [Danielle Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-dutton/) > [Is it an original idea? Or is it something where you're literally a creative collagist? You're taking pieces of the world that you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-washburn/is-it-an-original-idea-or-is-it-something-where-you-re-literally-a/) [Abigail Washburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-washburn/) > [Couture has copied my things for years, in addition to countless other costume designers, claiming theirs were the original ideas. It's all part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/couture-has-copied-my-things-for-years-in-addition-to-countless-other/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [“I want to debunk the myth that originality requires extreme risk taking and persuade you that originals are actually far more ordinary than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/i-want-to-debunk-the-myth-that-originality-requires-extreme-risk/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [If you come up with the original idea on your laptop, anything else is an embellishment of that idea. It's nice to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-mohawke/if-you-come-up-with-the-original-idea-on-your-laptop-anything-else-is/) Hudson Mohawke > [As for borrowing Mr. Whistler's ideas about art, the only thoroughly original ideas I have heard him express have had reference to his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-for-borrowing-mr-whistler-s-ideas-about-art-the-only-thoroughly/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [...I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-exceedingly-anxious-that-this-union-the-constitution-and-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-think-there-are-a-substantial-number-of-scientists-who-have/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [What's given, in fact, always depends on the person or thing it's given to. A minor incident in the street brings the cook to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/what-s-given-in-fact-always-depends-on-the-person-or-thing-it-s-given/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) ## More by Margaret Mahy > [In a way, the characters often do take over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/in-a-way-the-characters-often-do-take-over/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-writing-of-course-you-have-to-do-all-that-writing-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“All right," said Eden. "After all, we've got to hide somewhere. And even if they move on a bit faster than we can, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/all-right-said-eden-after-all-we-ve-got-to-hide-somewhere-and-even-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [a man who builds a house never really dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/a-man-who-builds-a-house-never-really-dies/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Anyone interested in the world generally can't help being interested in young adult culture - in the music, the bands, the books, the fashions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/anyone-interested-in-the-world-generally-can-t-help-being-interested/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“I don't know everything I feel, but I do know this. You mustn't ever want anyone but me, Big Science. If you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-don-t-know-everything-i-feel-but-i-do-know-this-you-mustn-t-ever/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I, personally, have found reading a continual support to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-personally-have-found-reading-a-continual-support-to-writing/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Stamp, your name is to be Laura. I'm sharing my name with you. I'm putting my power into you and you must do my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/stamp-your-name-is-to-be-laura-i-m-sharing-my-name-with-you-i-m/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Reading is very creative - it's not just a passive thing. I write a story; it goes out into the world; somebody reads it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/reading-is-very-creative-it-s-not-just-a-passive-thing-i-write-a/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Fattening!” said Troy, looking at Tabitha’s round face and plump arms. “If I don’t mind being fat, I don’t see why other people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/fattening-said-troy-looking-at-tabitha-s-round-face-and-plump-arms-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Ellis's understanding of himself and the world around him certainly develops because of his adventures, and part of that development comes through recognizing other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/ellis-s-understanding-of-himself-and-the-world-around-him-certainly/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Being a librarian certainly helped me with my writing because it made me even more of a reader, and I was always an enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/being-a-librarian-certainly-helped-me-with-my-writing-because-it-made/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I was able to work out all sorts of attitudes to style and event and character, all of which affected the way I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-was-able-to-work-out-all-sorts-of-attitudes-to-style-and-event-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“These were true things, Laura knew, but they were only part of the truth which was something less orderly than Kate made it sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/these-were-true-things-laura-knew-but-they-were-only-part-of-the/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [By the time ordinary life asserted itself once more, I would feel I had already lived for a while in some other lifetime, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/by-the-time-ordinary-life-asserted-itself-once-more-i-would-feel-i/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) [Explore all 71 Margaret Mahy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. 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