--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, not knowing is a necessary…" description: "\"In fact, not knowing is a necessary condition of writing for me. I don't know how else to reach something unexpected. I have to be as in the dark as my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/marisa-silver-22366_character_in-fact-not-knowing-is-a-necessary-condi_2898580.jpg" --- # In fact, not knowing is a necessary condition of writing… ![“In fact, not knowing is a necessary condition of writing for me. I don't know how else to reach something unexpected. I have to be as in the dark as my characters.” quote by Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/marisa-silver-22366_character_in-fact-not-knowing-is-a-necessary-condi_2898580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/marisa-silver-22366_character_in-fact-not-knowing-is-a-necessary-condi_2898580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c34/marisa-silver-22366_character_in-fact-not-knowing-is-a-necessary-condi_2898580.jpg) > “In fact, not knowing is a necessary condition of writing for me. I don't know how else to reach something unexpected. I have to be as in the dark as my characters.” [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Not knowing the outcome is essential for creative writing; uncertainty fuels unexpected results. **In simple terms:** Embrace uncertainty in writing. Key Takeaway Write without knowing the end. Themes creativity uncertainty process Mood curious inspired Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - improvisational theater Key Concepts artistic exploration writing technique innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning and surprise? - When does uncertainty hinder clarity? A Different Perspective Too much uncertainty can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-characters-1189524/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-necessary-4109492/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Reach Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-unexpected-3968857/) [Something unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-unexpected/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-dark-4109491/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Whenever we reach an unexpected barrier in the way of honoring our souls' truth through action, it is essential to dust ourselves off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-e-smith/whenever-we-reach-an-unexpected-barrier-in-the-way-of-honoring-our/) [Laurie E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-e-smith/) > [Exploring the dark side of my characters' personality is my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/exploring-the-dark-side-of-my-characters-personality-is-my-forte/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [Internationally if you see, 'Narcos' and 'House of Cards' are all very dark shows with very dark characters. The audience may hate the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/internationally-if-you-see-narcos-and-house-of-cards-are-all-very/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [Theater people say you are either a comedian or a tragedian, and I'm a tragedian. 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For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/i-don-t-have-any-special-approach-for-playing-dark-characters-that-s/) [Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/) > [If you look at my body of work, there's always a dark side to my characters. They've always got a skeleton in the closet;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/if-you-look-at-my-body-of-work-there-s-always-a-dark-side-to-my/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [“There will always be dark characters, but her life is good; it is as she wishes it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brien/there-will-always-be-dark-characters-but-her-life-is-good-it-is-as/) [John O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brien/) > [Acting is an art form and you want to take roles that are challenged and it's more of a challenge I think to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/acting-is-an-art-form-and-you-want-to-take-roles-that-are-challenged/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I'm drawn to dark characters, and to things that are really weighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vincent/i-m-drawn-to-dark-characters-and-to-things-that-are-really-weighty/) [Tony Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-vincent/) > [I've played a heroin addict and a speed freak and dark characters throughout my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-ryan/i-ve-played-a-heroin-addict-and-a-speed-freak-and-dark-characters/) [Meg Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-ryan/) > [I would love to do a comedy. The primary thing is complexity. The reason I play so many dark characters is because there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-zane/i-would-love-to-do-a-comedy-the-primary-thing-is-complexity-the/) [Billy Zane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-zane/) > [Personal style is about taking a risk, trying something unexpected, and having fun with fashion, but always being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/personal-style-is-about-taking-a-risk-trying-something-unexpected-and/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [If a man gives you a harsh winter, give him back something unexpected: The warm spring!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-a-man-gives-you-a-harsh-winter-give-him-back-something-unexpected/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Marisa Silver > [Writing, for me, is always a dance between the critical part of my brain and the subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/writing-for-me-is-always-a-dance-between-the-critical-part-of-my/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“When Doris had died so long ago, it was weeks before Mary could think clearly and remember what she was supposed to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/when-doris-had-died-so-long-ago-it-was-weeks-before-mary-could-think/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I guess I'm drawn to stories of people whose physicality puts them on the outside of things in order to explore the ways in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-guess-i-m-drawn-to-stories-of-people-whose-physicality-puts-them-on/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“Such arrogance. A right of youth, he supposes, a necessity. How else is it possible to face the terrifying void of your unformed self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/such-arrogance-a-right-of-youth-he-supposes-a-necessity-how-else-is/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [But every age deserves its fashion and its forms, and no one can control what survives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/but-every-age-deserves-its-fashion-and-its-forms-and-no-one-can/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I'm interested in endurance. People persist in the face of the most excruciating hardships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-m-interested-in-endurance-people-persist-in-the-face-of-the-most/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [The story has to flow from an unstructured, felt place, but then I have to bring my analytical brain to bear on issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/the-story-has-to-flow-from-an-unstructured-felt-place-but-then-i-have/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Things, very strange things, happen in folktales and there is never much attention given to the whys and wherefores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/things-very-strange-things-happen-in-folktales-and-there-is-never/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“What right did she have to take photographs of strangers? But she knew these faces…These people had been made to feel inadequate, abnormal. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/what-right-did-she-have-to-take-photographs-of-strangers-but-she-knew/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Why did people try to shush trouble away as if it were an unruly child?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/why-did-people-try-to-shush-trouble-away-as-if-it-were-an-unruly-child/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“A picture doesn't bring someone to life. A picture is a death of the moment when the picture is taken. Whenever you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/a-picture-doesn-t-bring-someone-to-life-a-picture-is-a-death-of-the/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I never know where I'm headed when I'm working on a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-never-know-where-i-m-headed-when-i-m-working-on-a-book/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“For the first time, her singularity, the fact that she felt different from every person she knew, made sense to her, and she realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/for-the-first-time-her-singularity-the-fact-that-she-felt-different/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“But sometimes you can spend a lot of sorrow trying to change things for the better, when what was first was best. Its only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/but-sometimes-you-can-spend-a-lot-of-sorrow-trying-to-change-things/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Because answers are inert things that stop inquiry. They make you think you have finished looking. But you are never finished. There are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/because-answers-are-inert-things-that-stop-inquiry-they-make-you/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) [Explore all 27 Marisa Silver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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