--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always tell my students to complicate…" description: "\"I always tell my students to complicate your characters: never make it easy for the reader. Nobody is ever one thing. That's what makes characters comp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/marlon-james-10052_always_i-always-tell-my-students-to-complicate_1436525.jpg" --- # I always tell my students to complicate your characters… ![“I always tell my students to complicate your characters: never make it easy for the reader. Nobody is ever one thing. That's what makes characters compelling.” quote by Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/marlon-james-10052_always_i-always-tell-my-students-to-complicate_1436525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/marlon-james-10052_always_i-always-tell-my-students-to-complicate_1436525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/marlon-james-10052_always_i-always-tell-my-students-to-complicate_1436525.jpg) > “I always tell my students to complicate your characters: never make it easy for the reader. Nobody is ever one thing. That's what makes characters compelling.” [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers should make characters complex and multifaceted, avoiding one‑dimensional portrayals. **In simple terms:** Complex characters engage readers. Key Takeaway Craft layered characters. Themes writing character development literature Mood intriguing thoughtful Type instructional creative When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts psychology storytelling diversity Questions to Reflect On - How do you reveal depth without overwhelming? - What techniques keep characters relatable? A Different Perspective Complexity can confuse readers if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Characters Compelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-compelling-2808495/) [Characters Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-make/) [Complicate Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicate-characters-5129593/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Makes Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-characters-1978177/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Students Complicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-complicate-5129594/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [You'll work hard to create characters that are compelling and unforgettable. But in the end, it's the story that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/you-ll-work-hard-to-create-characters-that-are-compelling-and/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [I'm most drawn to characters who are compelling and repellant at the same time, very often right at the same moment, and who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-spader/i-m-most-drawn-to-characters-who-are-compelling-and-repellant-at-the/) [James Spader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-spader/) > [I think that's what makes characters interesting - when you paint a person into a corner, and you see what they do to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-think-that-s-what-makes-characters-interesting-when-you-paint-a/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [What makes characters real are details, and if you're crafting a person from scratch, you're probably not going to pay as much attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/what-makes-characters-real-are-details-and-if-you-re-crafting-a/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [What makes characters so interesting when you're an actor or a dancer is to watch and observe how people walk and move and speak.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/what-makes-characters-so-interesting-when-you-re-an-actor-or-a-dancer/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Men and women are both humans, so, for me, that makes my characters and the work that I do human stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/men-and-women-are-both-humans-so-for-me-that-makes-my-characters-and/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [I never tell who it is I base my character quirks on in case they get offended, but I do base them on real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/i-never-tell-who-it-is-i-base-my-character-quirks-on-in-case-they-get/) [Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/) > [For me as an audience member, it makes the characters more relatable and interesting if they're evolving and changing - it makes them feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/for-me-as-an-audience-member-it-makes-the-characters-more-relatable/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [Multiple characters make it more difficult to showcase each character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-finch/multiple-characters-make-it-more-difficult-to-showcase-each-character/) [David Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-finch/) > [Disney has a bible for their characters, so that people who draw Disney characters have to make them look correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina-robbins/disney-has-a-bible-for-their-characters-so-that-people-who-draw/) [Trina Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina-robbins/) > [I like to go to the movies and watch characters who make me question how I see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/i-like-to-go-to-the-movies-and-watch-characters-who-make-me-question/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [So much emotion can be brought in an animated film that's very hard to get in a live-action film. I haven't quite put my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/so-much-emotion-can-be-brought-in-an-animated-film-that-s-very-hard/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“I am often drawn to unlikable characters, to those who behave in socially unacceptable ways, say whatever is on their mind, and do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-am-often-drawn-to-unlikable-characters-to-those-who-behave-in/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [I like characters that make me feel challenged and sort of inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-like-characters-that-make-me-feel-challenged-and-sort-of-inspired/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Music is always a part of my characters' make-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/music-is-always-a-part-of-my-characters-make-up/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) ## More by Marlon James > [“Nobody falls that way without being pushed. I know. And I know how it feels and looks, a body that falls fighting air all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/nobody-falls-that-way-without-being-pushed-i-know-and-i-know-how-it/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“People think blood red, but blood don't got no colour. Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/people-think-blood-red-but-blood-don-t-got-no-colour-not-when-blood/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [The fiction writer in me likes gaps in stories because I can jump into that gap and try to suggest something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/the-fiction-writer-in-me-likes-gaps-in-stories-because-i-can-jump/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [In 1976, Rastafarians were one of the most violated, persecuted groups in Jamaica. They could be beaten within an inch of their lives, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/in-1976-rastafarians-were-one-of-the-most-violated-persecuted-groups/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“I miss you, sister," he say. "I miss me too," she say. Always too clever but not clever enough to know when to blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/i-miss-you-sister-he-say-i-miss-me-too-she-say-always-too-clever-but/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“Devil has his part to play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/devil-has-his-part-to-play/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [What I find, particularly with young writers and readers, is that they don't want complicated feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/what-i-find-particularly-with-young-writers-and-readers-is-that-they/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [At 28 years old, seven years out of college, I was so convinced that my voice outed me as a fag that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/at-28-years-old-seven-years-out-of-college-i-was-so-convinced-that-my/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“The white man say we’re fighting for freedom from totalitarianism, terrorism and tyranny, but nobody know what he mean. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/the-white-man-say-we-re-fighting-for-freedom-from-totalitarianism/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“Nineteen seventy-six come and bring an election with it. The man who bring guns to the ghetto made it clear, that there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/nineteen-seventy-six-come-and-bring-an-election-with-it-the-man-who/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“She not black, she mulatto. Mulatto, mulatto, mulatto. Maybe she be family to both and to hurt white man just as bad as hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/she-not-black-she-mulatto-mulatto-mulatto-mulatto-maybe-she-be-family/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“Shiny like new zinc holding up a roof or a fence right beside old zinc, the material itself a living history of when last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/shiny-like-new-zinc-holding-up-a-roof-or-a-fence-right-beside-old/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [I'm really interested in how non-American countries process race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/i-m-really-interested-in-how-non-american-countries-process-race/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“People think it way past the time when anybody can remember who start things first, but don’t get the history of the ghetto twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/people-think-it-way-past-the-time-when-anybody-can-remember-who-start/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“We don't own truth. Truth is truth and nothing you can do about it even if you hide it, or kill it, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/we-don-t-own-truth-truth-is-truth-and-nothing-you-can-do-about-it/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) [Explore all 67 Marlon James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [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/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always tell my students to complicate your characters: never make it easy for the reader. 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