Being real Quote by Matt de la Pena
“All that matters to me as a reader are characters. I want characters to be real, authentic, and rounded. I will be digging into characters for at least a month. Who they are. What they are like. Outside of the story.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary Podcast, 2023
The quote emphasizes that deep engagement with a story comes from fully understanding and feeling its characters as complex, authentic beings.
In simple terms: Characters drive a story’s impact.
Key Takeaway
Focus on character depth.
Themes
character development
authenticity
reading experience
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- book club discussions
- creative writing workshops
- character analysis essays
- author interviews
Key Concepts
psychology
narrative structure
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discover a character’s hidden motives?
- What techniques reveal authenticity in dialogue?
A Different Perspective
May overlook plot or thematic elements.
![“The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh my god, you can write these stories and people will actually read them beyond your own little community. This guy's book is blowing up and it seems like [he's writing about] the…” quote by Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d3b/matt-de-la-pena-15023_big-deal_the-second-book-which-was-probably-more_679824.jpg)
