---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing a great script - not just a good…"
description: "\"Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.\" — Michael Arndt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png"
---

#  Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great…

![“Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.” quote by Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png)

> “Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.”

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creating a truly great script is extremely difficult, requiring exceptional skill and vision beyond competence.

**In simple terms:** Writing a great script is almost impossible.

Key Takeaway

Aim for excellence, accept the difficulty.

Themes

creativity excellence challenge

Mood

determined realistic

Type

advice industry insight

When to use this quote

- film production
- writing workshop
- creative sprint

Key Concepts

story structure character arc

Questions to Reflect On

- How can writers balance ambition with realism?
- What practices help overcome creative blocks?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism can stall progress and cause burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [It's very rare you get a great script just handed to you, or sent to you, by someone you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/it-s-very-rare-you-get-a-great-script-just-handed-to-you-or-sent-to/)

[Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/)

> [It could be a great script but the director is not the right person for me to work for at this time. So there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-underwood/it-could-be-a-great-script-but-the-director-is-not-the-right-person/)

[Blair Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blair-underwood/)

> [I was hired to do this one great script called 'Cap'n Ricky' and that project is up in the air at the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wain/i-was-hired-to-do-this-one-great-script-called-cap-n-ricky-and-that/)

[David Wain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wain/)

> [What I hope in my ideal world is that with each project, I'll either get to work with a really great script that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/what-i-hope-in-my-ideal-world-is-that-with-each-project-i-ll-either/)

[Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/)

> [I'm always looking for something very different from anything I've done. I'm attracted to a great script, and not necessarily a great character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/i-m-always-looking-for-something-very-different-from-anything-i-ve/)

[Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/)

> [The script just can't commit the sin of being boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-persky/the-script-just-can-t-commit-the-sin-of-being-boring/)

[Lester Persky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-persky/)

> [With any mannerisms or dialogue, you have to be careful you're not just serving yourself. What happens with improving is a lot of times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/with-any-mannerisms-or-dialogue-you-have-to-be-careful-you-re-not/)

[Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/)

> [Sometimes I will read the whole script just to see what my character is doing, but I won't touch a script that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/sometimes-i-will-read-the-whole-script-just-to-see-what-my-character/)

[Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/)

> [I never practice before, I never work hours on a script. I just choose my characters and trust them, and after that, it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/i-never-practice-before-i-never-work-hours-on-a-script-i-just-choose/)

[Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/)

> [You can have a great script, and it can be a great show, but for whatever reason, it just doesn't take the public's interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-froggatt/you-can-have-a-great-script-and-it-can-be-a-great-show-but-for/)

[Joanne Froggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-froggatt/)

> [Siva is one of the best writers in the industry, and 'Srimanthudu' is a great script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/siva-is-one-of-the-best-writers-in-the-industry-and-srimanthudu-is-a/)

[Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/)

> [You can have a great script, or a great director and a bad script, and get a great movie. Nothing really guarantees anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/you-can-have-a-great-script-or-a-great-director-and-a-bad-script-and/)

[Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/)

> [I can easily say "no" to a project if the script isn't great, but when the script is good, then I start asking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-can-easily-say-no-to-a-project-if-the-script-isn-t-great-but-when/)

[Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/)

> [Sometimes you take a job for the money, sometimes you take it for the location, sometimes you take it for the script; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/sometimes-you-take-a-job-for-the-money-sometimes-you-take-it-for-the/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I had read enough mediocre scripts and was determined not to inflict another one on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-had-read-enough-mediocre-scripts-and-was-determined-not-to-inflict/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

## More by Michael Arndt

> [If you only know something one way, then you don't really know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-only-know-something-one-way-then-you-don-t-really-know-it/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [I had read enough mediocre scripts and was determined not to inflict another one on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-had-read-enough-mediocre-scripts-and-was-determined-not-to-inflict/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [My thing is that most scripts arent bad scripts, theyre just not finished yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/my-thing-is-that-most-scripts-arent-bad-scripts-theyre-just-not/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [I like to begin every screenplay with a burst of delusional self-confidence. It tends to fade pretty quickly, but (for me, at least) there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-like-to-begin-every-screenplay-with-a-burst-of-delusional-self/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-best-writing-really-does-come-from-the-deepest-most-private-part/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [The fluidity of thought is based on the flexibility of beliefs and the emotional boundaries surrounding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-fluidity-of-thought-is-based-on-the-flexibility-of-beliefs-and/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [My God, there are so many mediocre screenplays out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/my-god-there-are-so-many-mediocre-screenplays-out-there/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [Every problem offers an opportunity for a solution. if you are in the right frame of mind to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/every-problem-offers-an-opportunity-for-a-solution-if-you-are-in-the/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [The number one metaphor I have in my mind for writing a screenplay is that...you're trying to climb a mountain blindfolded. And the funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-number-one-metaphor-i-have-in-my-mind-for-writing-a-screenplay-is/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [I can write two scripts concurrently, but I usually prefer to do one at a time. However, I also usually have 5 or 6…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-can-write-two-scripts-concurrently-but-i-usually-prefer-to-do-one/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [I figured I’d probably write 50 scripts in my life. Out of those 50, I figured maybe five would be produced, and that maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-figured-i-d-probably-write-50-scripts-in-my-life-out-of-those-50-i/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [We have the freedom to excel or inhibit our potential. You are the grand designer of your thoughts and emotions. At some level or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/we-have-the-freedom-to-excel-or-inhibit-our-potential-you-are-the/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [If you write a bunch of different characters with a bunch of different opinions, you end up with these long scenes of everyone standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-write-a-bunch-of-different-characters-with-a-bunch-of/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [Adversity challenges the masks we hide behind, revealing sides of ourselves we have not yet comfortably with the world outside. It is why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/adversity-challenges-the-masks-we-hide-behind-revealing-sides-of/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

> [You never want your second act or the whole movie to just be this relentless march towards its goal. You want things to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/you-never-want-your-second-act-or-the-whole-movie-to-just-be-this/)

[Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

[Explore all 30 Michael Arndt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/)

## More Impossible quotes

> [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/)

[Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/)

> [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/)

James Cross Giblin

> [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/)

[Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/)

> [History is, in its essentials, the science of change. It knows and it teaches that it is impossible to find two events that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bloch/history-is-in-its-essentials-the-science-of-change-it-knows-and-it/)

[Marc Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bloch/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I've heard from the movie marketplace that James Cameron did such a killer job with 'Titanic' that it's almost impossible to do anything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/i-ve-heard-from-the-movie-marketplace-that-james-cameron-did-such-a/)

[Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/)

> [Among the many factors that make a return to halcyon days of the first decades of the postwar era virtually impossible is the decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/among-the-many-factors-that-make-a-return-to-halcyon-days-of-the/)

[Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [In such a diversity it was impossible I should be disposed to melancholy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/in-such-a-diversity-it-was-impossible-i-should-be-disposed-to/)

[Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/)

> [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/)

[Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/)

> [I just like stories about redemption about getting a second chance at life, I think everyone in the world has a few major mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-just-like-stories-about-redemption-about-getting-a-second-chance-at/)

[Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/)

> [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/)

[Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/)

Browse all 7,633 Impossible quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Arndt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-one-but-a-great-one-is-almost/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Impossible"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-one-but-a-great-one-is-almost/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/michael-arndt-21037_impossible_writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-o_2166985.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Writing a great script - not just a good one, but a great one - is almost an impossible task.” — Michael Arndt",
                "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": "Michael Arndt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Writing a great script - not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-one-but-a-great-one-is-almost/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/writing-a-great-script-not-just-a-good-one-but-a-great-one-is-almost/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
