--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always try to create conflict and drama…" description: "\"I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.\" — Monica Ali" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png" --- # I always try to create conflict and drama in my books… ![“I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.” quote by Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png) > “I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.” [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She believes conflict drives narrative momentum and keeps readers engaged. **In simple terms:** Conflict is the engine that powers a novel. Key Takeaway Use tension to propel your story. Themes writing conflict storytelling Mood analytical instructive Type creative educational When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts dramatic structure character development plot dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How much conflict is enough? - What types of conflict best serve your theme? A Different Perspective Too much drama can alienate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Keep The Drama In Your Books, Not Your Life." - The Cartel Publications.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-styles-c-wash/keep-the-drama-in-your-books-not-your-life-the-cartel-publications/) T. Styles C. Wash > [I like conflict, drama's conflict and if you don't have that in the character it's really not a worthwhile role to play for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-like-conflict-drama-s-conflict-and-if-you-don-t-have-that-in-the/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [“Conflict is drama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shurtleff/conflict-is-drama/) [Michael Shurtleff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shurtleff/) > [“Never reject an idea because it will create conflict!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syed-ather/never-reject-an-idea-because-it-will-create-conflict/) [Syed Ather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syed-ather/) > [“If we create an environment where someone is hurt, then it will create Conflict (affliction) within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-we-create-an-environment-where-someone-is-hurt-then-it-will-create/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [In a drama, you're always looking for things to create conflict with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-evans/in-a-drama-you-re-always-looking-for-things-to-create-conflict-with/) [Gareth Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-evans/) > [“When the individual is in conflict within himself he must inevitably create conflict without, and only he can bring about peace within himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-the-individual-is-in-conflict-within-himself-he-must-inevitably/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [A good story needs conflict, and virtual reality is a great hypothetical way to create conflict. ... In some ways, the future is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/palmer-luckey/a-good-story-needs-conflict-and-virtual-reality-is-a-great/) [Palmer Luckey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/palmer-luckey/) > [You can't get away from violence in drama. If you do not have conflict, you do not have drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-wilde/you-can-t-get-away-from-violence-in-drama-if-you-do-not-have-conflict/) [Cornel Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-wilde/) > [I think what makes people fascinating is conflict, it's drama, it's the human condition. Nobody wants to watch perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-think-what-makes-people-fascinating-is-conflict-it-s-drama-it-s-the/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [The roles I'm interested in or have been interested in, you know, it's going to get down to conflict. Drama is conflict - conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-foster/the-roles-i-m-interested-in-or-have-been-interested-in-you-know-it-s/) [Ben Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-foster/) > [Everyone always says that conflict is drama, and I agree, but I also don't think you need drama everywhere. Or conflict everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/everyone-always-says-that-conflict-is-drama-and-i-agree-but-i-also/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [There's something to play if there's conflict going on. Whatever that conflict is, that's where drama is; if the character is grappling with something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/there-s-something-to-play-if-there-s-conflict-going-on-whatever-that/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [I like devilish, thorny, dirty, mean roles, muck and mire, unbelievably sad, unbelievably happy, burdened. Inner conflict - that's where drama is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-plummer/i-like-devilish-thorny-dirty-mean-roles-muck-and-mire-unbelievably/) [Amanda Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-plummer/) > [Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/conflict-is-drama-and-how-people-deal-with-conflict-shows-you-the/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) ## More by Monica Ali > [I don't want to get hung up on what 'people,' that nebulous mass, think about me. That's the way to unhappiness, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-don-t-want-to-get-hung-up-on-what-people-that-nebulous-mass-think/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“If God wanted us to ask questions, he would have made us men (page 80).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/if-god-wanted-us-to-ask-questions-he-would-have-made-us-men-page-80/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“And so they entwined their lives to drink from the pools of each other’s sadness. From these special watering holes, each man drew strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/and-so-they-entwined-their-lives-to-drink-from-the-pools-of-each/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Her words were as sharp as an eyeful of sand. She never raised her voice. It was the kind of voice that never needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/her-words-were-as-sharp-as-an-eyeful-of-sand-she-never-raised-her/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [A new car is not going to change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/a-new-car-is-not-going-to-change-your-life/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [She touched his hand for the last time. "Oh, Karim, that we have already done. But always there was a problem between us. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/she-touched-his-hand-for-the-last-time-oh-karim-that-we-have-already/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Tevis being childless meant you felt a little sorry for her, and a bit jealous. Probably the same way she felt about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/tevis-being-childless-meant-you-felt-a-little-sorry-for-her-and-a-bit/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Sometimes I look back and I am shocked. Everyday of my life I have prepared for success, worked for it, waited for it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/sometimes-i-look-back-and-i-am-shocked-everyday-of-my-life-i-have/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Life made its pattern around and beneath and through her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/life-made-its-pattern-around-and-beneath-and-through-her/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [I started writing 'Brick Lane' when my children were two years and five months old. We were on holiday in the north of England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-started-writing-brick-lane-when-my-children-were-two-years-and-five/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“The air was hot and wet, as if it had absorbed the sweat of countless bodies. It dripped also with scandal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/the-air-was-hot-and-wet-as-if-it-had-absorbed-the-sweat-of-countless/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Nishi's sister, who was sixteen years old, had gone for a "holiday" in Sylhet and returned six months later with a husband and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/nishi-s-sister-who-was-sixteen-years-old-had-gone-for-a-holiday-in/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [The thing about getting older is that you don't need everything to be possible any more, you just need things to be certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/the-thing-about-getting-older-is-that-you-don-t-need-everything-to-be/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Character is always my driving force. And to tell a good story and to provide an entertaining read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/character-is-always-my-driving-force-and-to-tell-a-good-story-and-to/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Outside of interviews, I spend very little time thinking about myself. I spend time thinking about my writing and my children and other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/outside-of-interviews-i-spend-very-little-time-thinking-about-myself/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) [Explore all 46 Monica Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Monica Ali" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-drama-in-my-books-it-s-the-engine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-drama-in-my-books-it-s-the-engine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/monica-ali-14042_book_i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-dram_1426110.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.” — Monica Ali", "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": "Monica Ali", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always try to create conflict...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-drama-in-my-books-it-s-the-engine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-always-try-to-create-conflict-and-drama-in-my-books-it-s-the-engine/#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 } } ] } ```