Abandoned Quote by Monica Wood
“Every good story needs a complication. We learn this fiction-writing fundamental in courses and workshops, by reading a lot or, most painfully, through our own abandoned story drafts. After writing twenty pages about a harmonious family picnic, say, or a well-received rock concert, we discover that a story without a complication flounders, no matter how lovely the prose. A story needs a point of departure, a place from which the character can discover something, transform himself, realize a truth, reject a truth, right a wrong, make a mistake, come to terms.”
About This Quote
Source Workshop: Fiction Writing Fundamentals, 2021
Complications drive narrative tension, prompting character change and thematic depth; without them stories feel stagnant.
In simple terms: Stories need conflict to engage readers and develop characters.
Key Takeaway
Introduce a clear obstacle to spark transformation.
Themes
storytelling
conflict
character development
structure
Mood
instructive
inspirational
Type
guidance
creative
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative tension
plot device
theme exploration
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple complication could deepen your story?
- How does conflict reveal character?
A Different Perspective
Over‑complicating can distract from core message.
