Always Quote by Neal Shusterman
“Before I start, I trick myself into thinking I know what's going to happen in the story, but the characters have ideas of their own, and I always go with the character's choices. Most of the time I discover plot twists and directions that are better than what I originally had planned.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Writing Process, 2015
Authors often discover better story directions by following characters' instincts rather than rigid plans.
In simple terms: Follow characters to improve plot.
Key Takeaway
Trust your characters.
Themes
creativity
storytelling
intuition
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
creative
guiding
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- improvisation
Key Concepts
character agency
narrative development
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you stick to your outline?
- How do you balance planning and spontaneity?
A Different Perspective
Too much improvisation can cause incoherence.
