--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the reason the stories are…" description: "\"I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when they are, is that I like story. I like stories where things happen and there are surprises and r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg" --- # I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when… ![“I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when they are, is that I like story. I like stories where things happen and there are surprises and reversals, in addition to vivid characters and a memorable voice. So those are the kinds of stories I try to write. And it turns out that's pretty…” quote by Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg) > “I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when they are, is that I like story. I like stories where things happen and there are surprises and reversals, in addition to vivid characters and a memorable voice. So those are the kinds of stories I try to write. And it turns out that's pretty much the only kind of writing that works for TV. It's a medium that just devours story, demands surprises and reversals. So my sensibility is suited to TV storytelling, at least as we think of it today.” [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. TV storytelling thrives on fast pacing, surprise twists, vivid characters, and a strong narrative voice. **In simple terms:** TV needs fast pace, surprises, and strong characters. Key Takeaway Write with pacing, twists, and memorable characters. Themes storytelling television pace surprise character voice Mood energetic creative Type practical analytical When to use this quote - writing a pilot - showrunning - script revisions - pitch meetings Key Concepts narrative structure character development audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance surprise with coherence? - What makes a character truly memorable? A Different Perspective Audience fatigue can occur if twists feel forced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensibility/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Vivid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivid/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like two stories. I like one story. I never grew up with stairs. I like to stick to what I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/i-don-t-like-two-stories-i-like-one-story-i-never-grew-up-with-stairs/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [It is very linear storytelling, and I think that's not so much the fashion. I was watching a new drama the other night which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/it-is-very-linear-storytelling-and-i-think-that-s-not-so-much-the/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [I'm really trying to focus on the storytelling, more so than ever before I think, partly because it makes for easier pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/i-m-really-trying-to-focus-on-the-storytelling-more-so-than-ever/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [I think we need to make documentaries about fantasy and storytelling. I think I just started to scratch the surface of a method that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-oppenheimer/i-think-we-need-to-make-documentaries-about-fantasy-and-storytelling/) [Joshua Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-oppenheimer/) > [There's a classic element that all good Disney movies have. It really comes down to the storytelling, I think. It manages to push all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/there-s-a-classic-element-that-all-good-disney-movies-have-it-really/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I'm not a big fan of kids' movies that have this knowing snarkiness to them or this post-modern take on storytelling. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-kids-movies-that-have-this-knowing-snarkiness-to/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [I connect to the tradition of Irish storytelling. And I think there is something - I can't put my finger on it - something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-connect-to-the-tradition-of-irish-storytelling-and-i-think-there-is/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [History is ultimately storytelling. I think the more stories you write in life - and I've written a lot of screenplays, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/history-is-ultimately-storytelling-i-think-the-more-stories-you-write/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“So that’s why I’m such a big fan of storytelling. I think the most important thing is empathy. And it’s less about ‘those people’.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-walls/so-that-s-why-i-m-such-a-big-fan-of-storytelling-i-think-the-most/) Jeanette Walls > [I decided to make myself a little less precious with my storytelling. I think you can see from the first three pieces in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-corin/i-decided-to-make-myself-a-little-less-precious-with-my-storytelling/) [Lucy Corin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-corin/) > [For me, if the writing and - by extension - the subject matter and the characters are all good, it doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-croasdell/for-me-if-the-writing-and-by-extension-the-subject-matter-and-the/) [Adam Croasdell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-croasdell/) > [(R)eality TV (is) a medium dedicated to the proposition that with the help of judicious editing, carefully chosen half-wits can hold the attention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-teachout/r-eality-tv-is-a-medium-dedicated-to-the-proposition-that-with-the/) [Terry Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-teachout/) > [TV is a medium that can be used to spread a positive message but people are spreading bogus ideas in people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/tv-is-a-medium-that-can-be-used-to-spread-a-positive-message-but/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [I do love TV as a medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-do-love-tv-as-a-medium/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [I love film and TV, the medium of them, just because it's such a smaller screen. It's much more precise. Ideally, I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuler-hensley/i-love-film-and-tv-the-medium-of-them-just-because-it-s-such-a/) [Shuler Hensley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuler-hensley/) ## More by Nick Antosca > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I don't really think in terms of the future of literature. I think literature will be around "forever" - but in a relatively niche…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-really-think-in-terms-of-the-future-of-literature-i-think/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [Yeah, most guys don't like to think about going to a bar with a girlfriend and watching her leave with someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/yeah-most-guys-don-t-like-to-think-about-going-to-a-bar-with-a/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [Fiction and screenwriting blend for me. I feel like being a TV writer/screenwriter has definitely made my fiction writing better, although I have less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/fiction-and-screenwriting-blend-for-me-i-feel-like-being-a-tv-writer/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [In fiction, I have a residual guilt when I focus on story over language or mood or whatever - the more "literary" things. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/in-fiction-i-have-a-residual-guilt-when-i-focus-on-story-over/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I was tired of working in an office and I wanted to make a living telling stories. There are not many people who find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-was-tired-of-working-in-an-office-and-i-wanted-to-make-a-living/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [Sometimes I try to meditate, which I hope will help, but it doesn't really. But lots of times my dreams have the seed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/sometimes-i-try-to-meditate-which-i-hope-will-help-but-it-doesn-t/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I encourage all novelists to move to TV right now, that is the way to go. I was living in New York working at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-encourage-all-novelists-to-move-to-tv-right-now-that-is-the-way-to/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I love horror movies. I consider myself a horror author, sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-love-horror-movies-i-consider-myself-a-horror-author-sometimes/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [The Shield made me realize there were great opportunities for writers in TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/the-shield-made-me-realize-there-were-great-opportunities-for-writers/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I write out of enthusiasm. Momentum that comes from a new idea. Eagerness to explore. I also write out of fear - fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-write-out-of-enthusiasm-momentum-that-comes-from-a-new-idea/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I rarely exercise at all, except I have some hand weights that I'll lift idly while I'm watching TV. I did do some push-ups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-rarely-exercise-at-all-except-i-have-some-hand-weights-that-i-ll/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [ Los Angeles is more hospitable to writers \[Than NY\]. It's less claustrophobic. It feels more unpredictable and dangerous, and the landscape is less structured.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/los-angeles-is-more-hospitable-to-writers-than-ny-it-s-less/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I'm glad people see some of the stories that way. I see where they're coming from, although none of the stories are specifically intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-m-glad-people-see-some-of-the-stories-that-way-i-see-where-they-re/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [We're lucky to be in the middle of a TV renaissance. It's the healthiest storytelling medium in our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/we-re-lucky-to-be-in-the-middle-of-a-tv-renaissance-it-s-the/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) [Explore all 20 Nick Antosca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when they are, is that I like story. I like stories where things happen and there are surprises and reversals, in addition to vivid characters and a memorable voice. So those are the kinds of stories I try to write. And it turns out that's pretty much the only kind of writing that works for TV. It's a medium that just devours story, demands surprises and reversals. So my sensibility is suited to TV storytelling, at least as we think of it today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nick Antosca" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-briskly-paced-when-they-are-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-briskly-paced-when-they-are-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/nick-antosca-27719_character_i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-brisk_2485085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the reason the stories are briskly paced, when they are, is that I like story. I like stories where…” — Nick Antosca", "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": "Nick Antosca", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the reason the stories...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-briskly-paced-when-they-are-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-think-the-reason-the-stories-are-briskly-paced-when-they-are-is/#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 } } ] } ```