--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing George R. R. Martin does is…" description: "\"One thing George R. R. Martin does is surprising things to main characters. But he says so himself.\" — Nikolaj Coster-Waldau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/nikolaj-coster-waldau-18398_characters_one-thing-george-r-r-martin-does-is-surp_2519946.jpg" --- # One thing George R. R. Martin does is surprising things to… ![“One thing George R. R. Martin does is surprising things to main characters. But he says so himself.” quote by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/nikolaj-coster-waldau-18398_characters_one-thing-george-r-r-martin-does-is-surp_2519946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/nikolaj-coster-waldau-18398_characters_one-thing-george-r-r-martin-does-is-surp_2519946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/nikolaj-coster-waldau-18398_characters_one-thing-george-r-r-martin-does-is-surp_2519946.jpg) > “One thing George R. R. Martin does is surprising things to main characters. But he says so himself.” [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. George R. R. Martin surprises main characters, adding unexpected twists to his narratives. **In simple terms:** Martin shocks main characters. Key Takeaway Expect the unexpected in storytelling. Themes surprise character development plot twist Mood curious analytical Type literary creative When to use this quote - writing workshops - script development - game design Key Concepts narrative design creative risk Questions to Reflect On - What makes a twist feel earned? - How do you balance surprise with coherence? A Different Perspective Surprises can alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Surprising things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprising-things/) ## Related quotes > [When a young reader tells you that they'd never finished a book outside of school until they read yours, or that they really needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/when-a-young-reader-tells-you-that-they-d-never-finished-a-book/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [Part of George R.R. Martin's brilliant storytelling is taking the carpet out from under your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lloyd/part-of-george-r-r-martin-s-brilliant-storytelling-is-taking-the/) [Harry Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lloyd/) > [George Martin is an incredible writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/george-martin-is-an-incredible-writer/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [And I'm a huge George R. R. Martin fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/and-i-m-a-huge-george-r-r-martin-fan/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“George R.R. Martin is not your bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/george-r-r-martin-is-not-your-bitch/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [George Martin, he's very good at a very sort of lush, sweet arrangement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/george-martin-he-s-very-good-at-a-very-sort-of-lush-sweet-arrangement/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“George R.R. Martin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/george-r-r-martin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My pseudonym is 'George R. R. Martin.' That guy's just an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendoline-christie/my-pseudonym-is-george-r-r-martin-that-guy-s-just-an-actor/) [Gwendoline Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendoline-christie/) > [I was in George Martin's studio in Amsterdam and he was telling me, 'They come in here and it takes them three days to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-was-in-george-martin-s-studio-in-amsterdam-and-he-was-telling-me/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [the main necessity on both sides of a revolution is kindness, which makes possible the most surprising things. To treat one's neighbor as oneself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-main-necessity-on-both-sides-of-a-revolution-is-kindness-which/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Therapy isn't Radio.We don't need to constantly fill the air with sounds. Sometimes, when its quite, surprising things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/therapy-isn-t-radio-we-don-t-need-to-constantly-fill-the-air-with/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [One of the surprising things that Brezhnev said when we were in our talks, was - when I proposed that we make these changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-surprising-things-that-brezhnev-said-when-we-were-in-our/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Sometimes the most surprising things happen from our mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-patrick/sometimes-the-most-surprising-things-happen-from-our-mistakes/) Coleen Patrick > [The most surprising thing to me is what an incredibly intense effort it's been to create a world from the ground up. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veena-sud/the-most-surprising-thing-to-me-is-what-an-incredibly-intense-effort/) [Veena Sud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veena-sud/) > [I knew I'd miss you. But the surprising thing is, you never leave me. I never forget a thing. Every kind of love, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/i-knew-i-d-miss-you-but-the-surprising-thing-is-you-never-leave-me-i/) [Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/) ## More by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau > [I'm a huge 'Breaking Bad' fan; I would be really annoyed if anyone told me anything about what was going to happen in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-m-a-huge-breaking-bad-fan-i-would-be-really-annoyed-if-anyone-told/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [A villain to me is someone who actively seeks to hurt someone or does things for his own gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/a-villain-to-me-is-someone-who-actively-seeks-to-hurt-someone-or-does/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [The fact is that, in prison, you can't just go and be locked up and serve your time. That's not an option. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-fact-is-that-in-prison-you-can-t-just-go-and-be-locked-up-and/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I find human behavior really interesting. I think that's ultimately what being an actor is. You explore what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-find-human-behavior-really-interesting-i-think-that-s-ultimately/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [The only thing I find difficult to watch - horror movies - not that I don't like them. Like 'The Shining,' it's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-only-thing-i-find-difficult-to-watch-horror-movies-not-that-i-don/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [All actors tend to be the same messed-up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/all-actors-tend-to-be-the-same-messed-up-people/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [What I love about acting is that you are exposed to so many different things. 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Some people say, "Some criminals are made in prison," and it's actually true. The numbers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-prison-system-today-is-so-messed-up-some-people-say-some/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [As an actor, secrets and obstacles fuel the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/as-an-actor-secrets-and-obstacles-fuel-the-character/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [The more secrets and twists in a character, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-more-secrets-and-twists-in-a-character-the-better/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I think we all have the capacity of evil in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-think-we-all-have-the-capacity-of-evil-in-us/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) [Explore all 35 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) ## More Characters 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'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/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. I don't know if I'm just not a very well-developed human being or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-have-played-several-characters-that-are-crabby-and-cranky-i-don-t/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [You do get fond of your characters. Handing them on is like giving a child to a nanny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-do-get-fond-of-your-characters-handing-them-on-is-like-giving-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I really like all of the characters in 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, especially Camilla, the one girl. I find her fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-all-of-the-characters-in-the-secret-history-by-donna/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [I've just always loved really good projects. 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