--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a big believer that the structure of…" description: "\"I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should reflect the content of the story.\" — Noah Hawley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg" --- # I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should… ![“I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should reflect the content of the story.” quote by Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg) > “I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should reflect the content of the story.” [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Story structure should mirror its thematic content, ensuring form reinforces meaning. **In simple terms:** Form should reflect story meaning. Key Takeaway Align narrative form with theme. Themes storytelling structure thematic coherence Mood analytical creative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novels - screenplays - stage plays Key Concepts narrative design literary theory film editing Questions to Reflect On - How does structure enhance theme? - When should you break structural expectations? A Different Perspective Rigid structures may limit creative surprise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) ## Related quotes > [I wrote 'Redefining Realness' because not enough of our stories are being told, and I believe we need stories that reflect us so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/i-wrote-redefining-realness-because-not-enough-of-our-stories-are/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [I want to tell stories that reflect how people are feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-want-to-tell-stories-that-reflect-how-people-are-feeling/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [I just think that good stories are stories that reflect ourselves back at us and each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/i-just-think-that-good-stories-are-stories-that-reflect-ourselves/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [We have privilege in our hands as storytellers. We need to tell stories that reflect our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dede-gardner/we-have-privilege-in-our-hands-as-storytellers-we-need-to-tell/) [Dede Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dede-gardner/) > [The only reason we find structure in stories is because it's there naturally in human interaction, and in the way that people tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-only-reason-we-find-structure-in-stories-is-because-it-s-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I have tried to remove weight, sometimes from people, sometimes from heavenly bodies, sometimes from cities; above all I have tried to remove weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/i-have-tried-to-remove-weight-sometimes-from-people-sometimes-from/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [I am looking for content and story and 'Mr. & Mrs. Murarilal' has both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kaushik/i-am-looking-for-content-and-story-and-mr-mrs-murarilal-has-both/) [Satish Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kaushik/) > ['The Message' is one of my most ambitious projects in terms of content and story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/the-message-is-one-of-my-most-ambitious-projects-in-terms-of-content/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [People don't give a damn about you and they don't give a damn about your story and they don't give a damn about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/people-don-t-give-a-damn-about-you-and-they-don-t-give-a-damn-about/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [I wanted all the responsibility to rest on the content of the story. I tried to make the visual style almost invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-wanted-all-the-responsibility-to-rest-on-the-content-of-the-story-i/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [Obviously, everybody's favorite form of web content is more story with principal actors. But the economics of the web do not yet support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/obviously-everybody-s-favorite-form-of-web-content-is-more-story-with/) [Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/) > [ “\[G\]reat stories communicate simple truths that reflect the poetic dimensions of the human soul. Not only do powerful characters help us understand our lives,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-wright/g-reat-stories-communicate-simple-truths-that-reflect-the-poetic/) Kate Wright > [My passion is to tell stories that reflect humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/my-passion-is-to-tell-stories-that-reflect-humanity/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I think we need to tell stories that reflect our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/i-think-we-need-to-tell-stories-that-reflect-our-world/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) ## More by Noah Hawley > [It's always very important to me to try to create a story that feels unpredictable. You can't jump ahead and see what's coming, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/it-s-always-very-important-to-me-to-try-to-create-a-story-that-feels/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [A two-hour movie tends to be a plot-delivery device; you tend to have to introduce all the characters, say what the goal is, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/a-two-hour-movie-tends-to-be-a-plot-delivery-device-you-tend-to-have/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [For some reason, I tend to take on the stuff that people are really passionate about. If you make a list of people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/for-some-reason-i-tend-to-take-on-the-stuff-that-people-are-really/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [One of the things that I've always appreciated about the 'X-Men' style of storytelling versus other Marvel stories is how fluid the line between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/one-of-the-things-that-i-ve-always-appreciated-about-the-x-men-style/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [One of the things I've always loved about genre, comic books, science fiction and fantasy is that there's a certain level of playfulness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/one-of-the-things-i-ve-always-loved-about-genre-comic-books-science/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [What's great is that each medium has a unique set of things that it does and does well. Film is a visual medium, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/what-s-great-is-that-each-medium-has-a-unique-set-of-things-that-it/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I think that we're pattern-seeking animals, and what we like best is a story where everything fits together, where there's no puzzle pieces left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-think-that-we-re-pattern-seeking-animals-and-what-we-like-best-is-a/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Obviously, when you do something with drama and comedy in it - and by that, I mean a scene that has drama and comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/obviously-when-you-do-something-with-drama-and-comedy-in-it-and-by/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [The last thing you want is to be desperate in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/the-last-thing-you-want-is-to-be-desperate-in-hollywood/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I'm not that guy who thinks I have all the answers. Writing is a means of communicating, and if enough people say, 'I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-not-that-guy-who-thinks-i-have-all-the-answers-writing-is-a-means/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I think a writer's first job is to entertain, even in novels: to tell a compelling story that pulls the reader along toward an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-think-a-writer-s-first-job-is-to-entertain-even-in-novels-to-tell-a/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I think for really good-hearted people, that idea of putting yourself in the shoes of a monster to figure out why they acted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-think-for-really-good-hearted-people-that-idea-of-putting-yourself/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > ['Downton Abbey' didn't have the impact it had just because it was a good story about people. It was something about that period and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/downton-abbey-didn-t-have-the-impact-it-had-just-because-it-was-a/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Making a new season for 'Legion' is not something you just switch into. It's not something you do between dropping the kids off in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/making-a-new-season-for-legion-is-not-something-you-just-switch-into/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [It's amazing how flexible the human mind is in terms of jumping into a backstory or an aside. Vonnegut is a great example -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/it-s-amazing-how-flexible-the-human-mind-is-in-terms-of-jumping-into/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) [Explore all 124 Noah Hawley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should reflect the content of the story.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noah Hawley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of-stories-should-reflect-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of-stories-should-reflect-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/noah-hawley-3673_big_i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of_297886.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a big believer that the structure of stories should reflect the content of the story.” — Noah Hawley", "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": "Noah Hawley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a big believer that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of-stories-should-reflect-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-m-a-big-believer-that-the-structure-of-stories-should-reflect-the/#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 } } ] } ```