--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could be just a writer very easily. I…" description: "\"I could be just a writer very easily. I am not a writer. I am a screenwriter, which is half a filmmaker... But it is not an art form, because screenpla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/paul-schrader-14587_art_i-could-be-just-a-writer-very-easily-i-a_923390.png" --- # I could be just a writer very easily. I am not a writer. I… ![“I could be just a writer very easily. I am not a writer. I am a screenwriter, which is half a filmmaker... But it is not an art form, because screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art.” quote by Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/paul-schrader-14587_art_i-could-be-just-a-writer-very-easily-i-a_923390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/paul-schrader-14587_art_i-could-be-just-a-writer-very-easily-i-a_923390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/paul-schrader-14587_art_i-could-be-just-a-writer-very-easily-i-a_923390.png) > “I could be just a writer very easily. I am not a writer. I am a screenwriter, which is half a filmmaker... But it is not an art form, because screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art.” [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Screenwriting is a collaborative craft, not a solitary art; the writer sets the stage for others to create the final artwork. **In simple terms:** Screenwriting invites collaboration, not solo art. Key Takeaway Embrace teamwork in storytelling. Themes collaboration craft storytelling film authorship Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film production - writing workshops - directorial meetings - script revisions - creative retreats Key Concepts screenplay structure creative partnership authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How does collaboration change your creative voice? - What responsibilities do you feel as a screenwriter? A Different Perspective The writer may still feel personal ownership despite collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Invitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invitations/) [Screenplays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplays/) [Screenwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriters/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/screenplays-are-not-works-of-art-they-are-invitations-to-others-to/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I counted it up once. I think I have written 45 full screenplays. Of those, maybe 15 have been shot, in some form. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-august/i-counted-it-up-once-i-think-i-have-written-45-full-screenplays-of/) [John August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-august/) > [“Novelist by day; screenwriter by night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-posey/novelist-by-day-screenwriter-by-night/) [A.D. Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-posey/) > [The great thing, as a screenwriter, is that you are always proud of what ends up on the screen, you are able to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-linden/the-great-thing-as-a-screenwriter-is-that-you-are-always-proud-of/) [Jamie Linden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-linden/) > ['The Buccaneers' was an Edith Wharton novel, and she never finished it, and a screenwriter adapted it for television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frain/the-buccaneers-was-an-edith-wharton-novel-and-she-never-finished-it/) [James Frain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frain/) > [It's funny because when I was growing up, I was really into science fiction and fantasy as a kid. And, when I first became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-orloff/it-s-funny-because-when-i-was-growing-up-i-was-really-into-science/) John Orloff > [I often say that a lot of my job, as a screenwriter, is sort of being a stock picker, in that I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-august/i-often-say-that-a-lot-of-my-job-as-a-screenwriter-is-sort-of-being-a/) [John August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-august/) > [One of the things I love about my job as a playwright or as a screenwriter is that I get to do a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-my-job-as-a-playwright-or-as-a/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I think that scripts should be published, but they are published, really, because when you're a screenwriter, your stuff ends up in samizdat form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-think-that-scripts-should-be-published-but-they-are-published/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [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/) > [Every screenwriter worthy of the name has already directed his film when he has written his script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-l-mankiewicz/every-screenwriter-worthy-of-the-name-has-already-directed-his-film/) [Joseph L. Mankiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-l-mankiewicz/) > [When you're a screenwriter, it's like being a mechanic. You open the hood of the story, the director is the driver, and he says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bidegain/when-you-re-a-screenwriter-it-s-like-being-a-mechanic-you-open-the/) [Thomas Bidegain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bidegain/) > [You are the executive director and screenwriter of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-are-the-executive-director-and-screenwriter-of-your-life/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [A screenwriter is much like being a fire hydrant with a bunch of dogs lined up around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/a-screenwriter-is-much-like-being-a-fire-hydrant-with-a-bunch-of-dogs/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [A great trick that I learned having worked as a screenwriter for many years, the way screenwriters work, is they break the project down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/a-great-trick-that-i-learned-having-worked-as-a-screenwriter-for-many/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## More by Paul Schrader > [“Twelve hours of work and I still can't sleep.Days go on and on... They don't end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/twelve-hours-of-work-and-i-still-can-t-sleep-days-go-on-and-on-they/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [The secret of the creative life is to feel at ease with your own embarrassment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/the-secret-of-the-creative-life-is-to-feel-at-ease-with-your-own/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [People who act against their own best interests are interesting characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/people-who-act-against-their-own-best-interests-are-interesting/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [ All these teachers and \[screenwriting\] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-books-mean-you-see-movies-that/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [Because many of the films I've made have had an intellectualedge, it's harder for me to lie. It's harder for me to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/because-many-of-the-films-i-ve-made-have-had-an-intellectualedge-it-s/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [Those artists who say that somehow therapy or analysis will thwart their creativity are completely misinformed. It's absolutely the opposite: it opens closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/those-artists-who-say-that-somehow-therapy-or-analysis-will-thwart/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I want to be happy; why do I do things that make me unhappy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/i-want-to-be-happy-why-do-i-do-things-that-make-me-unhappy/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [Contradiction is the heart and soul of character and drama. You're always looking for it. I loved her so much I hit her; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/contradiction-is-the-heart-and-soul-of-character-and-drama-you-re/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [You can't take contradiction away. Part of the fun of it is that the contradiction never really quite goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/you-can-t-take-contradiction-away-part-of-the-fun-of-it-is-that-the/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I still think like a critic, and I still analyze films like a critic. However, it's not possible to write criticism if you're making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/i-still-think-like-a-critic-and-i-still-analyze-films-like-a-critic/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [All the animals come out at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-the-animals-come-out-at-night/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [There's something wrong - the performance, the weather, the set design, the lighting. Something is not working. And so you say, "Give me 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/there-s-something-wrong-the-performance-the-weather-the-set-design/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I had this whole issue of doing a crime film in the 2010s. The genre's been mined very, very heavily. Post-Scorsese, post-Tarantino, post-Guy Ritchie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/i-had-this-whole-issue-of-doing-a-crime-film-in-the-2010s-the-genre-s/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [One of the things that I do like about filmmaking is that you find out how to solve new problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/one-of-the-things-that-i-do-like-about-filmmaking-is-that-you-find/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [Ultimately, it's an illusion that you can understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/ultimately-it-s-an-illusion-that-you-can-understand-yourself/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) [Explore all 46 Paul Schrader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could be just a writer very easily. 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