--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about writing is that you…" description: "\"The great thing about writing is that you always put yourself in the shoes of the character. If you're doing it right, you can see into the heart of al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/peter-gould-29615_about_the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-yo_1703363.jpg" --- # The great thing about writing is that you always put… ![“The great thing about writing is that you always put yourself in the shoes of the character. If you're doing it right, you can see into the heart of all your characters. Usually, when there's a writing problem, it's because you aren't doing that.” quote by Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/peter-gould-29615_about_the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-yo_1703363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/peter-gould-29615_about_the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-yo_1703363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/peter-gould-29615_about_the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-yo_1703363.jpg) > “The great thing about writing is that you always put yourself in the shoes of the character. If you're doing it right, you can see into the heart of all your characters. Usually, when there's a writing problem, it's because you aren't doing that.” [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing succeeds when authors deeply inhabit their characters, and problems arise when this empathy is missing. **In simple terms:** Good writing requires deep character empathy. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy for your characters. Themes writing creativity empathy Mood inspirational practical Type educational guidance When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts character immersion narrative technique Questions to Reflect On - How can you deepen character connection? - What other tools aid writing beyond empathy? A Different Perspective Empathy alone may not solve structural plot issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-doing-459462/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-usually-943793/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing It Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-it-right/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thing/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-problem-1008416/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [I always find filming stressful. I get very caught up thinking about my character - 'Am I doing it right? Should it be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/i-always-find-filming-stressful-i-get-very-caught-up-thinking-about/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [That's one of the great thing about writing is that you get to be in someone's head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-conrad/that-s-one-of-the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-you-get-to-be-in/) [Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-conrad/) > [My characters are usually composites. I wish I could pretend that I make up all of these characters, but no. I steal from people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/my-characters-are-usually-composites-i-wish-i-could-pretend-that-i/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Short story characters, mine anyway, are usually driven by impulse, not so much by their histories and the choices that they have to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/short-story-characters-mine-anyway-are-usually-driven-by-impulse-not/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [I'm a drinker with a writing problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/i-m-a-drinker-with-a-writing-problem/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [If I have a writing problem, the minute I step away, there's a solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-abbott/if-i-have-a-writing-problem-the-minute-i-step-away-there-s-a-solution/) [Megan Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-abbott/) > [Well, that's the great thing about indie film, in general. If it's not subject to the constraints of too much pressure from the studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/well-that-s-the-great-thing-about-indie-film-in-general-if-it-s-not/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [It's a convention, but in horror movies the female characters usually tend to believe easier in a supernatural event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/it-s-a-convention-but-in-horror-movies-the-female-characters-usually/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [Sympathetic characters usually have a voice. They usually don't have any trouble being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/sympathetic-characters-usually-have-a-voice-they-usually-don-t-have/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I'm not a writer with a drinking problem, I'm a drinker with a writing problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-m-not-a-writer-with-a-drinking-problem-i-m-a-drinker-with-a-writing/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [I feel like a lot of girl characters in anything usually end up being either extremely tough or extremely ditzy. There's always some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pendleton-ward/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-girl-characters-in-anything-usually-end-up-being/) [Pendleton Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pendleton-ward/) > [Writing is not my problem, it is my solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/writing-is-not-my-problem-it-is-my-solution/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [“A creative writer is one for whom writing is a problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/a-creative-writer-is-one-for-whom-writing-is-a-problem/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [I never went after character payments. I'm pretty much terrible at naming characters, so I usually name them after people I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-lawrence/i-never-went-after-character-payments-i-m-pretty-much-terrible-at/) [Billy Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-lawrence/) > [The characters I usually get offered are described as 'none too bright' or 'funny but a little air-brained.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didi-conn/the-characters-i-usually-get-offered-are-described-as-none-too-bright/) [Didi Conn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didi-conn/) ## More by Peter Gould > [The scene we shot with Charlie Rose was actually the last piece that was ever shot for 'Breaking Bad.' My daughter and I flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/the-scene-we-shot-with-charlie-rose-was-actually-the-last-piece-that/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [Keep my word' is such a strange expression. At first glance, it just means 'Be true to what you agreed on. But it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/keep-my-word-is-such-a-strange-expression-at-first-glance-it-just/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [I think the ultimate thing in some ways for any writer is to work on a character who's going to have a life for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/i-think-the-ultimate-thing-in-some-ways-for-any-writer-is-to-work-on/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [In our show, we try to think about consequences, not about tricking the audience or hiding things to fool the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/in-our-show-we-try-to-think-about-consequences-not-about-tricking-the/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [I think of myself more as a filmmaker or as a film person than as strictly just a writer. I don't come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/i-think-of-myself-more-as-a-filmmaker-or-as-a-film-person-than-as/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“Grief can be an incredible source of energy. For good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/grief-can-be-an-incredible-source-of-energy-for-good/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“Has it taught you to look at things different?' he asked. i thought, How does he know about all that? But i didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/has-it-taught-you-to-look-at-things-different-he-asked-i-thought-how/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [The problem and the question on 'Breaking Bad' is always 'Where is Walt's head at?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/the-problem-and-the-question-on-breaking-bad-is-always-where-is-walt/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“Victor, if you read this stuff, you can save people in the past from drowning. It's like time is a river, and it's nighttime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/victor-if-you-read-this-stuff-you-can-save-people-in-the-past-from/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“They say desire is this endless loop. You can’t get out of it even when you get what you desire.” “Why is that?” “Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/they-say-desire-is-this-endless-loop-you-can-t-get-out-of-it-even/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [Sometimes the story takes you to places that you want to go and sometimes it takes you places you don't want to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/sometimes-the-story-takes-you-to-places-that-you-want-to-go-and/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“Every spoken thought is just a symbol for something inside your brain. This word, out here, is like that thought in there. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/every-spoken-thought-is-just-a-symbol-for-something-inside-your-brain/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [“It's not her fault,' she said. 'Nobody knows how to grieve in this country. They don't make any noise. Nobody taught them how. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/it-s-not-her-fault-she-said-nobody-knows-how-to-grieve-in-this/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [I wrote a spec script that people really liked: a political serial based on Jeffrey's Toobin's 'A Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.' It was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/i-wrote-a-spec-script-that-people-really-liked-a-political-serial/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) > [For 'Breaking Bad,' our offices were in the ugliest building in Burbank, California. Which, if you know Burbank, is really saying something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/for-breaking-bad-our-offices-were-in-the-ugliest-building-in-burbank/) [Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) [Explore all 18 Peter Gould quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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