--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think at some level, it's just alchemy…" description: "\"I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as writers, can't explain when we write the characters. I don't set out to create the characters - th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg" --- # I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as… ![“I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as writers, can't explain when we write the characters. I don't set out to create the characters - they're not, to me, collections of quirks that I can put together. I discover the characters, instead. I usually go through a standard set of…” quote by Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg) > “I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as writers, can't explain when we write the characters. I don't set out to create the characters - they're not, to me, collections of quirks that I can put together. I discover the characters, instead. I usually go through a standard set of interview questions with the character in the beginning and ask the vital stuff: What's important to you? What do you love? Hate? Fear? .. and then I know where to start. But the characters just grow on their own, at a certain point. And start surprising me.” [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers often discover characters organically through probing questions, rather than constructing them mechanically, leading to unexpected development. **In simple terms:** Characters emerge from asking them key questions. Key Takeaway Ask deep questions to uncover character core. Themes creativity character development writing process Mood curious inspired Type reflective instructional When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenplay writing - role‑playing games - character workshops Key Concepts psychology empathy narrative discovery Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance discovery with narrative control? - What questions reveal a character’s deepest motivations? A Different Perspective Characters may become inconsistent if not guided by a clear outline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alchemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Love & hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-hate-2/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A good rule for writers: do not explain overmuch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-good-rule-for-writers-do-not-explain-overmuch/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I've always liked elliptical writing, whether it's Kafka or Paula Fox, and I'm often bored by writers who explain too much. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/i-ve-always-liked-elliptical-writing-whether-it-s-kafka-or-paula-fox/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [I feel like a good director provokes you to ask questions about your character, but doesn't answer them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-reed/i-feel-like-a-good-director-provokes-you-to-ask-questions-about-your/) [Crystal Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-reed/) > [I haven't read all of The Witcher novels. And that's only because I am very thorough. I read every detail and often have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-chalotra/i-haven-t-read-all-of-the-witcher-novels-and-that-s-only-because-i-am/) [Anya Chalotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-chalotra/) > [When a director narrates a character, I find it normal to ask questions about the character's background, mood swings, eccentricities, behaviour... I do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/when-a-director-narrates-a-character-i-find-it-normal-to-ask/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [A lot of writers will take a character at the beginning of a story. And that character will stay the same all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/a-lot-of-writers-will-take-a-character-at-the-beginning-of-a-story/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [For me, as an actor, the most challenging thing is creating the character in the beginning because you have to write their backstory. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ian-nicholas/for-me-as-an-actor-the-most-challenging-thing-is-creating-the/) [Thomas Ian Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ian-nicholas/) > [I got good at trying to throw a voice on a character from the very beginning as opposed to like reading it and sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-thompson/i-got-good-at-trying-to-throw-a-voice-on-a-character-from-the-very/) [Kenan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-thompson/) > [You're always choosing the start point and the end point. And almost by definition, the most interesting period is where something happens, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-and-the-end-point-and-almost/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The biggest misconception is that I only write about shitty people. Or that I'm trying to be shocking. I just think people are super…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslye-headland/the-biggest-misconception-is-that-i-only-write-about-shitty-people-or/) [Leslye Headland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslye-headland/) > [It's hard in America as a writer of color, an actor of color, not to get caught up in race and culture. But you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/it-s-hard-in-america-as-a-writer-of-color-an-actor-of-color-not-to/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I would write of the universal, not the provincial, in human nature… I would write of characters, not of characteristics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-would-write-of-the-universal-not-the-provincial-in-human-nature-i/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [“I don't write stories, I write characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavya-kaushik/i-don-t-write-stories-i-write-characters/) [Bhavya Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavya-kaushik/) > [I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-write-to-give-myself-strength-i-write-to-be-the-characters-that-i/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I write characters and stories that move me, and I write from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-write-characters-and-stories-that-move-me-and-i-write-from-the-heart/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) ## More by Rachel Caine > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Hell,' Shane spit in disgust. 'I can't hit a girl. Here, Claire. You hit her.' He tossed her the bat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/hell-shane-spit-in-disgust-i-can-t-hit-a-girl-here-claire-you-hit-her/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“If she were any friendlier, she'd be giving you a lapdance right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/if-she-were-any-friendlier-she-d-be-giving-you-a-lapdance-right-now/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I get maudlin. Some people drink; some get depressed; some run around having sex with anyone with a pulse. Me, I get philosophical. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-get-maudlin-some-people-drink-some-get-depressed-some-run-around/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I felt I should repeat it for the other slipper, in case there should be any bad feelings between the two. One should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-felt-i-should-repeat-it-for-the-other-slipper-in-case-there-should/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“As he filled the mug with coffee, Michael waited for Shane to make some sense. Which Shane finally did, holding up the cheaply printed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/as-he-filled-the-mug-with-coffee-michael-waited-for-shane-to-make/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [There is a certain freedom in giving up all hope. One is no longer bound by the cords of dread or fear; you simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/there-is-a-certain-freedom-in-giving-up-all-hope-one-is-no-longer/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Shane talking to Claire - "Hang on - Slow down. I'm not going anywhere. You know that, right? You don't have to put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-talking-to-claire-hang-on-slow-down-i-m-not-going-anywhere-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Oliver laughed - actually laughed."I like this new Claire," he said. "You should work her this hard all the time, Myrnin. She's interesting when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/oliver-laughed-actually-laughed-i-like-this-new-claire-he-said-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Here," Myrnin said, his voice still gentle and low. "Amelie said you had to work. No one said you had to work alone." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/here-myrnin-said-his-voice-still-gentle-and-low-amelie-said-you-had/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [shane:you only love me for my abs clair:shut up loser shift off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-you-only-love-me-for-my-abs-clair-shut-up-loser-shift-off/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Maybe I should, I don't know leave? Because this is starting to sound like one of those reality shows I don't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/maybe-i-should-i-don-t-know-leave-because-this-is-starting-to-sound/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) [Explore all 872 Rachel Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More Alchemy quotes > [“I went because I was interested in the alchemy of issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-went-because-i-was-interested-in-the-alchemy-of-issues/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“...the world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-is-only-the-visible-aspect-of-god-and-that-what-alchemy/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Art is Alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-nicolai/art-is-alchemy/) [ELLE NICOLAI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-nicolai/) > [“You must learn to bend to open windows, my friend. That is why artists and dancers are closest to God. They clench their chests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-must-learn-to-bend-to-open-windows-my-friend-that-is-why-artists/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/every-human-being-has-gone-through-a-tragedy-of-sorts-and-the-idea-is/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“Introspection does not need to be a still life. It can be an active alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-does-not-need-to-be-a-still-life-it-can-be-an-active/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [“She pushed the book towards them, and Harry and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/she-pushed-the-book-towards-them-and-harry-and-ron-read-the-ancient/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/for-i-am-every-dead-thing-in-whom-love-wrought-new-alchemy-for-his/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Arya Maloney updates the basis and practice of transpersonal psychology by using the spiritual principles of India's masters and the transformational alchemy inherent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-mindell/arya-maloney-updates-the-basis-and-practice-of-transpersonal/) [Arnold Mindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-mindell/) > [“To follow our bliss and dive deeply into the mysteries of fragrance, color, and taste; blend with the magnificent diversity of mother nature; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prana-gogia/to-follow-our-bliss-and-dive-deeply-into-the-mysteries-of-fragrance/) [Prana Gogia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prana-gogia/) > [ I want to explain the new alchemy \[in the "From Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to a New Vision of Mind and Time"\], which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/i-want-to-explain-the-new-alchemy-in-the-from-earth-air-fire-and/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [We swung over the hills and over the town and back again, and I saw how a man can be master of a craft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/we-swung-over-the-hills-and-over-the-town-and-back-again-and-i-saw/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We find that alchemy has to do with magicians or magic and may even have roots in the Chaldean people who lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/we-find-that-alchemy-has-to-do-with-magicians-or-magic-and-may-even/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) [Browse all 349 Alchemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as writers, can't explain when we write the characters. I don't set out to create the characters - they're not, to me, collections of quirks that I can put together. I discover the characters, instead. I usually go through a standard set of interview questions with the character in the beginning and ask the vital stuff: What's important to you? What do you love? Hate? Fear? .. and then I know where to start. But the characters just grow on their own, at a certain point. And start surprising me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Caine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy-that-we-as-writers-can-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alchemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy-that-we-as-writers-can-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/rachel-caine-217_alchemy_i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy_1357761.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think at some level, it's just alchemy that we, as writers, can't explain when we write the characters. I…” — Rachel Caine", "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": "Rachel Caine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think at some level, it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy-that-we-as-writers-can-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-think-at-some-level-it-s-just-alchemy-that-we-as-writers-can-t/#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 } } ] } ```