--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would say, A, you can't really teach…" description: "\"I would say, A, you can't really teach anyone how to write good characters, because it's something you have to teach yourself or already have innately ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/robert-ben-garant-11413_good_i-would-say-a-you-can-t-really-teach-any_2714060.jpg" --- # I would say, A, you can't really teach anyone how to write… ![“I would say, A, you can't really teach anyone how to write good characters, because it's something you have to teach yourself or already have innately in you as a storyteller, and, B, coming up with a good screenplay is a very, very small fraction of what it takes to be a good screenwriter.” quote by Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/robert-ben-garant-11413_good_i-would-say-a-you-can-t-really-teach-any_2714060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/robert-ben-garant-11413_good_i-would-say-a-you-can-t-really-teach-any_2714060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/robert-ben-garant-11413_good_i-would-say-a-you-can-t-really-teach-any_2714060.jpg) > “I would say, A, you can't really teach anyone how to write good characters, because it's something you have to teach yourself or already have innately in you as a storyteller, and, B, coming up with a good screenplay is a very, very small fraction of what it takes to be a good screenwriter.” [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing characters relies on innate storytelling sense and self‑learning; screenwriting skill exceeds the screenplay itself. **In simple terms:** Character skill is innate; screenwriting is broader than the script. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal storytelling instincts. Themes creativity skill development screenwriting Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - script development - personal practice - mentor feedback Key Concepts Storytelling self‑directed learning Questions to Reflect On - How can you discover your storytelling voice? - What practices deepen character insight? A Different Perspective Innate talent varies; not everyone can self‑teach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-teach-2830061/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-screenplay-342557/) [Good Screenwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-screenwriter-1005217/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Write Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-good-236093/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [If you have a good script, that's what gets you involved. It's harder to write a good screenplay than to find something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/if-you-have-a-good-script-that-s-what-gets-you-involved-it-s-harder/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Writing a really good screenplay is not easy. It can be a very punishing form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/writing-a-really-good-screenplay-is-not-easy-it-can-be-a-very/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [There are a lot of bad screenplays so if you write a good screenplay people are going to respond to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/there-are-a-lot-of-bad-screenplays-so-if-you-write-a-good-screenplay/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [I don't want to write any more screenplays, I'll tell you that right now. It's a waste of time. You've got too many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-don-t-want-to-write-any-more-screenplays-i-ll-tell-you-that-right/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I like writing dialog but don't think I'd be much good at a screenplay. I once had to write a treatment for a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/i-like-writing-dialog-but-don-t-think-i-d-be-much-good-at-a/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [We mystify the art of moviemaking, but it's not amystical science. 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That skillset travels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/if-you-re-a-good-journalist-you-can-probably-be-a-good-screenwriter/) [Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/) > [I think part of being a good screenwriter is being as concise as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-roth/i-think-part-of-being-a-good-screenwriter-is-being-as-concise-as/) [Eric Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-roth/) > [You don't get to be a good screenwriter unless you do 20, 30 drafts: fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/you-don-t-get-to-be-a-good-screenwriter-unless-you-do-20-30-drafts/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [I consider myself a good screenwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-consider-myself-a-good-screenwriter/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [Writing a screenplay's not rocket science, but I was in a bar, and the bartender came up to me and said, 'I saw 'Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/writing-a-screenplay-s-not-rocket-science-but-i-was-in-a-bar-and-the/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) ## More by Robert Ben Garant > [There were guys in 'The State' who would take one script and rewrite it and rewrite it and rewrite it and fight for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/there-were-guys-in-the-state-who-would-take-one-script-and-rewrite-it/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [You need to know that going in, and you also need to be able to write all the time. So when somebody looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/you-need-to-know-that-going-in-and-you-also-need-to-be-able-to-write/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Not taking criticism of your writing personally is an enormous step towards surviving the studio system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/not-taking-criticism-of-your-writing-personally-is-an-enormous-step/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Movies are very, very good to me; What do I need TV for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/movies-are-very-very-good-to-me-what-do-i-need-tv-for/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [I write manically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/i-write-manically/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Most movies were always terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/most-movies-were-always-terrible/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [I don't think people realize how many scripts you write that go nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/i-don-t-think-people-realize-how-many-scripts-you-write-that-go/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [If you have a writing partner that you don't share a work ethic with, it's doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/if-you-have-a-writing-partner-that-you-don-t-share-a-work-ethic-with/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [We joke a lot about how, in Hollywood, the writer is one step below the doormat. That's not self-loathing. That's true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/we-joke-a-lot-about-how-in-hollywood-the-writer-is-one-step-below-the/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [For a living I write stuff that I know is gonna sell to a studio and make a lot of money at the multiplex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/for-a-living-i-write-stuff-that-i-know-is-gonna-sell-to-a-studio-and/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [There are a huge amount of people who sell a TV pilot every year, but most of them never get produced. It's very easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/there-are-a-huge-amount-of-people-who-sell-a-tv-pilot-every-year-but/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [It's much easier to get your material out to the public now than it was in 1988, when you basically had to get onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/it-s-much-easier-to-get-your-material-out-to-the-public-now-than-it/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [You can't teach somebody how to be a good writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/you-can-t-teach-somebody-how-to-be-a-good-writer/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > ['Balls of Fury' was my first time directing, and that's a movie that I think parts of it are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/balls-of-fury-was-my-first-time-directing-and-that-s-a-movie-that-i/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [ You have to be willing to throw \[writing\] stuff away and replace it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/you-have-to-be-willing-to-throw-writing-stuff-away-and-replace-it/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) [Explore all 60 Robert Ben Garant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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