--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always find the first thing that really…" description: "\"I always find the first thing that really bothers me when I start a screenplay is, I have to find a different form. You can't follow the form of the no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_always_i-always-find-the-first-thing-that-reall_434389.jpg" --- # I always find the first thing that really bothers me when… ![“I always find the first thing that really bothers me when I start a screenplay is, I have to find a different form. You can't follow the form of the novel. It's a different thing completely. It's impossible. You just somehow have to find a structure for the whole thing. You have to crack that.” quote by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_always_i-always-find-the-first-thing-that-reall_434389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_always_i-always-find-the-first-thing-that-reall_434389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_always_i-always-find-the-first-thing-that-reall_434389.jpg) > “I always find the first thing that really bothers me when I start a screenplay is, I have to find a different form. You can't follow the form of the novel. It's a different thing completely. It's impossible. You just somehow have to find a structure for the whole thing. You have to crack that.” [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Screenplay writing demands a new structure distinct from novels; adapting requires creative restructuring. **In simple terms:** Film needs its own format, different from books. Key Takeaway Find a fresh structure when adapting stories. Themes creativity adaptation structure Mood analytical inspirational Type creative educational When to use this quote - film development - novel adaptation - writing workshops - creative brainstorming Key Concepts narrative form storytelling medium transition Questions to Reflect On - How do you preserve core themes while changing form? - What strategies help you discover new narrative structures? A Different Perspective Risk of losing original story essence during restructuring. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) ## Related quotes > [Natural writers will often try to force themselves into a form - novel, story, screenplay, or poem - that is not necessarily the appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-olen-butler/natural-writers-will-often-try-to-force-themselves-into-a-form-novel/) [Robert Olen Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-olen-butler/) > [When you use the form of a novel, and you say 'I,' you are also saying 'I' for someone else. When you say 'you,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/when-you-use-the-form-of-a-novel-and-you-say-i-you-are-also-saying-i/) [Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [I believe that the short story is as different a form from the novel as poetry is, and the best stories seem to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/i-believe-that-the-short-story-is-as-different-a-form-from-the-novel/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [When I began to write seriously, 40 years ago now, my chosen form was the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nicholson/when-i-began-to-write-seriously-40-years-ago-now-my-chosen-form-was/) [William Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nicholson/) > [“Some love stories remains incomplete and then we complete them by giving a form of novel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulkit-gupta/some-love-stories-remains-incomplete-and-then-we-complete-them-by/) Pulkit Gupta > [I want to be an art-hero - I want to change the form of the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-want-to-be-an-art-hero-i-want-to-change-the-form-of-the-novel/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [The idea to make hotel reviews the form of the novel came first. So I just started writing hotel reviews and tried to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/the-idea-to-make-hotel-reviews-the-form-of-the-novel-came-first-so-i/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [A good book changes for you every few years because you are in a different place in your own life. That's a sign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/a-good-book-changes-for-you-every-few-years-because-you-are-in-a/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Observe that for the novelist who has remained Christian, like myself, man is someone creating himself or destroying himself. He is not an immobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-mauriac/observe-that-for-the-novelist-who-has-remained-christian-like-myself/) [François Mauriac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-mauriac/) > [The Little Friend is a long book. It's also completely different from my first novel: different landscape, different characters, different use of language and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/the-little-friend-is-a-long-book-it-s-also-completely-different-from/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“A novel is no different than graffiti in a bathroom stall, it's just more pretentious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-leigh-stewart/a-novel-is-no-different-than-graffiti-in-a-bathroom-stall-it-s-just/) [Christy Leigh Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-leigh-stewart/) > [A novel it's different. It's kind of exhilarating not to have to cut to the bone constantly. Oh, well I can go over here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/a-novel-it-s-different-it-s-kind-of-exhilarating-not-to-have-to-cut/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [It's very bad to write a novel by act of will. I can do a book of nonfiction work that way - just sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/it-s-very-bad-to-write-a-novel-by-act-of-will-i-can-do-a-book-of/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I try to keep each different book different from the last. So 'Sag Harbor' is very different from 'Apex Hides the Hurt;' 'The Intuitionist,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-try-to-keep-each-different-book-different-from-the-last-so-sag/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Just because it's a novel--can't it also be different?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-deaton/just-because-it-s-a-novel-can-t-it-also-be-different/) John Deaton ## More by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala > [I only really woke up in India. It was my first experience of plenty, strangely enough, because everything in England was rationed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-only-really-woke-up-in-india-it-was-my-first-experience-of-plenty/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Film is not like a book; it's not a writer's baby at all. So many people have put in their talent, by that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/film-is-not-like-a-book-it-s-not-a-writer-s-baby-at-all-so-many/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [It's technically extremely difficult to get down what you really mean, not what you think you mean, or what you think sounds good, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/it-s-technically-extremely-difficult-to-get-down-what-you-really-mean/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [The misfortune to be born when I was, where I was. That was a piece of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/the-misfortune-to-be-born-when-i-was-where-i-was-that-was-a-piece-of/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I never really had any close friends in India, and I felt a terrible loneliness and isolation for many years. Westernized Indians don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-never-really-had-any-close-friends-in-india-and-i-felt-a-terrible/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [First, I was so dazzled and besotted by India. People said the poverty was biblical, and I'm afraid that was my attitude, too. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/first-i-was-so-dazzled-and-besotted-by-india-people-said-the-poverty/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Perhaps I'm just fickle by nature and get tired of countries the way other women do of husbands or lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/perhaps-i-m-just-fickle-by-nature-and-get-tired-of-countries-the-way/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [All my early books are written as if I were Indian. In England, I had started writing as if I were English; now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/all-my-early-books-are-written-as-if-i-were-indian-in-england-i-had/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I'm not interested in who am I. I'm interested in what's gone, the disinheritance, what I've been able to become or learn or fuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-m-not-interested-in-who-am-i-i-m-interested-in-what-s-gone-the/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Westernized Indians don't like my books and I tend not to like westernized Indians - so we're quits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/westernized-indians-don-t-like-my-books-and-i-tend-not-to-like/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I like characters who are larger-than-life, whether life-loving women or the artist or guru who grabs everything. But I don't live among people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-like-characters-who-are-larger-than-life-whether-life-loving-women/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [The older books were quite light-hearted. But I think most of my novels do end on a deep note of pessimism. Shadows seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/the-older-books-were-quite-light-hearted-but-i-think-most-of-my/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [India was a sensation. It was remarkable to see all those parrots flying about, the brilliant foliage and the brilliant sky. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/india-was-a-sensation-it-was-remarkable-to-see-all-those-parrots/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Everyone is so estranged; no one is rooted. That's what I like to write about more than anything else. Everything being so mixed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/everyone-is-so-estranged-no-one-is-rooted-that-s-what-i-like-to-write/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) [Explore all 25 Ruth Prawer Jhabvala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [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/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always find the first thing that really bothers me when I start a screenplay is, I have to find a different form. 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