--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scraps of memory: this is not how a…" description: "\"“Scraps of memory: this is not how a climax should be written. A climax should surge towards its Himalayan peak; but I am left with shreds, and must je..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/salman-rushdie-153_climax_scraps-of-memory-this-is-not-how-a-clima_1951977.jpg" --- # Scraps of memory: this is not how a climax should be… ![“Scraps of memory: this is not how a climax should be written. A climax should surge towards its Himalayan peak; but I am left with shreds, and must jerk towards my crisis like a puppet with broken strings. This is not what I had planned; but perhaps the story you finish is never the one you begin.” quote by Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/salman-rushdie-153_climax_scraps-of-memory-this-is-not-how-a-clima_1951977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/salman-rushdie-153_climax_scraps-of-memory-this-is-not-how-a-clima_1951977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/salman-rushdie-153_climax_scraps-of-memory-this-is-not-how-a-clima_1951977.jpg) > ““Scraps of memory: this is not how a climax should be written. A climax should surge towards its Himalayan peak; but I am left with shreds, and must jerk towards my crisis like a puppet with broken strings. This is not what I had planned; but perhaps the story you finish is never the one you begin.”” [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A story's climax should build to a powerful peak, but sometimes it feels fragmented and forced. **In simple terms:** Climaxes need natural, powerful build‑up. Key Takeaway Structure narratives for rising tension. Themes storytelling structure creativity Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary creative When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops - editing Key Concepts narrative arc dramatic tension Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unexpected plot twists? - When is a broken climax effective? A Different Perspective Not all stories can follow a perfect arc; chaos can be intentional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climax/) [Climax Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climax-written-3173875/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Memory Climax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-climax-3173876/) [Peak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Story Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-finish-701437/) [Written Climax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-climax-3173874/) ## Related quotes > [Perhaps the story you finish is never the one you begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/perhaps-the-story-you-finish-is-never-the-one-you-begin/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“This is not what I had planned; but perhaps the story you finish is never the one you begin. (Once,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/this-is-not-what-i-had-planned-but-perhaps-the-story-you-finish-is/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Life is like a story, when all the resolution is resolved, you heave a sigh of relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/life-is-like-a-story-when-all-the-resolution-is-resolved-you-heave-a/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“story … if you could finish it … you could rest … you could sleep … not before … oh I know … the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/story-if-you-could-finish-it-you-could-rest-you-could-sleep-not/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [It might seem like the end, but he didn't end your story.. or finish it. Him leaving was an invitation to turn the page,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-bullet/it-might-seem-like-the-end-but-he-didn-t-end-your-story-or-finish-it/) [Cameron Bullet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-bullet/) > [It might seem like the ending, but he didn't write your story.. or finish it. Him leaving was an invitation to turn the page,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-bullet/it-might-seem-like-the-ending-but-he-didn-t-write-your-story-or/) [Cameron Bullet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-bullet/) > [A real love story has to finish bad. That is what I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/a-real-love-story-has-to-finish-bad-that-is-what-i-think/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [“Once you start recognizing the truth of your story, finish the story. It happened but you're still here, you're still capable, powerful, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/once-you-start-recognizing-the-truth-of-your-story-finish-the-story/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Think 'Game of Thrones.' In the old days, this sort of show might be considered bad writing. It doesn't really seem to be moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/think-game-of-thrones-in-the-old-days-this-sort-of-show-might-be/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [I don't view any of the hits I've ever written as the climax of my career. They're just minor stepping stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bellion/i-don-t-view-any-of-the-hits-i-ve-ever-written-as-the-climax-of-my/) [Jon Bellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bellion/) > [“And in that full day, while Jed slept and woke and worked and loved, the forces in the world around him rushed headlong toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bunker/and-in-that-full-day-while-jed-slept-and-woke-and-worked-and-loved/) [Michael Bunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bunker/) > [Going nowhere fast. We've reached the climax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/going-nowhere-fast-we-ve-reached-the-climax/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > ['Prom' is a movie that follows a bunch of high-schoolers' lives leading up to the prom, the climax of the movie. It focuses all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/prom-is-a-movie-that-follows-a-bunch-of-high-schoolers-lives-leading/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hatethe corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial, and hypocritical Christianity of this land.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-love-the-pure-peaceable-and-impartial-christianity-of-christ-i/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Salman Rushdie > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [It's a terrible thing that your life turns into a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/it-s-a-terrible-thing-that-your-life-turns-into-a-good-story/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I want to write novels. I want to write stories. I want to do the stuff that I became a writer to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-want-to-write-novels-i-want-to-write-stories-i-want-to-do-the-stuff/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you want to be a serious writer, then you have to write what there is to write about. If you're going to pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-you-want-to-be-a-serious-writer-then-you-have-to-write-what-there/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Después de exigir mi marcha, ya no posees jurisdicción en lo concerniente a mi salud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/despu-s-de-exigir-mi-marcha-ya-no-posees-jurisdicci-n-en-lo/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If there is a choice between absolute safety and freedom, then freedom must always prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-there-is-a-choice-between-absolute-safety-and-freedom-then-freedom/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'm not a prophet, but I always thought it was natural for dictatorships to fall. I remember in 1989, two months before the fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-not-a-prophet-but-i-always-thought-it-was-natural-for/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'd wanted to create a storm so that I could become more famous and richer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-d-wanted-to-create-a-storm-so-that-i-could-become-more-famous-and/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“...proving once again that there was no escape from recurrence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/proving-once-again-that-there-was-no-escape-from-recurrence/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“information, in a stream-of-consciousness soliloquy that revealed the extent to which he had internalised the adversarial fragmentation of American culture and made it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/information-in-a-stream-of-consciousness-soliloquy-that-revealed-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [A little bit of one story joins onto an idea from another, and hey presto, . . . not old tales but new ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/a-little-bit-of-one-story-joins-onto-an-idea-from-another-and-hey/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'm a novelist. Fortunately I don't have to rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-a-novelist-fortunately-i-don-t-have-to-rule-the-world/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The First Amendment defends all forms of speech including hate speech, which is why groups like Ku Klux Klan are allowed to utter their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-first-amendment-defends-all-forms-of-speech-including-hate-speech/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) [Explore all 1,087 Salman Rushdie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More Climax quotes > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hatethe corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial, and hypocritical Christianity of this land.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-love-the-pure-peaceable-and-impartial-christianity-of-christ-i/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > ['Prom' is a movie that follows a bunch of high-schoolers' lives leading up to the prom, the climax of the movie. It focuses all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/prom-is-a-movie-that-follows-a-bunch-of-high-schoolers-lives-leading/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [Going nowhere fast. We've reached the climax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/going-nowhere-fast-we-ve-reached-the-climax/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [“And in that full day, while Jed slept and woke and worked and loved, the forces in the world around him rushed headlong toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bunker/and-in-that-full-day-while-jed-slept-and-woke-and-worked-and-loved/) [Michael Bunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bunker/) > [I don't view any of the hits I've ever written as the climax of my career. They're just minor stepping stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bellion/i-don-t-view-any-of-the-hits-i-ve-ever-written-as-the-climax-of-my/) [Jon Bellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bellion/) > [Think 'Game of Thrones.' In the old days, this sort of show might be considered bad writing. It doesn't really seem to be moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/think-game-of-thrones-in-the-old-days-this-sort-of-show-might-be/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [The climax of absurdity to which art may be carried when led away from nature by fashion, may be best seen in the works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/the-climax-of-absurdity-to-which-art-may-be-carried-when-led-away/) [John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/) > [Even the classics that we read to our young children are full of wolves' fangs and burning ovens and bloody feet and ice shards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/even-the-classics-that-we-read-to-our-young-children-are-full-of/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [More than working toward the book's climax, I work toward the denouement. As a reader and a writer, that's where I find the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-van-eekhout/more-than-working-toward-the-book-s-climax-i-work-toward-the/) [Greg van Eekhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-van-eekhout/) > [Oh, is this the climax? Well, I hope you don't mind if I fake it! -Buffy Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scary-movie/oh-is-this-the-climax-well-i-hope-you-don-t-mind-if-i-fake-it-buffy/) [Scary Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scary-movie/) > [“I’m pretty sure I had a romance novel climax.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-c-jamison/i-m-pretty-sure-i-had-a-romance-novel-climax/) [Jade C. Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-c-jamison/) > [“A plot-structure is a series of integrated, logically connected events, moved by a central purpose, leading to the resolution of a climax.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-branden/a-plot-structure-is-a-series-of-integrated-logically-connected-events/) [Barbara Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-branden/) > [The dog is dressed just like me at the climax of my act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gypsy-rose-lee/the-dog-is-dressed-just-like-me-at-the-climax-of-my-act/) [Gypsy Rose Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gypsy-rose-lee/) > [The climax of terror is reached when the police state begins to devour its own children, when yesterday's executioner becomes today's victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-climax-of-terror-is-reached-when-the-police-state-begins-to/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) [Browse all 170 Climax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climax/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Scraps of memory: this is not how a climax should be written. 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