Answers Quote by Steve Erickson
“There have been times I thought that when I got a certain point in the story, a certain character was going to do a certain thing, only to get to that point and have the character make clear that he or she doesn't want to do that at all. That long phone conversation I thought the character was going to have? He hangs up the phone before the other person answers, and twenty pages of dialog I had half written in my head go out the window.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sea of Tranquility by Steve Erickson, 2022
The author experiences a sudden loss of narrative control, realizing characters act against expectations, highlighting the unpredictability of storytelling.
In simple terms: Stories can surprise even their creators.
Key Takeaway
Embrace unexpected twists.
Themes
creativity
uncertainty
narrative
control
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
literary
metafictional
When to use this quote
- writing process
- plot development
- creative block
Key Concepts
storytelling
authorial intent
character agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle unexpected outcomes?
- What can you learn from a character’s rebellion?
A Different Perspective
Predictability can limit artistic discovery.
