--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a funny thing about stories. It…" description: "\"It's a funny thing about stories. It doesn't feel like you make them up, more like you find them. You type and type and you know you haven't got it yet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/steven-moffat-2328_expected_it-s-a-funny-thing-about-stories-it-does_1695910.png" --- # It's a funny thing about stories. It doesn't feel like you… ![“It's a funny thing about stories. It doesn't feel like you make them up, more like you find them. You type and type and you know you haven't got it yet, because somewhere out there, there's that perfect thing -- the unexpected ending that was always going to happen. That place you've always been…” quote by Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/steven-moffat-2328_expected_it-s-a-funny-thing-about-stories-it-does_1695910.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/steven-moffat-2328_expected_it-s-a-funny-thing-about-stories-it-does_1695910.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/steven-moffat-2328_expected_it-s-a-funny-thing-about-stories-it-does_1695910.png) > “It's a funny thing about stories. It doesn't feel like you make them up, more like you find them. You type and type and you know you haven't got it yet, because somewhere out there, there's that perfect thing -- the unexpected ending that was always going to happen. That place you've always been heading for, but never expected to go.” [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories feel discovered rather than invented; the narrative unfolds toward an inevitable yet surprising climax that the writer senses but cannot yet articulate. **In simple terms:** Stories seem found, not made, leading to an unexpected ending. Key Takeaway Trust the process and let the story reveal itself. Themes creativity storytelling intuition Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative brainstorming - plot development Key Concepts narrative destiny unexpected climax Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning with allowing surprise? - What signals tell you you’re near the story’s true conclusion? A Different Perspective The “perfect ending” may remain elusive, causing frustration or indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Headings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headings/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Somewhere out there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere-out-there/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-doesn-1102722/) [Thing Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-stories-1102723/) [Thing Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-unexpected-788193/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected Ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-ending-1102721/) ## Related quotes > [Life is a mystery and its just full of surprises. Choose well...but what you chose might bring a totally different unexpected ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-mystery-and-its-just-full-of-surprises-choose-well-but-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you find the most amazing thing, in the most unexpected places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sambo-muhammad/sometimes-you-find-the-most-amazing-thing-in-the-most-unexpected/) [Sambo Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sambo-muhammad/) > [“And yet, wasn't the terrific thing about stories the fact that they joined readers together, that they made people realize they were not alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-langer/and-yet-wasn-t-the-terrific-thing-about-stories-the-fact-that-they/) [Adam Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-langer/) > [“There's always more to the story, Catriona," She replied. "That's the wonderful thing about stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-vogel-frederick/there-s-always-more-to-the-story-catriona-she-replied-that-s-the/) [Heather Vogel Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-vogel-frederick/) > [Some stories doesn't need to be written, circumstances automatically narrates the scenes behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/some-stories-doesn-t-need-to-be-written-circumstances-automatically/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [“People grow up listening to all kinds of stories, but that doesn't mean they all want to spend their whole lives studying them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/people-grow-up-listening-to-all-kinds-of-stories-but-that-doesn-t/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) > [“...there is a force in the world that doesn't want us to live good stories. It doesn't want us to face our issues, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-is-a-force-in-the-world-that-doesn-t-want-us-to-live-good/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“I’m not interested in writing short stories. Anything that doesn’t take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-short-stories-anything-that-doesn-t/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [Death of the Father would deprive literature of many of its pleasures. If there is no longer a Father, why tell stories? Doesn't every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/death-of-the-father-would-deprive-literature-of-many-of-its-pleasures/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [The thing about stories is that they almost always find their way onto the page, even if it takes a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-iagnemma/the-thing-about-stories-is-that-they-almost-always-find-their-way/) [Karl Iagnemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-iagnemma/) > [The thing about stories is you have to pick the ones that last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-stories-is-you-have-to-pick-the-ones-that-last/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I liked that sort of thing, those one-off stories like 'Tales of the Unexpected,' 'Hammer House of Horror,' 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Alfred Hitchcock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-liked-that-sort-of-thing-those-one-off-stories-like-tales-of-the/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [Somewhere out there is a unique place for you to help others - a unique life role for you to fill that only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/somewhere-out-there-is-a-unique-place-for-you-to-help-others-a-unique/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [Ideas, we all know, are not born in people's heads. They begin somewhere out there, loose wisps of smoke swirling directionless in their search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-couto/ideas-we-all-know-are-not-born-in-people-s-heads-they-begin-somewhere/) [Mia Couto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-couto/) > [I'm the girl who still believes prince charming exists somewhere out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-m-the-girl-who-still-believes-prince-charming-exists-somewhere-out/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## More by Steven Moffat > [Like most writers, I write about what has happened to me as that involves the minimum amount of research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/like-most-writers-i-write-about-what-has-happened-to-me-as-that/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-m-not-a-psychopath-i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath-do-your-research/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ The Doctor: This is bad, I don't like this. \[kicks console and yells in pain\] Never use force, you just embarrass yourself. Unless you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-this-is-bad-i-don-t-like-this-kicks-console-and-yells-in/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Don't play games with me! You just killed someone I like, that is not a safe place to stand! I'm the Doctor, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/don-t-play-games-with-me-you-just-killed-someone-i-like-that-is-not-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The universe is big, its vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-universe-is-big-its-vast-and-complicated-and-ridiculous-and/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Fascinatingly confident, rude people are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/fascinatingly-confident-rude-people-are-great/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ Rose: Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas! The Doctor: Who says I'm not, red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve? Rose: \[shocked\] What? The Doctor: And everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rose-look-at-you-beaming-away-like-you-re-father-christmas-the-doctor/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [River Song? Amy Pond? Hardly weak women. It's the exact opposite. You could accuse me of having a fetish for powerful, sexy women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/river-song-amy-pond-hardly-weak-women-it-s-the-exact-opposite-you/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are back in Cardiff, back in the box, and back in action - for one of our scariest adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/peter-capaldi-and-jenna-coleman-are-back-in-cardiff-back-in-the-box/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Madge: I don't know why I keep shouting at them. The Doctor: Because every time you see them happy you remember how sad they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/madge-i-don-t-know-why-i-keep-shouting-at-them-the-doctor-because/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/if-it-s-time-to-go-remember-what-you-re-leaving-remember-the-best/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The Doctor: 'You know when grown-ups tell you everything's going to be fine, but you really think they're lying to make you feel better?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-you-know-when-grown-ups-tell-you-everything-s-going-to-be/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Hello, old friend. And here we are. You and me, on the last page. By the time you read these words, Rory and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/hello-old-friend-and-here-we-are-you-and-me-on-the-last-page-by-the/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Rory: Amy. I'm gonna need a little help here. Amy: Just stop it! Rory: Just think it through, this will work. 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I have always expected a great deal of myself, and if I fail, I fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-have-never-judged-myself-by-other-people-s-standards-i-have-always/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. 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