--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because I never plan anything out ahead…" description: "\"Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to guide me, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/tess-gerritsen-3102_about_because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead_205728.png" --- # Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm… ![“Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to guide me, I discover things about my heroines as the stories unfold. Only in 'Body Double' did I discover that Maura's mother was a serial killer.” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/tess-gerritsen-3102_about_because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead_205728.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/tess-gerritsen-3102_about_because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead_205728.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/tess-gerritsen-3102_about_because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead_205728.png) > “Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to guide me, I discover things about my heroines as the stories unfold. Only in 'Body Double' did I discover that Maura's mother was a serial killer.” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author discovers character details organically through storytelling rather than pre‑planning, allowing unexpected traits to emerge. **In simple terms:** Characters reveal themselves during the writing process. Key Takeaway Embrace improvisation in character development. Themes creativity character development storytelling Mood curious reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - novel drafting - screenwriting - role‑playing games Key Concepts spontaneity emergent narrative character depth Questions to Reflect On - How does improvisation affect plot cohesion? - What methods can you use to integrate discovered traits? A Different Perspective Unplanned development may lead to inconsistencies if not later refined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Heroines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroines/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Serial killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killer/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I've got big hips and a big body. I'm double, triple the size of other models - and I embrace that - I own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-lawley/i-ve-got-big-hips-and-a-big-body-i-m-double-triple-the-size-of-other/) [Robyn Lawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-lawley/) > [A way you can get really good abs in film is you get your makeup artist to paint shadows - faux washboard. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-tilly/a-way-you-can-get-really-good-abs-in-film-is-you-get-your-makeup/) [Jennifer Tilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-tilly/) > [If I have to use a body double, it means I'm not well prepared to do what I have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/if-i-have-to-use-a-body-double-it-means-i-m-not-well-prepared-to-do/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [“It was a body double.” “Shut up,” she said, but the extra emphasis was more relief than anything else. Now she could focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-body-double-shut-up-she-said-but-the-extra-emphasis-was-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even if I never sold another book, I'd keep writing, because the stories are here, in my head. Stories that just need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/even-if-i-never-sold-another-book-i-d-keep-writing-because-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [I think of myself as a fairly logical, scientific and somewhat reserved person. Maura Isles, the Boston medical examiner who appears in five of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-think-of-myself-as-a-fairly-logical-scientific-and-somewhat/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [I always write on unlined typing paper and write the first draft in longhand, using cheap Bic pens. 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Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/when-we-are-listened-to-it-creates-us-makes-us-unfold-and-expand/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [Sympathy is a supporting atmosphere, and in it we unfold easily and well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/sympathy-is-a-supporting-atmosphere-and-in-it-we-unfold-easily-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I have lived enough to know great things will unfold for me externally only if I allow them to unfold for me internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-have-lived-enough-to-know-great-things-will-unfold-for-me/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [As someone who has faced as much disappointment as most people, I've come to trust not that events will always unfold exactly as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-someone-who-has-faced-as-much-disappointment-as-most-people-i-ve/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“When you unfold your spirit, you unfold your dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-unfold-your-spirit-you-unfold-your-dream/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“We cannot see how our lives will unfold. What is destiny and What is accident? And how can one ever be certain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-ostlere/we-cannot-see-how-our-lives-will-unfold-what-is-destiny-and-what-is/) [Cathy Ostlere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-ostlere/) > [“Love your life, my dear. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I know it’s something. I saw it in your eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-naigle/love-your-life-my-dear-i-don-t-know-what-s-going-on-with-you-but-i/) [Nancy Naigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-naigle/) > [“If we could push ajar the gates of life, And stand within, and all God's workings see, We could interpret all this doubt and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-riley-smith/if-we-could-push-ajar-the-gates-of-life-and-stand-within-and-all-god/) Mary Riley Smith ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The best heroes in the world are the reluctant ones. Courage isn't fearlessness - it's acting in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-best-heroes-in-the-world-are-the-reluctant-ones-courage-isn-t/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“If you don't love him, if you don't even care about him, then seeing him now shouldn't be all that painful. Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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