--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact is that at different stages of…" description: "\"The fact is that at different stages of your life, and under the influence of different inspirations, you write different things. The point is not nece..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/vikram-seth-4208_again_the-fact-is-that-at-different-stages-of_1874945.jpg" --- # The fact is that at different stages of your life, and… ![“The fact is that at different stages of your life, and under the influence of different inspirations, you write different things. The point is not necessarily to find your voice, which grinds out the same sort of thing again and again, but to find a vehicle for people who are far more important…” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/vikram-seth-4208_again_the-fact-is-that-at-different-stages-of_1874945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/vikram-seth-4208_again_the-fact-is-that-at-different-stages-of_1874945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/vikram-seth-4208_again_the-fact-is-that-at-different-stages-of_1874945.jpg) > “The fact is that at different stages of your life, and under the influence of different inspirations, you write different things. The point is not necessarily to find your voice, which grinds out the same sort of thing again and again, but to find a vehicle for people who are far more important than the author: the characters.” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers should prioritize characters over personal voice, using narrative as a vehicle for others’ stories. **In simple terms:** Focus on characters, not just author’s style. Key Takeaway Let characters drive the story. Themes writing character development voice Mood reflective creative Type advice literary When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts narrative theory literary craft Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance character and authorial voice? - What makes a character compelling? A Different Perspective Finding a voice can still be essential for authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspirations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirations/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We wanna believe that we're different than the average guy that's working 9-to-5, that our thoughts are different than his. Our inspirations and desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/we-wanna-believe-that-we-re-different-than-the-average-guy-that-s/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [We both have different inspirations, style-wise. Lisa really loves Penelope Cruz and that classic gypsy look, whereas I like trashy hot messes and '50s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-origliasso/we-both-have-different-inspirations-style-wise-lisa-really-loves/) [Jessica Origliasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-origliasso/) > [I'm listening to Tame Impala, Mac DeMarco, Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino. I'm just trying to just get as many different inspirations as I can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/i-m-listening-to-tame-impala-mac-demarco-frank-ocean-childish-gambino/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [I've always said to people that auteurism is nice, but it's hypothetical, and gradually you learn how much or how little influence different directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sarris/i-ve-always-said-to-people-that-auteurism-is-nice-but-it-s/) [Andrew Sarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sarris/) > [The purpose of establishing different houses of legislation is to introduce the influence of different interests or different principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-establishing-different-houses-of-legislation-is-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I have many favorite actors that have influenced me all my life and that are still idols and models to me. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-dobrovic/i-have-many-favorite-actors-that-have-influenced-me-all-my-life-and/) [Massimo Dobrovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-dobrovic/) > [In a society that has very high concentration of capital in a narrow sector of the population, that's going to influence everything in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-a-society-that-has-very-high-concentration-of-capital-in-a-narrow/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [An author's characters do what he wants them to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-griffin/an-author-s-characters-do-what-he-wants-them-to-do/) [W. E. B. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-griffin/) > [Readers will share in the environs of the author and her characters, be taken into the hardship of a pitiless place and emerge on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonya-nelson/readers-will-share-in-the-environs-of-the-author-and-her-characters/) [Antonya Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonya-nelson/) > [“Silar's problem is something I, as an author, am constantly faced with. I have to predict the actions of my characters as they enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-o-charles/silar-s-problem-is-something-i-as-an-author-am-constantly-faced-with/) [H.O. Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-o-charles/) > [“A character is never the author who created him. It is quite likely, however, that an author may be all his characters simultaneously. Albert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/a-character-is-never-the-author-who-created-him-it-is-quite-likely-2/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I think people enjoy a series. When you like a story, many readers want more of the same, which is dandy, if the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-think-people-enjoy-a-series-when-you-like-a-story-many-readers-want/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [A character is never the author who created him. It is quite likely, however, that an author may be all his characters simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/a-character-is-never-the-author-who-created-him-it-is-quite-likely/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I think the most important lesson isn't necessarily to try and write a different book every time, or to try and brand yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/i-think-the-most-important-lesson-isn-t-necessarily-to-try-and-write/) [Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/) > [What I write is different from what I say, what I say is different from what I think, what I think is different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/what-i-write-is-different-from-what-i-say-what-i-say-is-different/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if-you-don-t-like-a-book-set-it/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## More Again quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I've always been interested in photographs, collecting them not systematically but randomly. They get lost, then turn up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photographs-collecting-them-not/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [I say this about everything: when I was on 'Neighbours,' I said, 'These are the best years of my life!' When I was filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-say-this-about-everything-when-i-was-on-neighbours-i-said-these-are/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [In theater, one of the biggest problems when you're rehearsing comedy over and over again is that you stop laughing at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/in-theater-one-of-the-biggest-problems-when-you-re-rehearsing-comedy/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [I'd like to do some female roles again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/i-d-like-to-do-some-female-roles-again/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) > [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. 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I take those memories and think to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/we-won-the-europa-league-in-2013-and-it-was-an-amazing-night-an/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) Browse all 2,975 Again quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact is that at different stages of your life, and under the influence of different inspirations, you write different things. 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