Carlton Cuse Quotes

I don't tend to picture my characters as actors and actresses.

I very seldom, very seldom, even know what my characters look like.

I work out the other bits, too, but I need to know what I look like, very early on. And then it's like a template; I'll fill that person out. If I get that out of the way, then I'm all right.

Characters are not created on paper or laptop alone.

I don't ever really know where I get my characters from.

Writers often say that characters begin to write themselves, and I never used to believe that. I always thought that was complete hogwash.

It's usually easier for me to begin writing in a character's voice if that person is different from me in some significant way.

I always believed in my characters. I lived them.

When you write, you hear the characters speaking to you as you take dictation from what they say. And obviously, they had particular personalities when you hear them.

Whichever character I'm using and wherever I am in my mind dictates what kind of story I'm going to tell.

The great thing about writing is that you always put yourself in the shoes of the character. If you're doing it right, you can see into the heart of all your characters. Usually, when there's a writing problem, it's because you aren't doing that.

I always say I write my own novels and the characters don't take control of me, but in fact, I look at the characters in the early stages and I think, 'What is he or she like,' and they slowly come together and they become the person they are.

I never have particular actors planned when I'm in the process of writing.

I never write with an actor in mind - never.

When you create a show, and create characters, these people are like children to you.

I love making characters real and believable, through my own experience and choices.

What I look for in any character, good or bad, is whether I can hear him speak. If I can imagine him that clearly, then I can write about him.

I put a lot of myself into my characters when I write.

One of the things about writing fiction is that you create people that you feel, more or less, as though you know.

No I don't really write thinking about specific actors because it can get in the way a little bit.

Most of the time, when I'm writing, I'm writing for myself. I'm thinking, 'What will my character say at this time? What will come out of her mouth?' I create individuals so real to me, I sometimes start talking to them. Then I let them loose on the page.

My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book about them. Then, they become so real to me I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands.

I don't really base any of my characters on specific people that I know, although my characters are informed by the kind of people who live in my community.

Once I started to value and respect my characters, I could really hear them. I just let them start talking.

I love creating new characters that are whatever they are.