Kevin J. Anderson Quotes

The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't know that when we began the process.

The first sentence of a book is a promise.

Fans want to see a story with characters, and they want to see a story.

I spent ages figuring out things like viewpoint, how you tell the story, and so on.

I think the danger with using the term 'trilogy' is that it sets up particular expectations in the reader's mind.

I never believed I could write anything. No way - write a whole story? Figuring out all that plotting and symbolism? How do you foreshadow things?

Narrative is so rich; it's given up so much.

You can have the greatest characters in the world and write beautifully, but if nothing's happening, the story falls on its face pretty quickly.

I write largely plot-driven stories.

I'm not a big fan of prequels to be honest.

Anyone who's been reading my stuff can see that there's a lot of tracks being laid for future stories.

Typically, the performance has a story - a beginning, the crescendo and the end.

The most important thing is the script.

Lots of people do stand up shows with no narrative, but I love a beginning, a middle and an end.

'Sound of My Voice' had been written before 'Another Earth.'

You have to look for story. That's obvious. If that's not on the page, you can forget it. But I also read whatever character I'm being offered. And if you can cut them out without it affecting the story, then I say no straight away.

I usually have a general idea of where the story is going, but I try to avoid planning in too much detail. The best endings are those that emerge only after I've thought long and hard about the various ways the story might end. Then I choose the ending that seems surprising yet somehow inevitable.

Narratives are very important to me.

I remember watching episodes of 'The Sopranos' and being filled with dread knowing what was coming or anticipating what was coming. I don't think that that's always a bad thing. I think sometimes the audience needs a little catharsis held away from them.

The writing is only ever the attractive thing about a part. And also if all the elements within the writing come together - the character and the structure and the narrative - if they are all there then you become excited.

I feel it's important to familiarize yourself with the world that the character inhabits.

For me, in any story that I take, the antagonist is more interesting and multi-dimensional.

I like to read fiction.

I watch 'Watchmen', and I wish I was in that writers room, so I could figure out what they're doing, story-breaking-wise. I've never seen a television show like that.

It begins with the kind of story the writers want to tell. We never sit around in those retreats and say, 'We really need to make a change. Let's change this character.' Or throw a dart at the wall and see what hits. It all begins with story.