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What counts in a good story is the person inside. Keep it simple.
Paulo Coelho
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The essence of a good story lies in its characters rather than complex plotlines.

Paulo Coelho emphasizes that the true value of a story comes from the depth and authenticity of its characters rather than from intricate plots or elaborate storytelling techniques. By advocating for simplicity, he suggests that relatable and well-developed characters are essential in engaging the audience and conveying the story's message effectively.

Themes

StorytellingCharactersSimplicityNarrativeArt

In practice

Example use cases

During a writing workshop, I shared Coelho's quote to inspire writers to focus on character development.

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I'm not doing anything, and yet I'm also doing the most important thing a man can do: I'm listening to what I needed to hear from myself.
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Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing that we trust in God.
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