Jim Murphy Quotes

But with nonfiction, the task is very straightforward: Do the research, tell the story.

I write nonfiction in this thriller-esque style. I have all the facts; I research it. I have thousands of pages of court documents... I try to get inside my stories.

Nonfiction means that our stories are as true and accurate as possible. Readers expect - demand - diligence.

The thing I always tell my writing students - I'm not a full-time instructor, by any means, but periodically I've taught writing students - what I always tell them is that the most important thing in narrative nonfiction is that you not only have to have all the research; you have to have about 100% more than you need.

The way I prepare is through script analysts and back story. I create back story for a character based on script analysts, filling in as many details as possible. I also do a lot of research.

The spirit from which we act is the principal matter.

As a writer you see the big picture and how you can tell as one character, how your storyline is going to meet up with all these other storylines. And as an actor you're thinking of all the minutiae, all the very small details.

The cool thing about doing films and being different characters is that it's new everyday and new every project. So, you're always learning something different and you get to do research.

Purpose ... is held to be most closely connected with virtue, and to be a better token of our character than are even our acts.

I love fantasy. I love thrillers. I love action. I'm all over the place. As long as the story and characters are good, I'll love it.

Action and adventure on land and sea-you can't ask for more. But Robert Kurson raises the ante in Pirate Hunters with an array of mystery and a fleet of colorful characters spanning four centuries. This is a great summer read!

Good impulses are naught, unless they become good actions.

Passivity may be the easy course, but it is hardly the honorable one.

Instead of speaking saintly words we must act them.

It is not whether your words or actions are tough or gentle; it is the spirit behind your actions and words that announces your inner state.

Character is what someone does, much more than who they are. I can be sarcastic or I can be fearful, but it doesn't really matter until there's a story - until someone comes in and holds us hostage.

Nonfiction, qua label, is nothing more or less than a very flexible (easily breakable) frame that allows you to pull the thing away from narrative and toward contemplation, which is all I've ever wanted.

Ooo,” said Alexia, fascinated, “it shrinks back down again. The books didn't detail that occurrence.” The earl laughed. “You must show me these books of yours.

I’m loving doing Outlander. We’ve got a great cast and we’re up in the Scottish Highlands. […] It’s big budget, they’re spending a lot of money on it. They’re going for a very gritty and realistic portrayal of the Highlands and I play Dougal MacKenzie, the War Chieftain of Clan MacKenzie. As that implies, he’s quite the serious character. There’s lots of political intrigue, there’s romance, there’s adventure and action and there’s time-travel.

Courage is essential to leadership.

We are always looking for a grand program of action full of great ideas, when the thing is to begin by obeying the little ideas.

Reportage is interesting only when placed in a fictional context, but fiction is interesting only if it is validated by a documentary context.

When a novelist or screenwriter is looking for a subject, the element he's seeking is conflict. Conflict makes drama. Conflict produces great characters and memorable scenes. So war is a natural topic.

Our children will be born of our actions. Our accidents will become their destinies. Oh, the actions will remain. It is a simple matter of what you will do when the chips are down, my friend. When the fat lady is singing. When the walls are falling in, and the sky is dark, and the ground is rumbling. In that moment our actions will define us. And it makes no difference whether you are being watched by Allah, Jesus, Buddah, or whether you are not. On cold days a man can see his breath, on a hot day he can't. On both occasions, the man breathes.

You are what you do. It's about actions.