A plot, whether abandoned by a reader or pursued rapturously, remains itself, and gets where it is headed even if nobody is looking.
This quote highlights the enduring and autonomous nature of a well-crafted story or narrative. It suggests that a plot possesses an intrinsic momentum that persists regardless of external attention or observer engagement. When a reader sets aside a story or experiences it with intense enthusiasm, the plot continues to evolve and progress, almost independent of human interaction—like a river flowing steadily toward its destination. Such resilience mirrors the idea that certain stories or ideas have a life of their own; they linger in the mind, influence future narratives, and persist even when their immediate context or audience changes. From a storytelling perspective, this emphasizes that a good plot is not solely defined by its immediate reception but by its structural integrity and the internal logic guiding it forward. This understanding relates to the broader concept that stories exhibit a kind of narrative inevitability—they 'know' where they are headed, driven by themes, characters, and conflicts that are woven into their fabric. This realization can be both reassuring and humbling for writers, readers, and creators, demonstrating that a story can achieve completion and significance beyond the moment of engagement. It encourages us to think of stories as dynamic entities, capable of existing, evolving, and carrying meaning across different contexts and times. Such a perspective underscores the power and resilience of storytelling as a fundamental aspect of human experience, bridging the ephemeral with the eternal.
