Karen Traviss Quotes

Powerful Karen Traviss for Daily Growth

About Karen Traviss

Karen Traviss is a prolific British-Canadian science fiction author, comic book writer, and video game designer, renowned for her intricate world-building and character development. Born on March 18, 1964, in Nottinghamshire, England, she spent much of her early life in the UK before moving to Canada with her family at the age of 20. This cultural transition has been a significant influence in her work, blending elements of British and North American storytelling. Traviss began her career as a journalist and news editor for various publications, including Computer and Video Games Magazine. However, her passion for science fiction led her to write short stories and eventually novels. Her debut novel, "The Wess'har Wars" (2005), introduced the complex and immersive universe of the Y'hir, a race of telepathic aliens, and the Wess'har, their militaristic conquerors. The series spans eight novels and several short stories, demonstrating Traviss's ability to craft extensive and intricate narratives. Traviss has also made significant contributions to the gaming industry, working on titles such as "Star Wars: Republic Commando," for which she wrote the storyline and dialogue, and "Gears of War," where she served as a writer and narrative designer. Her work in these fields further showcases her knack for creating rich, engaging stories within shared universes. Traviss's writing is characterized by its gritty realism, strong female characters, and thoughtful exploration of the moral complexities inherent in war and conflict. Her work continues to captivate readers worldwide, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in the realm of science fiction.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The universe does not care about your plans."

This quote emphasizes the idea that we, as individuals, have limited control over the larger cosmic order or the unfolding of events in the universe at large. Despite our best-laid plans and strategies, external factors beyond our control can disrupt or alter them. It serves as a reminder to embrace flexibility, resilience, and adaptability in the face of unpredictable circumstances that life may present.


"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same."

This quote suggests that in certain situations, the most challenging task is also the morally correct one. It encourages perseverance when faced with difficult decisions or tasks, as they may align with our values and principles. Overcoming adversity in these instances can lead to personal growth and positive change.


"Fear is the enemy of progress."

This quote by Karen Traviss suggests that fear, as an emotion, often serves as a barrier to progress or growth. When we are afraid, our natural instinct may be to retreat or avoid taking risks, which can hinder us from reaching our full potential. By acknowledging this fear and overcoming it, we can move forward, make progress, and grow both personally and collectively.


"There's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act of kindness can start a chain reaction."

This quote emphasizes that every act of kindness, regardless of its apparent size or significance, has the potential to create a ripple effect, impacting more people than initially expected. A small act of kindness can inspire others to pay it forward, thereby starting a chain reaction of goodwill and positivity. It underscores the power each individual holds in making a difference in their community and the world at large.


"The only way to truly understand someone is to walk in their shoes, even if just for a moment."

This quote emphasizes empathy - the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It suggests that true comprehension of an individual requires experiencing their perspectives, challenges, or circumstances, albeit briefly. In essence, it's acknowledging and valuing the unique experiences of others as a means to foster understanding, compassion, and connection.


I love being pushed out of my comfort zone.

- Karen Traviss

Love, Zone, I Love, Comfort Zone

Whether I build a character from the ground up or develop one, whether within my own copyright or in licensed work, I can step into that character's mind. It takes a kind of voluntary dissociation akin to method acting, military planning, marketing, or detective work: to think like the other guy and work out what he's going to do next.

- Karen Traviss

Next, Other, Copyright, Licensed

The biggest battles in human history can only ever be seen through the eyes of the bloke on the front line, and that's by definition a very focused view and one that will vary from individual to individual.

- Karen Traviss

Through, Very, Front Line, Human History

Recreating the experience of, say, bereavement in my own head is pretty rough. I was used to switching off from emotions every day of my working life as a journalist, but in fiction, you have to feel it 100%, or else it's a flat experience for the reader.

- Karen Traviss

Fiction, Switching, Rough, Bereavement

I'm still an old-school reporter at heart. Writing fiction satisfies my journalistic need to hear and relay the testimony of everyday people at the center of events.

- Karen Traviss

Fiction, Still, Journalistic, Relay

Characters have changed my mind about some very fundamental moral issues, and that's the real satisfaction in the way I write - the ultimate learning experience.

- Karen Traviss

Mind, Learning Experience, Moral Issues

The art of storytelling is in development, not fact sheets. There are posts you have to hammer into the ground from the start just to get going, but if they don't hold up the house you build, you can change them or take them out.

- Karen Traviss

Storytelling, Fact, Hammer, Sheets

I do still read comics since I started writing for DC, but nowhere near as much as I used to, and I'm finding now that it's becoming harder to read comics as a consumer, so I think I'll have to make the call there and stop reading them.

- Karen Traviss

I Think, Becoming, Comics, Consumer

Writing is like a rollercoaster ride for me, an adventure. I love exploring the world through 'playing' people who are absolutely nothing like me.

- Karen Traviss

Love, Through, Like, Rollercoaster

I've got a particular way of writing novels, and that carries over into the way I write comics and games, too. I'm a news journalist by background, so I approach everything as reporting - I treat it as real, I ask the questions I'd ask in a real situation, and I let the characters speak for themselves.

- Karen Traviss

Treat, Particular Way, Reporting

People lose it when I say this, but I'm a novelist who doesn't read novels. There are lots of good reasons for not reading novels! I'm also a game writer who doesn't play games - I keep everything very separate. The only crossover with me is comics. I write them, and I read them passionately.

- Karen Traviss

Game, Play, Very, Novels

I'd probably play games obsessively if I didn't write, although I admit I don't read novels partly because I don't enjoy it, not just because it's the wrong side of the creator-consumer barrier for me. I'm a visual writer. I think in moving 3D images and write down what I observe.

- Karen Traviss

Enjoy, Play, I Think, Novels

If you go back and look at the early promos for Gears 1, you'll see just how different the characters were from the actual first game, both in appearance and background. And it's an evolutionary process.

- Karen Traviss

Game, Back, How, Gears

My books deliberately provide no answers or messages. I'm drilled in the habit of objectivity and also aware that the steady drip of fiction has more power than facts to shape opinion, so I handle it with caution.

- Karen Traviss

Facts, Answers, Fiction, Drip

All the things worth writing about are outside me. I'm a lens, not a source. And even if it's not always a comfortable journey, it's always a stimulating one.

- Karen Traviss

Journey, Always, About, Lens

I still have a lot of military contacts, and friends and readers who've served or are serving, and they react really strongly to G.I. Joe. I've lost count of the number who've said, 'Oh, I just loved it as a kid. I had all the figures; it really made me think.'

- Karen Traviss

Kid, Joe, Figures, Serving

A novel can do something that films and TV usually can't - a glimpse inside the characters' heads. I write very tight third person point of view, so the reader is right behind the eyes of each character, seeing what they see and feeling what they feel.

- Karen Traviss

Behind, Very, TV, Heads

The thing about games is, players often say they don't care about story, but then if you took the story out, what would their reaction be? If no one cared about story, we'd all still be playing Pac-Man. There's nothing wrong with Pac-Man, but the point is, there's a genre of games in which you want to become part of that world.

- Karen Traviss

Point, Part, About, Cared

Games are getting more interesting. I mean, when we talk about books, they can be anything from a summer blockbuster to 'War and Peace' - well, games are the same. I think the creative side is catching up with the technology.

- Karen Traviss

Summer, I Think, About, Blockbuster

G.I. Joe has a heart and an attitude that feels right and familiar to me, so they could have ray guns, and they'd still feel more like real troops than many other franchises.

- Karen Traviss

Still, Joe, Feels, Ray

I'm a visual person - when I write, my input is always visual. I worked in television for several years.

- Karen Traviss

Television, Always, I Write, Input

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.