“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and, at last, you create what you will.” — George Bernard Shaw, playwright and cat lady
In Brief
“Don’t make a wall of glass between your play and the people watching. Don’t forget they were once children, who enjoyed being read to, or sung to sleep.” ― Sarah Ruhl
In Brief
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman (photo by Mi Pham)
On Persistence
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence. First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish …
In Brief
“The writer has two kinds of faith: actual writing and sitting openly. Have faith in your personal effort or sweat. And faith in God, or whatever you want to call it. Then the voices will come. Faith is the big deal.” ― Suzan-Lori Parks, playwright, Pulitzer Prize winner
In Brief
Sir Tom Stoppard is another of my favorite (or should I spell it “favourite?”) playwrights. I adore his wordplay, his puns, his theatricality. In a 1999 interview, Sir Tom summarised: “I think theater ought to be theatrical … you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it’s — there’s always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. …
In Brief
Kingsley Amis was a prolific poet, essayist, screenwriter, and novelist who burst onto the literary scene as the original Angry Young Man with his book, “Lucky Jim.” But Amis might be better described as disgruntled or crabby rather than angry. This is largely due to his anarchical humor. In his later career, Amis dabbled in science fiction and is noted …
In Brief ~ Inspiration from Sarah Ruhl
“Drink plenty of tea.” I came across this flavorful bit of advice for playwrights from Sarah Ruhl, from a 2011 interview on The Days of Yore: “It’s a lonely life. Make friends with other playwrights. They are, after all, the best sort of people as they like to be alone and they also like to be with other people so …
In Brief
Need a little inspiration for your writing day? Try this quotation by Pulitzer Prizewinner Suzi-Lori Parks. “The writer has two kinds of faith: actual writing and sitting openly. Have faith in your personal effort or sweat. And faith in God, or whatever you want to call it. Then the voices will come. Faith is the big deal.” ― Suzan-Lori Parks …
The Truth about Actors
“Actors are so fortunate. They can choose whether they will appear in tragedy or in comedy, whether they will suffer or make merry, laugh or shed tears. But in real life it is different. Most men and women are forced to perform parts for which they have no qualifications. Our Guildensterns play Hamlet for us, and our Hamlets have to …