From the personal notebooks of Tennessee Williams (he just won a play contest, sponsored by the Group Theatre – he is not famous yet):
My next play will be simple, direct and terrible – a picture of my own heart – there will be no artifice in it – I will speak truth as I see it – distort as I see distortion – be wild as I am wild – tender as I am tender – mad as I am mad – passionate as I am passionate – It will be myself without concealment or evasion and with a fearless unashamed frontal assault upon life that will leave no room for trepidation. I believe that the way to write a good play is to convince yourself that it is easy to do – then go ahead and do it with ease. Don’t maul, don’t suffer, don’t groan – till the first draft is finished. Then Calvary – but not till then. Doubt – and be lost – until the first draft is finished.
That practically makes me want to cry.
Emily – I know. Killer, right?
I love his bit about telling yourself it will be easy – at least for the first draft. I so need to hear that right now!!!
Oh yeah…definitely. It’s just so powerful and inspiring, to talk about being mad, passionate, distorted – recognizing all of your own humanity and fallibility and just letting it pour out. That part *is* easy. It’s reading it after an emotional free fall for a second time that you have to roll your sleeves up!
“Doubt and be lost.” I love that. LOVE it.