“Plays are stories about need.”

“If you know a story about a brave human being in big trouble, write that.  Write how the trouble started, what the person did, and how it turned out.  Little troubles, for example, troubles that will solve themselves just by the person growing up, you don’t need to waste your time on those.  Write about greed, revenge, rage, betrayal, guilt, adultery, and murder.  When writing about softer troubles such as injustice, loss, humiliation, incapacity, aging, sadness and being misunderstood, just be sure to attach them to one of the more active troubles.  Attach betrayal to loss and you have a play.  Attach adultery to aging and you have a play.  And let fear drive the whole thing.”