“Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper, until drops of blood form on your forehead.”
Gene Fowler

I’ve certainly shed plenty of blood in the process of writing my books (and plays)! Writing, for me, is a mixture of agony and ecstasy, but so long as I can still tap a key on the computer or hold a pen, I shall go on doing it. It may be a cliché, but writers write because they have to and I’m no exception.

“If I don’t write to empty my mind, I go mad.”
Lord Byron

I sometimes think you do need to be a little bit mad to be a writer. There is always a sense that someone is telling you what to write and there is nothing better than getting in the flow when the words just come from nowhere.

“I can’t expose a human weakness on the stage unless I know it through having it myself.”
Tennessee Williams

Writing plays is not just about sitting on your own squeezing out the words. It’s much more of a team effort. I have been lucky to work with some great directors and actors who have bought my plays to life. Working with these talented people has added to the excitement of being a writer.

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality can not disturb you.”
Ray Bradbury

I have always loved the theatre and it seemed only natural that I should be directly involved in some way. I quite like the idea of performing but for me, the real joy, is sitting anonymously in the audience and watching their reaction. I’ve even hovered in the bar in the interval to hear what people are saying!

“Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning, I wanted to know what I was going to say.
Sharon O’Brien

And for all those who love writing too, let me know about all your successes so we can share in the agony and ecstasy of it all. … Agony it may be at times, but I know I’m very privileged to be working at what I love doing. And so far, it’s all going very well….

“I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.”
Steve Martin

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“I write of love and death. What other subjects are there?”
Arthur Schnitzler

I have written plays about death, love, society, regret, blame, neurosis, responsibility, singing, dancing and sex. And a few other things too. And I have plenty more to say. If only there were more hours in the day….

“I eat, sleep and breath playwriting. When I’m not writing a play, then you’ll find me sitting in a theatre somewhere watching someone else’s.”
Clare Shaw