Certain Quote by Edward Albee
“What happens in a play is determined to a certain extent by what I thought might be interesting to have happen before I invented the characters, before they started taking over what happened, because they are three-dimensional individuals, and I cannot tell them what to do. Once I give them their identity and their nature, they start writing the play.”
About This Quote
Source Playwriting Lecture, 1975
Characters develop autonomy once defined, influencing the narrative beyond the writer’s original intent.
In simple terms: Characters take over the story after being created.
Key Takeaway
Allow characters to guide the story.
Themes
creativity
autonomy
storytelling
Mood
curious
thoughtful
Type
theatrical
educational
When to use this quote
- theatre production
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- improvisation
Key Concepts
character agency
narrative theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance control and freedom?
- When should you intervene in character arcs?
A Different Perspective
Loss of control may cause inconsistency.
![“I don't know who they are[my characters] . They're entirely invented characters. Maybe that's how I've been able to write so many books, because there are no boundaries for me. I can write a completely fantastical story like "Swept Away" or "Blinded by the Light" and then a non-comic drama like…” quote by T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/t-c-boyle-8108_able_i-don-t-know-who-they-are-my-characters_1148719.jpg)
![“I was twenty-nine years old and I wasn't a very good poet and I wasn't a very good novelist, [so] I thought I would try writing a play, which seems to have worked out a little better.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01d/edward-albee-1684_littles_i-was-twenty-nine-years-old-and-i-wasn-t_1642881.jpg)
