--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if you're writing a play, it…" description: "\"I think if you're writing a play, it should be its own end game; you'll never get to do a good one unless you know it's not a blueprint for a film; you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/martin-mcdonagh-10860_action_i-think-if-you-re-writing-a-play-it-shou_1574508.jpg" --- # I think if you're writing a play, it should be its own end… ![“I think if you're writing a play, it should be its own end game; you'll never get to do a good one unless you know it's not a blueprint for a film; you're not going to get the action right and the story right.” quote by Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/martin-mcdonagh-10860_action_i-think-if-you-re-writing-a-play-it-shou_1574508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/martin-mcdonagh-10860_action_i-think-if-you-re-writing-a-play-it-shou_1574508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/martin-mcdonagh-10860_action_i-think-if-you-re-writing-a-play-it-shou_1574508.jpg) > “I think if you're writing a play, it should be its own end game; you'll never get to do a good one unless you know it's not a blueprint for a film; you're not going to get the action right and the story right.” [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A play should be crafted as a self‑contained work, not a blueprint for film, because theatrical storytelling demands different pacing and action. **In simple terms:** Plays need their own structure, not film plans. Key Takeaway Write for the stage, not the screen. Themes theatre writing structure artistic integrity Mood creative critical Type artistic educational When to use this quote - stage productions - writing workshops - directorial planning Key Concepts dramatic form audience engagement medium specificity Questions to Reflect On - What elements change when moving from stage to screen? - How can playwrights preserve intent across media? A Different Perspective Adapting a play for film can lose theatrical nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [End game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-game/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Young players need to play, end of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/young-players-need-to-play-end-of/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [So that was the way. No fair play. Once down, that was the end of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/so-that-was-the-way-no-fair-play-once-down-that-was-the-end-of-you/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [With any character you portray, you can never play the end in the beginning. You have to pursue and attack your intention as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/with-any-character-you-portray-you-can-never-play-the-end-in-the/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [We must play for everything until the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimiliano-allegri/we-must-play-for-everything-until-the-end/) [Massimiliano Allegri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimiliano-allegri/) > [I just didn't play. It's not the end of the world. You've got to respect the 11 that go out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-just-didn-t-play-it-s-not-the-end-of-the-world-you-ve-got-to/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [You've just got to play yourself at the end of the day - just try and keep to your game, keep focused and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-maflin/you-ve-just-got-to-play-yourself-at-the-end-of-the-day-just-try-and/) [Kurt Maflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-maflin/) > [Starting really hasn't been a big thing for me. I always want to be able to finish a game or play at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevon-looney/starting-really-hasn-t-been-a-big-thing-for-me-i-always-want-to-be/) [Kevon Looney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevon-looney/) > [I want to play until the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-want-to-play-until-the-end/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [If there is one pleasure on earth which surpasses all others, it is leaving a play before the end. I might perhaps except the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/if-there-is-one-pleasure-on-earth-which-surpasses-all-others-it-is/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [A play is a parenthesis that contains all the material you think has to be contained for the action of the play. Where do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/a-play-is-a-parenthesis-that-contains-all-the-material-you-think-has/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Sit the comedy out, and that done, when the Play's at an end, let the Curtain fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-flatman/sit-the-comedy-out-and-that-done-when-the-play-s-at-an-end-let-the/) Thomas Flatman > [I don't consciously start writing a play that involves issues. After it's done, I sit back like everyone else and think about what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzan-lori-parks/i-don-t-consciously-start-writing-a-play-that-involves-issues-after/) [Suzan-Lori Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzan-lori-parks/) > [I can't quite remember the exact moment when I became obsessed with writing a play about the seemingly endless war in the Democratic Republic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/i-can-t-quite-remember-the-exact-moment-when-i-became-obsessed-with/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [GOOD AS NEW was born out of the idea of writing a play where the stakes were high and the collisions were of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/good-as-new-was-born-out-of-the-idea-of-writing-a-play-where-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [It seemed like the right time. You reach a point when you say to yourself, ‘Do I want to keep doing this?’ There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/it-seemed-like-the-right-time-you-reach-a-point-when-you-say-to/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) ## More by Martin McDonagh > [I pick and choose what I want to do at any given time, and what not to do, importantly. My agents, I won't hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-pick-and-choose-what-i-want-to-do-at-any-given-time-and-what-not-to/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [Theatre was an art form that I didn't really respect, and because I wanted to shake it up and do different things on stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/theatre-was-an-art-form-that-i-didn-t-really-respect-and-because-i/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I realize that I am never going to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-realize-that-i-am-never-going-to-grow-up/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I try to naturally keep things to a manageable storytelling length, which is about two hours, so you try to cut out anything extraneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-try-to-naturally-keep-things-to-a-manageable-storytelling-length/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [All my work shares a kind of balance between black comedy and sad and despairing melancholy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/all-my-work-shares-a-kind-of-balance-between-black-comedy-and-sad-and/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I suppose I walk that line between comedy and cruelty because I think one illuminates the other. We're all cruel, aren't we? We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-suppose-i-walk-that-line-between-comedy-and-cruelty-because-i-think/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [As a kid, as a poor-ish, working-class kid, even visiting America seemed like an impossible dream. Every time I ever went anywhere in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/as-a-kid-as-a-poor-ish-working-class-kid-even-visiting-america-seemed/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I like traveling and I like not being part of the film world. Especially when you're in the middle of a junket, you're thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-like-traveling-and-i-like-not-being-part-of-the-film-world/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I never feel like a smug or a smart-alec film director, and there are plenty of those around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-never-feel-like-a-smug-or-a-smart-alec-film-director-and-there-are/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [When I'm happiest writing is just not knowing where it goes and just let the characters bring you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/when-i-m-happiest-writing-is-just-not-knowing-where-it-goes-and-just/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I'm not really into the fame side of things, so I'm very happy with making a film every four years or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-m-not-really-into-the-fame-side-of-things-so-i-m-very-happy-with/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [When you've got good actors, they're going to come up with good stuff, but you're never quite sure how the dynamics are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/when-you-ve-got-good-actors-they-re-going-to-come-up-with-good-stuff/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I never really tell anyone what I'm writing beforehand because I usually don't know what it will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-never-really-tell-anyone-what-i-m-writing-beforehand-because-i/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I'd love to do something like 'A Canterbury Tale,' because I love the English language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-d-love-to-do-something-like-a-canterbury-tale-because-i-love-the/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [It's like two years straight out of your life doing a film. It's very enjoyable, especially working with the guys, but I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/it-s-like-two-years-straight-out-of-your-life-doing-a-film-it-s-very/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) [Explore all 62 Martin McDonagh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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