--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to…" description: "\"Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg" --- # Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue… ![“Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg) > “Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers can craft monologues as internal notes, enriching character depth without performance. **In simple terms:** Writers can write private monologues for characters. Key Takeaway Use monologue notes to deepen character insight. Themes writing character theatre process Mood analytical curious Type creative instructional When to use this quote - playwriting - character development - rehearsal preparation Key Concepts dramatic monologue creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does a private monologue affect performance? - When is it better to keep a monologue unperformed? A Different Perspective May limit actors' spontaneous interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Monologue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monologue/) [Monologues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monologues/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [By the time I get through writing a score, I know the book better than the book writer does, because I've examined every word,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/by-the-time-i-get-through-writing-a-score-i-know-the-book-better-than/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-must-remind-the-right-honourable-gentleman-that-a-monologue-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Our true history is scarcely ever deciphered by others. The chief part of the drama is a monologue, or rather an intimate debate between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/our-true-history-is-scarcely-ever-deciphered-by-others-the-chief-part/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [I feel like any single woman of color who's been onstage has a Shakespeare monologue in her back pocket, and a monologue from 'For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-feel-like-any-single-woman-of-color-who-s-been-onstage-has-a/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I'm not talking to anyone, I'm delivering a monologue. It's the inebriated man's prerogative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-m-not-talking-to-anyone-i-m-delivering-a-monologue-it-s-the/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I actually did an Agatha Christie monologue for my audition showcase at Guildhall, and that's how I got my agent. Some people said 'ooh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howes/i-actually-did-an-agatha-christie-monologue-for-my-audition-showcase/) [Thomas Howes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-howes/) > [You have Cameron Crowe write an incredible monologue for you just based on the things that you're talking about. It just became this opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/you-have-cameron-crowe-write-an-incredible-monologue-for-you-just/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [ \["Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas"\] is a very hard book to translate to film because there's so much interior monologue. The what if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/fear-loathing-in-las-vegas-is-a-very-hard-book-to-translate-to-film/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [When I get up to speak tonight, it's kind of a monologue. When I am talking with someone one-on-one, it's a dialogue. I ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-laurie/when-i-get-up-to-speak-tonight-it-s-kind-of-a-monologue-when-i-am/) [Greg Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-laurie/) > [Media used to be one way. Everyone else in the world just had to listen. Now the internet is allowing what used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/media-used-to-be-one-way-everyone-else-in-the-world-just-had-to/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Training is vital. You need to know the technical aspects of acting, just in case someone hands you a monologue and simply says, 'Cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-hawk/training-is-vital-you-need-to-know-the-technical-aspects-of-acting/) [Kali Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-hawk/) > [I had to invest in the love and understand that with the love comes the pain. So when he tells me that, the monologue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-had-to-invest-in-the-love-and-understand-that-with-the-love-comes/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [Theatre aside, my penchant for the extended monologue began with my reading of Browning's dramatic monologues, in high school. My inclination to adopt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lock/theatre-aside-my-penchant-for-the-extended-monologue-began-with-my/) [Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lock/) > [There should be a rule against your own inner monologue throwing around that much sarcasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/there-should-be-a-rule-against-your-own-inner-monologue-throwing/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [It's tricky with monologues, and I never like to use that word. Like I told the actors, you are talking to somebody; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-tricky-with-monologues-and-i-never-like-to-use-that-word-like-i/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Sondheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-write-a-monologue-not-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-write-a-monologue-not-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/stephen-sondheim-1556_asks_sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-wr_3215057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for…” — Stephen Sondheim", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Sondheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes I'll ask the book writer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-write-a-monologue-not-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-i-ll-ask-the-book-writer-to-write-a-monologue-not-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```