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David Mamet on Writing

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“You cannot learn how to write drama without writing plays, putting [them] out in front of an audience, and getting humiliated.”

More from David Mamet

“'I wish' is a proclamation of something you're not go-ing to do. So rather than 'I wish,' if there's something you want, say, 'I will' or 'I intend to' or 'I'm going to' and do it. What's the worst thing that's gonna happen to you? You're going to fail? So what?”
“I tend to write a lot, which I think is the secret to being prolific.”
“It's hard to write a good plot, it's very hard.”
“Writing a plot is one of the hardest things I ever learned how to do. It's just hard, because it's like playing with some unclean substance. And it is, because the unclean substance is your own consciousness.”
“Look at the scene and ask yourself "Is it dramatic? Is it essential? Does it advance the plot?" Answer truthfully. If the answer is "no" write it again or throw it out.”
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