"The stories my characters tell are stories that are always u..." — Sam Shepard

Quote
Catalog

The stories my characters tell are stories that are always unfinished, always imagistic —having to do with recalling experiences through a certain kind of vision.

— Sam Shepard

Myths, Dreams, Realities

Writing Plays

More from Sam Shepard

View all quotes

Quote
Catalog

You write things in different states of mind. After a long day of writing, once you sleep…

Quote
Catalog

You have to take the plunge. It’s easy to talk about the process, but it’s a…

Quote
Catalog

I’m not interested in borders so much as I like putting things together.

Quote
Catalog

Every condition I was in seemed like it could be a play. Everything seemed like a possible…


                                                             M                       M     WK                 &KK
                                                            K&   &     WM                 MMWW&
                                                            K    &   MWWW                 &WMWWKWW               K
                                                           &    M  MMWWWWW               KWWMWWWWWWK    &K   KK&KKKK&M
                                                              K   WWWWWWWWW              WWWWWWWWWWW&KK     KMMMM&K KM&
                                                               KWWWWWWWWWWWW&&&        KWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMWWWW&KMMMM&K K&K
                                                           K&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&WWWWWWWWWWWWWMMWMMMMWMMW&&&&&K &&K
                                          &               WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&&MMMM&&&K&&KK&K
                                          K&M&&WWWWWW&KMMWWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW&&K&&K&&KKKKKKKK&&
                                          K&&KMMMMWM&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&K&&K&KKK    KKK&K
                                           K&KMMMW&WWWWWWW&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW&&M&&KK KKK     KK
                                           &&&&MMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&MKK  &&&KK KKK
                                           K&M&MMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&  KK   KM&
                                            KK&MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWMK        KK&KK&MM&M&K
                                            KMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&K            KMMMWWM&KK
                                            &KKMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&&&M&        KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWMKK
                                          KM &&&&M&MM&&MMMWMWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMK&MKKKKKK   &&MWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&K
                                           K KKKK  K K          KMWMMWWWWWWWWWW&KK&K&&                K&MWWWWM&   K
                                                                K&KMM&MWWWWWWWWWM&&K                       K&&KK
                                            &K&MMMWWWWMK              KWWWWWWWM&             MW                           KKKK
                                            K&WWW&                     &MMWWMM&K        &   WWW        KWM            K&& KKKKK
                                             K               WWK        K&&&M&K       KK KK KWW        K  K        K KMWMKKKKKK
                                            K     KW         WWWWK      KKK&KKK       &&K          &KMMKK&K        &KMMWW&K&M&KKK
                                                   &M       M&         K&KKK&K          K&KKKK&&MWWWWWWMM& K&   KKK&WMWWWM&&&&K
                                       K         K &KKK&MMMWM&K&&K     K&KK&&&K             K  KKKK&&&M&&&&MM&KK&&M&MMWWWM&&&&K
                                        &KK       KWWWWWWWWW&K         KKK& K&K              K&&&WMMMWWWWWWWWMMMMMM&MWMWMM&&&&K
                                        KMM&K&KK  KK&&&&&&KK            KK&K&&K         K&KK&&MMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMWWMWWMM&&KK K
                                       K&MMMM&&K&&MMMMMMMMM&&KKK        KKKKKKK         K&MMMMWMWWMWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMM&&& K
                                       K&MMM&&MMMMMWWWWWWWWMM&&KK      KK&&KKK          KMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&M&KK  K                  MWMW&
                                       KKMMMMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&&&      K&&&KKKK          &WMMWWWWWWMWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMM&&K                     WWWWW
                                       K&MMMWWMWWMWMWWWWWWWWWM&MK     KK&&MM&KK          &MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&K            &&   WWWWWWWMWW
                                       K&MMWWMMMMWWWWWWWWMWWWMMMK    K&&MMWMMM&K        &MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&K             MW   MWWWWWWWMWW
                                       &&MWWMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMK   K&WWWWWWWM&&K       KWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWWWWWWM&&K             WW&K WWWWWWWMMWW
                                       &&WWMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMW&K   &MWWWWWWWWWWMK       MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWM&&K             MW WWWWWWWWWW&W&
                                       KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWWMM   &WWWWWWWWWM&KKK       MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMMM&KK             W&MWWWWWWWWWWWW

                        ,..            . , :   ,..: ,,,       .              .           ::,.         ,:  ,          ,        :: ,           ,,  ,        .,
                          ..              ., .,, ..  .        .              ,        .       .   .                ,  .,  ,    . :          :    ,         :
                       :    :,                ...    .        ,          :. . . ,   .            .,.,:              :,     ,       .    .. ,  : ,          .
                           ,  ..                      :..      ,           . .:.                   :                 :     :,   ,  ,      .  ..,:,          :
                            .: .                    :                               .                                  :    . . :: ,..     ,.. .            :
                    ,       ,,                     .  ,                                                                  ,    ., ,,,::    ,,
                            ,,.      ..           ,:  . :                           ,                                          :,.. , . ,:: ,..,            :
                                     ., :.      :                                                                        :.      :...,,::.,    ,           ,:
                    .              .:              ::                                                                     ,       .... . .   ..:.          .::
                                 .                                                                                        :,          : .      .,:. , , .   ,:
:                        .   ,  ..:                                                                                        ,                  .. ,:, ,  ,.,.,
::                     :,       ..,                                                                                        :                       ..  ::.: ,: :
,:                     :.         , :                                                                                       ...     .. ,    ,..,..     ..:, ,:::
,::                    ..    ,,. ,  :,                                                                                        .          .::.:,,.,, .. .... ,::::
.,::                 : .,,    . :.  ,                                                                                         :.  ,.       ,    ,,    . ,.  ,:::::
..,:                  :  ,,     ,: :,                                                                                           , .:.    . :,  ::.:..  . , ,:::::::
 .,,:                   ,,: .    :  ,                                                                                           :    : .:      .,,, ., . . ,:::::::
  .,::                  :. .         ,                                                                                           .  .,. ,    ,    ,. : .    .,:::::
  ..,:                 . .           :                                                                                            .   ,,:  :,, ., .. ,, .      : ::
   .,,:                                                                                          ,.    :                           .   :  :: .,,,               ,::
    ..,:                       .                                                               ,     .    :                            .  ,. ., ,           .    :
    ..,::              :     ...,                   :.                                         ,    :.                               .     ,  :..            ..  , :
      .,::                     ,,.                .   ..                                        :: ..,                               :.        ,.                 ::
      ..,:            :        :.              :         . ,                                                                        :, .   ,.         .       .,,.:
       ..,:                   .:, .:                   ..                                                                            :,.    .   .        .,       :
        .,::                   .  :                                                                                                   :,,,       . .     .  :   .,
         .,::          ,         ,:                                                                                                   ,. ,       ..,        .,   :::
          .,::                                                                                                                                         .    .    .::
          ..,:           ,                                                                                                           ,.               .     ,,   .,:
          ..,,:           ,     ...:                                                                                                .       ,. .,            ,    ,:
            .,,:                . ,                                                                                                  ,  ,:             .         ,::
           . .,,:                 ,                                                                                                                           . ,:,:
          .. ..,,:         .     , .                                                                                                                    ,..   .,.,,::
            . ..,,:      :                                                                                                                                     .,..,::
.        . . ...,,,:     :,,     .                                                                                                                              ...,,:
.         ........,,:::          :  .                                                                                                                    ...     ...,,::

********}}}}}}}}}}}}}} <                ~ } <<*    }   *}  * }    }}<                *                  ~~ }<}*~<               *              <<           <<**}}
********}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}<                           <  }}}       *  }                <  ~~*                 *~     * <<          ~          }  ~<~           <<***}}
<******}}}}}}}}}}   }}     ~                          ~** }}    < }<< *      *   }   * *}             ~<*     *  }               ~~         ~< <            ~<<***}}
<******}}}}}}}}} }}}} <                              ~    }   *   ~ <    *        }* *<~          }     }     }*                                             <<<***}}
<*****}*}}}}}}}   }  *                               }~   }  }   *}                  ~*             }*                         ~  <                          ~<<<***}}
<<***}}}}}}}}                 ~                     }}   }* }   }           *                                           <       ~                           ~~~<~<<*}}
<<<***}}}}}}}    } *                                     <                      *~   ~*                                  ~                                   ~~~<<<**}}
~<<***}}}}}}}      *                   ~         } **  < }                                                                                                   ~~~~<<<**}
~<<***}}}}}}       *                 <}          ~~  }                                                                   }                                    ~~~~<<**}}
~~<<**}}}}}        }~             ~<<                                                                                    }           ~               <        ~~~~<<<**}}
 ~<<**}}}} }        ~              ~~ }                                                                                   *         ~                 ~*     ~~~~~~~<***}
  ~<<**}}}          <              **<                                                                                                                        ~ ~~~~<<***}}
  ~~<<**}}                     ~   * ~}                                                                                                                         ~~~~<<**}}
   ~~<**}}          *             **                                                                                         ~                                   ~~~~<<**}
    ~<<**}          }              * ~                                                                                                    ~  ~ *                  ~~~<<**}}
    ~~<<*}}          }            *  <                                                     }  }}*                              ~          <                        ~~<<**}}
     ~<<**}}          <    <      ** ~                                                    }}}}                                      ~    <}~~                      ~~<<**}}
      ~<<**}          *           *}                                                                                            *          ~~                      ~~<<**}}
      ~~<**}}         }            *  }                                                   **<<<}<}}                              <        <                     ~  ~~<<**}}
       ~<<**}}        **             ~} } }}        <*}}}}} }                          }**}  <          }                        }~     }*                         ~~<<**}
        ~<***}}       }<             < <<}                }<***}}                          }    <} ~<    ~ *}                     }~    ~}     ~                  ~~~<<**}}
         ~<**}}       *                <*                     *}*<~*}                           *~        }~*}}                   }<*   < *                       ~ ~<<<**}
          ~<**}}}   } }             ~           <  }<    <}~*      }}                   }             *                            <}   < *~                        ~~<**}}
          ~<<**}}                             < <*     ~  <       }  }                                                             ~    <}~                        ~~<<**}}
           ~<<**}}  } }                       }          ~*}        }                                                              *~   <                          ~~<<**}}
            ~<<**}}}}              <           }                    }                                                              <<~                    ~*      ~~~<<***}
             ~<***}**}}            *                                }                                                             }}<*                              ~~<<**}
              ~<**}}}**~           }                                }                                                              }*<<                             ~~<<**}
              ~~<****}}*~          <                               }}                                                              <<                <              ~~<<*}}
               ~~<***}}**}                                          }                                                              *             <                  ~~<<**}}
                ~~<<**}**<                                          }                                                               }     ~~*<~*}                   ~~<<**}}
                 ~~<*****                                           }             }}                                                  **   *                        ~~<<**}}
                  ~~~<***           }                              }               *                                                  }                              ~~<<**}}
                   ~~~<<<         ~ *                                              }*}                                                }                               ~<<***}
                    ~~~<<          ~~                             }                  }}}                                              }                               ~~<<**}}
                       ~<<        ~                               *                     }                                             }                *                ~<<**}

                      j                                  Uo V   oU                                                                                                jjjjjoooojjjjjjjjj
                                                j        ojjo    VV    oo                 U  o      jVjjooj  j   U                                                 jjjjjoojojjjjjjjj
                 jjj  j                                  o                               j     oo        VUUoj jj oU                                                jjjjjjoojjjjjjjj
                j    j                                   j V V  j  j             o  j    j          jjjj oVooj  V UUo                                                jjjjooojjjjjjjj
               jjj jo                                    o  U Vj          j                           oU  oUo         V                                               jjjjjojjjjjjjj
             jjjjjjo                                       V U V V         U            j              Vojoo       U   U                                              jjjjooooojjjjj
             jjjj j                                 oo    ojojV                o                                   U   Vj                                              jjjjooooojjjj
             jjjjjj                               j     j o                                                         U   o                                              jjjjooooojjjj
            jjjjjjj                    ooU UVoVVo     UoVU                                                              o                                               jjjjjjoojjjj
           jjjjjjjj                  joVoU                                                                              V                                                jjjjjoojjjj
          j jjjjjjjj                 o VoV                                                                      VUUU     V                                               jjjjooojjjj
          jjjjjjjjjj                  oUooU                                                                 U   UUUVU  UVUo                                                jjoooojjj
          jjjjjjjjjjj                  VVVU                                                           UV     U   UUUVVUUVUVj                                              jjjjjoojjo
          jjjjjjjjjj                  jVVVV                                                       VV  UUo   UUUUUVVVUooVVVoVo                                             jjjjjoojjj
          jjjjjjjjjj              o   jVVVVU                                              UUVVUVUU            UUUUooooojVVooVo                o                            jjjjoojjj
           jjjjjjjjjj                 VVVoVU                                            Vjj jj   jVU          UooUUVjoVooVooooV                                            jjjjjojjj
            jjjjjjojjj                ooooVU                                           Ujj    o                  VjoooooooVVVoVo                                           jjjjjojjj
            jjjjjjjojo                jojo  U                                             UUU                    UUVjjoVVoUVoVUo         jj                                jjjjjjjjj
             jjjjjjojo                 ojVU V    UV U UUojooVUUU                      UVoj         ooU         UUU UVVVVVVVoVUUUo        j                                 jjjjjoojj
              jjjjoojj                 o o  ooUUUUoj       j jVU                    Voj    oj jo         jV     UUUUUVVVVUVVUUUUV                                         jjjjjjjojj
               jjjjooj                j   oV            oj       joVUU          UUUVojojoVo j          Uj    jVUUUUUVUVUUU    UUUV                                         jjjjjjjjj
               jjjjojj               jj  oUV      Uj        oV       jo         UVUVoooU jVU                   oUoVVoU   U     UUU       U                                 jjjjjoojj
                 jjj j               VojojoUU Uo                jjj  jjU       UooVVoU     U   U        VU UojVoVVU U          UUUj      V                                 jjjjooojj
                 jjjjo              jooooVUU V      o       j      Uj oU       UojooVV   VoVVVUUUUU        VooVUUoU              Vj                                        jjjjojooj
                  jj j              ooVVVVVUUo jVoV  j        UojjUU jo       UUVjjoojjV                  U  UUU               UVVj      V                                 jjjjojooj
                     jj             ooV UVVVVoV o U               Vj jU        UVoooVVojooVU UU                                UVVo                                        jjjjoojjj
                                    VVUU   UVVjVjV            UVojjj oV    U   VoVVojVUUVoVUU                                  UUo                                         jjjjojooj
                                    VVUU        UU          UUUoVojj oUU       UoooVVoUU                                       U VV                                        jjjoooooj
                                    VVU                         VVo  oVU       UVoooVVVU                                     U UVVV                                        jjjoooooj
                                    VVU                          Vjj oV       UVUoooVVUU                                     UU UVV                                         jjoooooj
                                    UVU                          Vjj jo        VojoooVVUV                                    UUVUVVo             U                          jjjjoooj
                                    VVV                          Vjj V         UVo  VVVUU                                   VoUVUVoUoo    o o          V                    jjjjjjoj
                                     oU                          Vo o           UVj oVVU                                   UUVVVUUVUoo j  UUj                                jjjjjoo
                                     VV                          Vjj             Uo   jo                                   VooVUUUVVoj j    o                                jjjjjjj
                                     oU                          U V              VVo   j                                  UooVUUUUooo j  U                                   jjjjjj
                                     jV                          V V               UUVoj U                                 VooVUUVVjoo o                                      jjjjjj


                            W       WWW
                         KWWWWK    MWWWWM&K&W&&M
                       WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMM&&&M
                 MMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&KK  &
                 K&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM K &K
                 K&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&    WWWWMK
                  KK     KWWWWWW&&        MW&     K
                  MM        KWWM     W         KKKK
                        WM   &&K   K K  KMK   &WM&K
                    MWWW&   K&&K     K&MWWWW&MMWM&K
               KMM&&MMMM&    &&K   &MWWWWWWWWWWWMK
                &MWWWWWWM&  KM&K   KWWWWWWWWWWWW&K       KWW
               KMWWWWWWWWM KWWWMK  KWWWWWWWWWWWW&     &&MWWWW
                WWWWWWWWWW KWWWMKK  WWWWWWWWWWWMK      WWWWW
                KWWWWWWWWM          MWWWWWWWWWW&      MWWMWW
              W  MWWWWWWWMK  K KMK MMWWWWWWWWWMK      WWWWW
              WW KMWWWWWW&M &WWWWM&K&&WWWWWWWM&&      WWWW
              &W  KWWWWWW&&&WWWWWWWWWMWWWWWMWM&M&K
               WM K&WMWWW&MWMMMMMKK K&MWWWWWMKKMK&   &
                  K &&WWM               &WWM& K& K   M
                     &MWW      K&&&  K&WWMMM         MK
                      K&MM  &MMK&&MMMMM&M&K         &&K  M
                         K   &&   K&&&&&K           KKK  WW
                             KKK  KK&&K                  WWW
                              K     K              K    KWWWW
                                                        WWWWMMWMM
                                                       WWWMM&WMKW
                                                      MWMM&&M&&KM

          .     ,::::,      .      : :        ,.       ,, .
           ,.         ,         .  :           , . ,:  .,,    ,
           ,        :           . .             :  :,,.,      :
              :                                     .,,  , .  ,
:       ..   ,                                   ,        .  ,,
,       :.  .                                     , .  ,: ,  ., :
.:        :   :                                    , .. .,,,. : :
 ,       ,    .                                         .,.    .:
  ,      :  .         :,              :                  :      ,
  .:        ,        . ,                             .          .
   .:        .                                        .      ., ,
 .  .:    .                                          .        .
..  .,:   .                                          :          ,
......,   .                                                     ,:
. ...,.,: :  :.                                              ,. .,:
.....,...: :.:                                                    .:
.....,,,.,,:                                                       .
....,,,,,..,.                                                ,,.   .
.....,,,,,.                                           ,,       .   ,
.. ...,,....                                        :  .          ,
,.  ...,....   ,,                    ,,                   :.     .:
 :,   ......              ::                            , . .    ,:
   :,  ....                                               ,     .:
     :.                                                          ,
       ,                                                    :      ,
        :,           .                                        .      ,
          :,           .,                 :
            :.           ,.             ::
              ,.           ..:        :::

***}}}}} ~                        <     ~<** <     ~     <    <*}
***}}}}              ~   *       ~~     *                      <*}
<*}}}}               ~ }       <                               ~<*}
<*}}}                                           }              ~~<*
 <*}}         *                                             ~  ~~<*}
 ~*}         ~~                                          ~     ~ ~*}
  <*}        <                      }                  *       ~ ~<*
  ~<}          }                    }*}}              ~*         ~<*
   ~*}         }}    <  }**               **        < ~~         ~<*
    <*}       <   }~       }                        * ~~         ~<*
     <*}                   }                        *~           ~<*
      <}}<                 }                        *      <     ~<*
       <*}    *            }                          <*         ~<*}
       ~<*    ~                  }                   }            ~*}
         <                }                          }             <*}
          ~   <}          }}*   **                  }}       ~      <}
                                                    }               ~*}
             <  <                                   }               ~*}
                                                   }<<  ~           ~*
                                                                   ~*}
                          }***~<<*}<~  }           }*  *           <*
~                <          }                      ~   }           <*}
**~                                               }<    <         ~<*}}
***<~                                            }<     }  ~      ~<**}}
****<<~             *}                     **}}*<<                  *}}}
******<~              <*}                 *~*<<<}                     *
<<****<<<~               <}            }}< ~~<*                  ~
<<<<<<<*<<~~               <}         }<  ~<**}
~~~~~<<<<<<<~~          < <   <*}  }<~   <**}}}

        j             jjV V         o       j                    jjjjjjj
       jj              oV jU j         o oVooUU                   jjjjjj
      jj                V                                          jjjjj
     jjj       jVVoVjjU                                            jjjjj
     jjo       oV                            VU U                   jjjj
    jjjo       jV                      U U  UVooUo                  jjjj
     jjjj      oo                  o jU      VjoooV                 jjjj
     jjjo       oV  VVojV         Uj    jU   UVoVV j                jjjj
      jjo        U  V      j    UVoVV    j  oVV    U                jjjj
       jo      ooU  U     o U   joU U UU   oVV     U                jjjj
        j     jUUVoo     Uo     ooVVU              V                jjoo
              j          Uj U   oVU               UV                jjoo
               U          j     jjV               VVo   o   V        joo
                          j       j              VoUo                joo
               V                  Vj             jVVo U     j         jo
                             VVj  Vo            VjVo                  jj
             V oo          oV U   V             VoVo j     V           o
                           U                    UUVj j    j            o
                jo                                U                   jo
              j  V                 U              Uj  o               jo
                 V U     j                   U  U V   U              jjo
                  UUV    o   oU    UU       UVUUVUo V                 jj
                  oVoV    UU               UVVVoVV     j               j
                   oojVUU UVU  VVU       UVojojjo  o   o
                      jjoVUUU   UV     UVoo       oUUUUVj
                         joVUU UUUUU UUVjj       oV UVVV     j         j
                           joVUUUUUUUVo        jjVVVVVoo
                        j    joVVVVooo         jooVVVoo          U
                         j       jj            jjooooo           V