SOURCE: "I Write These Messages That Come," in The Drama Review, Vol. 21, No. 4, December 1977, pp. 25-40

In the following, Fornes discusses her writing methods.

Thoughts come to my mind at any point, anywhere—I could be on the subway—and if I am alert enough and I have a pencil and paper, I write these messages that come. It might be just a thought, like a statement about something, an insight, or it could be a line of dialog. It could be something that someone says in my head.

I have a box filled with these scribbles. Some of them are on paper napkins or the backs of envelopes. These things are often the beginning of a play. Most of the lyrics of the songs that I write are based on these notes—as opposed to a play, which, once it starts, / make. I usually gather a number...