Lots of notes...

"It is a slow process of getting ideas. I work out very carefully what I am going to do before I write. I make lots of notes which are at least five times longer than the play itself. The actual business of writing always takes me by surprise and things that you thought were not going to be important turn out to be more important. I work everyday from ten in the morning until seven in the evening. But, on the last draft, I can work very long hours, sometimes typing throughout the day and night and I find it a great joy to do that although I don’t keep it up for a long while. After the first draft I will do five or six drafts before the play is complete."

Edward Bond - interview with Jim Mulligan