Playwriting
Story Structure
What’s in a Name?
Naming characters. It’s something that I take very seriously as a playwright. Some might say a little too seriously, as I spend an hour on a baby name website instead of actually, you know,...
Playwriting
Students stuck on “what do I write?”
These playwriting activities are all about sparking ideas. Use prompts, quick exercises, and creative challenges to get students thinking, imagining, and writing without the pressure of a full script.
Playwriting
Playwriting Exercises
Playwriting Exercise: Passwords
I read an article about the 25 most used passwords. I looked at the title and had one of those mac truck moments – there’s something there. Something. What? A play? Who knows. Most definitely an...
Playwriting
Writing Prompts
Scene Spurs: Writing Prompts for Dramatic Depth
The hardest part of writing for a novice is finding a place to start. The blank page intimidates as it stares back at you. A lack of inspiration is often blamed – I’m not inspired. There’s nothing...
Playwriting
Word Fear
I had a very interesting conversation with a teacher who was familiar with Theatrefolk plays and had recently put up Pressure. She had wanted to do Anonymous but it was ‘rejected’ by her...
Playwriting
Writing Prompts
Inspiration File
I was teaching at a private school last week during their playwriting unit. One of their pre-writing exercises was to create an “Inspiration File” the point of which was to find, create, give...
Playwriting
Playwriting Exercises
Writing Exercise: The Letter
If you’re in the middle of a draft and you’re stuck. If you want to work on character development. If you want to work on the relationship between two characters. Time to sit right down and write...
Playwriting
Finding The Writer Within
We all write every day. It’s impossible to avoid: there are emails, texts, project proposals, letters, reports. Pen to paper, keyboard to computer – every individual knows how to write. There is a...
Playwriting
Playwriting Exercises
Writing Exercise: What’s in your cart?
Have you ever stood in line at the grocery store and found yourself casually glancing ahead in line, and then back in line to see what those fore and aft have in their carts? Do you ever try to...
Playwriting
Playwriting Exercises
Writing Exercise: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Not sure where to start for your next play, or even your first play? A great way to create ideas is to explore a writing exercise. Try this picture study exercise and see what writing inspiration...
Playwriting
Playwriting Exercises
Writing Exercise: What’s in Your Bag?
The most interesting characters come alive in the smallest details: a favourite food, a favourite type of music, a fear of spiders, an allergy to plums, a scar from a fall at two years of age, a...