Student Playwrights: The Best Writing Exercise

For many student playwrights, there are two major areas of struggle: the blank page at the start of any writing project and figuring out where to begin with a second draft.

The Blank Page: If a student is insecure about their writing abilities, the blank page can be extremely intimidating. Where do you start?

The Second Draft: Many student writers feel that the first draft is the only draft they need to write. I got to the end, what else do I need to write? The second draft is where true writing begins, with revision, character building, and analysis.

Automatic Writing (also called free-writing) is an exercise that can help with both areas. It allows students to:

• Get words on the page without judgement
• Fight writer’s block
• Work through plot issues
• Build character

What is it?

• Give students a topic and a time limit (start with two minutes).
• The goal is to write non-stop for the entire time.
• Encourage students to write down every single thing that comes to mind on the topic. Do not self-censor or judge.
• Further to that, the act of writing in this exercise is more important than content. If the student writes “I am stuck” over and over again, they have fulfilled the exercise.

Why is it important?

The goal is to help students fight past their inner critic who tells them: this isn’t perfect, that idea is no good, you’re not a good writer. When that voice kicks in, the easiest thing to do is stop writing. But if there’s an exercise that focuses on the act of writing over content, students can practice getting words on the page even if they’re not exactly what they want to write. Encourage students to get in the habit of revising their writing once it’s on the page, rather than waiting for the “perfect” idea to come.

This exercise is also a great way to help students get into a writing mindset. There are many reasons why a student might not “want” to write: they’re tired, they’re worried about something, they can’t think. Automatic writing gets the ball rolling.

When do I use it?

Start every writing session with an automatic writing exercise. Choose a prompt and use a two-minute time limit. Remind students it's okay to go off topic. (Click below for a page of automatic writing prompts.) This gets students in the habit of getting words on the page without overthinking.

You can also incorporate automatic writing into second draft revisions. Have students write through their problems. If they don’t know what to do with a character, automatic write in their voice. If they have a story block, automatic write 10 possible solutions. Encourage students not to worry about whether they’re the right answers; just get as many answers as possible.