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A Process for Playwriting, Part II


  • Finally, start planning the work of developing the script, including outlining, whether you'd start at the beginning or at the end, and what materials may already exist in the forms of character descriptions or snippets of dialogue. With so much information available, you can begin estimating how long such plans will take to realize.

    More details around both the Idea and Concept Phases can be found in this article.

    Quality Control

    While this process focuses on how to plan and write a plan, the quality control aspect is how you can assure you write a good play. Ten things to keep in mind are Aristotle's six elements of drama and my four modern elements.

    Decision Points

    At the end of the Concept Phase, as at the end of all of the phases, take the time to evaluate the work done, the progress made, the estimates, the approach, the quality, and the target markets. Then, as objectively as possible, determine whether the play is still worth pursuing and whether it still has value. Ideas that sounded good weeks ago may have less meaning now. Events like 9/11 can change the world forever, and ideas that may have been important before then may have little meaning afterward. With writing time at a premium, you want to make sure you're working on something of value.

    The next installment will look at the Definition and Development Phases.

    The copyright of the article A Process for Playwriting, Part II in Playwriting is owned by Dave Brandl. Permission to republish A Process for Playwriting, Part II in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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