Playwriting

The continuing interview with Helen Trencher and Sondra Singer about the ancient art of storytelling, including their sources of ideas, methods of writing and rehearsing, and how they prepare for performances.

Oct 31, 2005 - Dave Brandl

It is a craft older than drama, certainly much older than movies. It dates back earlier than written language, as old as humanity, and the chief method of communication for thousands of years. It is also the basis for today's plays, movies, and novels. It is storytelling.

Sep 30, 2005 - Dave Brandl

Moliere had one. Shakespeare had one, too. It was an acting troupe they each worked with regularly. And wrote for. Regularly. What a benefit for a playwright!

Aug 31, 2005 - Dave Brandl

It's the most cost-effective method of getting the word out about your plays. You can cover a lot of territory, both geographically and throughout the industry. Here are some ideas and examples for writing queries for stage plays.

Jul 31, 2005 - Dave Brandl

They attempt to be funny. Sometimes they're clever. Frequently they're simply annoying. They're advertisements. Radio, television, billboards, and the internet are all clogged ... I mean, filled ... with them. Most people have no use for them. But they can hold a valuable lesson for the playwright.

Jun 30, 2005 - Dave Brandl

Send a query letter with an SASP. If they're interested, they'll respond using the SASP. Then you send a script. If they like the script, they'll publish it. If they don't, you may get a rejection letter, or you may never hear from them again, even though you included ample postage to return your valuable script. This is the traditional way. But is it the best way?

May 31, 2005 - Dave Brandl

Ain't tecknolojee wunnerful? These days, you can literally write anywhere ... anytime ... and there are tools beyond paper and pen, now, too!

Apr 27, 2005 - Dave Brandl

You've slaved over this script for months. It flows well, has good characters, all the correct elements. But it's too short. A full-length play should run about 90 to 120 minutes, but your script is not that long. What do you do?

Mar 10, 2005 - Dave Brandl

"Success breeds success." "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence." "The more you get published, the more you get published." Cliches? Maybe. But they've become realities in the world of theater for me.

Feb 28, 2005 - Dave Brandl

Writing, while fun to talk about at social gatherings, is really a lonely craft. But working with another writer can be a blessing ... or a curse.

Jan 31, 2005 - Dave Brandl

Playwrights need to create actions and emotional cues to help develop character, in addition to dialogue. But watch out for the pitfalls of writing emotions and adding adverbs that may confuse rather than illuminate.

Dec 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

More about writing solid dialogue.

Nov 30, 2004 - Dave Brandl

What is theater without dialogue? Can a play exist without the accompanying words? Of course not. But just writing a bunch of words into sentences and paragraphs guarantees nothing. It is the crafting of the words that helps determine success or failure.

Oct 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

When a script is complete, is in rehearsals, has been submitted to a publisher or producer, or is in the process of being published, what do you do next?

Sep 30, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Your show just closed over the weekend. After all the sweat and toiling over the script, a group produced your new play. You saw the performances. What do you do next?

Aug 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

How often is this admonition applied to writers? To follow it literally, though, may really restrict some options. Writing what one knows doesn't necessarily mean to keep a narrow focus, but rather to apply experiences and knowledge when creating worlds.

Jul 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

This is a question I frequently get from non-writers. And the answer is, "It depends." There is a lot that goes into a play, and some flow more easily and quickly than others.

Jun 30, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Congratulations. Your play has been selected for production. When will it be done? For how many shows? Will you get paid? What rights are you giving to the theater? These and many other questions need to be addressed in a production agreement that clearly spells out the terms.

May 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Many writings tell of how to write plays; this article looks at the inner attitude and approach for being a playwright.

Apr 30, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Every genius has a method for collecting the information and presenting it for others to read, enjoy, and otherwise benefit from. Mind mapping is a technique (and software tool) that lets you think like Leonardo da Vinci.

Mar 31, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Another new year begins, and where do we stand? What did we accomplish last year? What are our plans for this year? How do we know if we're getting better?

Feb 10, 2004 - Dave Brandl

Even though it's about 2,000 years younger than playwriting, there are many things about the creation of screenplays that can be applied to the theater and improve your writing immediately.

Dec 31, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Successful plays are usually the result of fresh writing. Use of cliches generally indicates that the playwright may not have dug deep enough into the box of literary tools.

Nov 30, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Why should a play be a play? Why not a screenplay or a novel? What is it that the theater offers that can be found nowhere else?

Oct 31, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Do you like to scare others? Or be scared yourself? This is a season for good clean scary entertainment. And like many other niches, there is a shortage of good, producible scripts.

Sep 30, 2003 - Dave Brandl

The very name conjures up images of overacting, booing and hissing, and corny jokes. Why not? It's great fun!

Aug 31, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Theater is for everyone. All should have the opportunity to perform for appreciative audiences. Some people, however, require extra help. Actors and crew working on productions can include many groups that have special needs: the very young and the very old, and those with physical or mental disabilities.

Aug 2, 2003 - Dave Brandl

I'm frequently asked where I get my ideas for scripts. The easiest answer is 'everywhere.' The more specific answer is that they come from a variety of sources. Each script is different and each usually starts out from a unique point.

Jun 30, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Two years ago I wrote about ways to get your play on a stage through self-production. Here's an update of one way I've repeatedly accomplished that.

May 31, 2003 - Dave Brandl

Of all the aspects of playwriting, creating crisp and sparkling dialogue may be one of the toughest to do. The dialogue is the key to the whole play. The dialogue not only contains the character's motives, aspirations, and history, but it can also include the time of day, setting, season of the year, and costumes and props.

Apr 30, 2003 - Dave Brandl

An update of venues to submit your scripts.

Feb 28, 2003 - Dave Brandl

The interest is there, so here's how we'll set this thing up.

Jan 24, 2003 - Dave Brandl

With the opportunity to read other playwrights' works, have them read yours, and learn and network with each other, playwriting groups offer many possibilities.

Dec 29, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Playwriting is not literature. A completed script is neither a work of art nor complete. Controversial statements? Definitely. But there is truth.

Nov 30, 2002 - Dave Brandl

While character and dialogue are important parts of a script, the box office looks at telling a good story.

Oct 31, 2002 - Dave Brandl

So much occurs on stage that critical elements may be lost. Characteristics of each member of the cast are in the playwright's head, but are they interpreted correctly on stage? There is always more to a character known by the playwright than will hit the printed page. But enough must be revealed for we (the audience) to recognize and understand it.

Sep 30, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Sometimes you just need to take a break. Stop and smell the coffee.

Aug 31, 2002 - Dave Brandl

If you're adapating or even merely citing a quotation, make sure you haven't breached any copyright laws. Be careful with music, too.

Jul 28, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Work Products. Documents. Deliverables. Artifacts. Whatever the name, these are the results of the work you do. The script is the ultimate work product, but along the way, creating these other pieces will ensure you remain focused, informed, and on track.

Jun 26, 2002 - Dave Brandl

After the Idea and Concept Phases help determine the best script to work on and the general approach, Definition starts the detailed planning, Development is where the script is written, Introduction tests the script, and Deployment gets the script into the hands of those who can give it life.

May 23, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Continuing from the last article, this focuses on the Idea and Concept Phases.

Apr 14, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Companies in the manufacturing industry generally follow repeatable and efficient processes to create their products. Software development does, too. So why shouldn't playwriting also have a repeatable process to make the creation of scripts more effective?

Mar 19, 2002 - Dave Brandl

You can have absolute control over your script, its direction, and the acting. It's called a one-person show, and it's popular and successful.

Feb 23, 2002 - Dave Brandl

You've been productive. But scripts are beginning to pile up. Until they are seen, read, and accepted by others, you've only achieved a part of what being a playwright is all about. Many writers shun the marketing aspects, but they are as important, and require the writer's valuable input for success.

Jan 8, 2002 - Dave Brandl

Embrace the holidays. Seek inspiration in the season.

Dec 11, 2001 - Dave Brandl

It's the same old story: You have a terrific idea, and lots of plans for how to work the story and characters. However, your life has other ideas, and between work, family, and other obligations, getting to the keyboard can be a nearly impossible task. How can one write the next classic when finding time to write is so difficult?

Nov 13, 2001 - Dave Brandl

The perfect crime. The perfect murder. The perfect mystery. The perfect meal. How do you do it?

Oct 9, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Nowhere is it more important to write clear, concise dialogue than in the performing arts. Plays, movies, and even industrial scripts all demand that the spoken word convey what it must, without conveying any more or less.

Sep 11, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Looking for more? Ever thought about writing a screenplay or videos? Here are some things to think about.

Aug 14, 2001 - Dave Brandl

The one-act play encompasses everything from 30-seconds to 100 minutes or more. Today's vision of the one-act has changed significantly from the days of the classic definition.

Jul 10, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Now comes the mechanics of assembling the cast, holding rehearsals, and preparing for opening night.

Jun 12, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Here's some practical experience I use to produce my plays with little or no money from my own pocket, but with bona fide paying audiences to help me evaluate and improve the scripts.

May 8, 2001 - Dave Brandl

You've completed a wonderful script ... destined for glory. Now, all that's needed is to find the right producer, get a nice budget behind it, and the world will be able to see one of the greatest plays of all time. If only it was that easy.

Apr 10, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Have you seen a good movie that you think will work well on a stage? Or how about a powerful novel? What's involved in adapting other works to a stage play?

Mar 13, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Plays need productions to succeed. They can sometimes be easier than you think to set up.

Feb 13, 2001 - Dave Brandl

Politicians, celebrities, fads, and pop culture all are subject to (and sometimes crying out for) being made fun of. Not only can this be a fun venue, but it is a popular market with a lot of potential.

Jan 9, 2001 - Dave Brandl

There are thousands of opportunities for productions and publishing, eagerly seeking scripts.

Dec 12, 2000 - Dave Brandl

Sometimes, no matter how hard or how long you work on a piece, it just doesn't seem to work. Do you forge ahead no matter what works, or shelve it in favor of another, perhaps more promising, piece?

Nov 14, 2000 - Dave Brandl

What are the editing limits? What are the editing options?

Oct 10, 2000 - Dave Brandl

There's an old saying that opportunity, if not recognized and embraced by one, will eventually be embraced by someone else.

Sep 12, 2000 - Dave Brandl

I began writing plays because I thought it would be fun. Sometimes I have trouble remembering that.

Aug 8, 2000 - Dave Brandl

Just as a quick snack in the late afternoon can re-energize a person, completing a short script can give satisfaction, cure writer's block, and recharge your playwriting batteries.

Jul 11, 2000 - Dave Brandl

How can you tell if a script is any good? Here are some more of the things I use to judge.

Jun 13, 2000 - Dave Brandl

Among its 8,000 listings are enough scripting opportunities to bankrupt your postage resources. Some careful prospecting can yield significant results

May 9, 2000 - Dave Brandl

How can you tell if a script is any good? Especially your own script? Here are some of the things I use to judge.

Apr 11, 2000 - Dave Brandl

It's important to explore current and classic playwrights. Here are some suggestions to study, read, or see.

Mar 14, 2000 - Dave Brandl

Are you in a rut? Writer's block? Need a boost of inspiration or motivation? Check out other plays: the classics, the contemporaries, and even the soon-to-be-forgottens.

Feb 8, 2000 - Dave Brandl

New Year's resolutions. Easily made. Easily broken.

Jan 11, 2000 - Dave Brandl

Holiday plays are always in demand, and can be very rewarding ... year after year.

Dec 28, 1999 - Dave Brandl

This market is largely made up of professional and small, independent groups who perform regularly for schoolage children.

Dec 14, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Children may enjoy watching fairy tale plays immensely, but they seem to prefer portraying themselves in plays relevant to their lives. Good plays in this category are in high demand.

Nov 30, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Whether you write plays for adults to perform for children or for children to perform, the markets are there, and eager to see new plays.

Nov 16, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Here's an alternative market you might consider. There's potential for a lot of productions

Nov 2, 1999 - Dave Brandl

My interview of Nagle Jackson, director turned award-winning playwright, concludes as he tells about his playwriting process, directing, and some advice for playwrights.

Oct 19, 1999 - Dave Brandl

My interview of Nagle Jackson, director turned award-winning playwright, continues with his thoughts about currents trends in theatre and new play development - the idea for a play.

Oct 5, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Tap into a voice of experience. A director turned award-winning playwright shares his history, views, and insight.

Sep 21, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Be a theatre critic ... or just write like one. Analyzing the works of others can be of great benefit to a playwright.

Sep 7, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was not only a talented playwright, but did so during a time when good theatre was at a minimum.

Aug 24, 1999 - Dave Brandl

As with any other business venture, successful playwriting is a matter of supply and demand. Does your play fill a need?

Aug 10, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Between the first draft (or even the second or third) and full production are readings, where the playwright gets to hear actors bring the script to life, but without the production costs or risks.

Jul 27, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Publishers put your play into their catalogs and send their catalogs to thousands of theatre companies. This can result in hundreds of productions (and the associated royalties, too).

Jul 13, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Ninety per cent of writing is re-writing. That's where the really important work occurs.

Jun 29, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Music and spectacle are among the six important elements of theatre, according to Aristotle. Traditionally, they were the least of those elements, but in recent years, they have become much more important.

Jun 15, 1999 - Dave Brandl

What's your play about? You know what the sequence of events are. But that's the plot. What's the theme?

Jun 1, 1999 - Dave Brandl

What is the playwright's dream? Production, of course. And the more, the better.

May 18, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Hooking into the Internet gives you access to an abundance of writing tools: dictionaries, synonyms, quotations, public domain manuscripts, and a whole lot more.

May 4, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Some writers always direct their own plays; some never do. I think there's a happy medium.

Apr 20, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Copyrights. Titles. Publishing Agreements. Production Contracts. Taxes. 'Jim, I'm just a playwright. I'm not an attorney.'

Apr 6, 1999 - Dave Brandl

It's been said that luck is when opportunity meets preparation. Another key ingredient is continuing to pursue your dream regardless of setbacks and obstacles.

Mar 23, 1999 - Dave Brandl

These venues provide potential for recognition, production, and prizes and cash awards for the selected plays and playwrights.

Mar 9, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Actively participating in theatre regularly, at any level of involvement, makes for better playwriting.

Mar 2, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Are your characters real? How do you develop characters that are full-bodied and interesting?

Feb 23, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Plays are produced by groups of actors, with a director, producer, and other people to perform a show for a paying audience. That's the norm. But there are other ways to be a scriptwriter.

Feb 16, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Full-length plays used to run about two hours. Some playwrights and companies are stretching them into epics today. And what about quality control in a script? I think some people feel it's not necessary.

Feb 9, 1999 - Dave Brandl

What is the best source for an idea? Do you empty your brain of all your original thoughts? Do you adapt or dramatize somebody else's work? Is there really anything new under the sun?

Feb 2, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Your script is in the mail, on its way to discovery. How do you spend the time waiting for fame and fortune to respond?

Jan 26, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Your research has identified opportunities to present your script. What next? Are there rules or standards for contacting these people? You bet.

Jan 19, 1999 - Dave Brandl

You have a script (or scripts) that are ready to send out. Where do you send it? How do you find the best potential targets among the hundreds (or thousands) of possibilities.

Jan 12, 1999 - Dave Brandl

With the dawn of a new year, take (and make) opportunities to get your writing out there.

Jan 5, 1999 - Dave Brandl

Whether you just completed your latest play or finally sweated out your first line of dialogue, you need to determine how good it is. How do you do that? And how do you know what's "good"?

Dec 29, 1998 - Dave Brandl

Now it's time to start writing a play. Do you just get it on paper any way you can? There are professional standards.

Dec 22, 1998 - Dave Brandl

You've focused your idea and now you're ready to beginning writing your play. Or are you? There may be some other work to do before you write that first line of dialogue.

Dec 15, 1998 - Dave Brandl

You've decided to write a play. Where do you start? Do you have an idea for your play?

Dec 8, 1998 - Dave Brandl

With all the venues available to writers, many offering large sums of money, this is why I write plays.

Nov 20, 1998 - Dave Brandl