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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2410-.html
Drama: May 28, 2008 Issue [#2410]

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Drama


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  Edited by: SantaBee Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

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Thinking of writing a play?

"I've never written a play. Is it hard?" "How does writing a play differ from writing a story?" "I don't even know how to format a play." "Sure, I'm game. Now what?"

Those are just some thoughts and reactions that come to mind when one confronts the opportunity to write a play. Over the course of my next couple of newsletters, I'll tackle the whys, structure, development, and format of playwriting as we come up with our own idea for a play.


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Letter from the editor

PART ONE - Doing the preliminary work

Once you determine you want to write a play, beign with an idea. One of the most appealing aspects of a play is the fact that they are an excellent forum for addressing concerns or issues that are pressing for the times. A play about the effects of the Iraq war on a veteran or a "Death of a Saleman" like play focusing on the effects of a couple defaulting on their mortage would be very topical for today's audience.

A play can be as gritty as the actual events it represents, or as metaphorical as placing the situation in a fantasy type setting. (i.e. "Lord of the Rings" for the First World War.)

Once you've fleshed out your idea, establish a plot. The focus should be to have your characters drive the plot. Your characters should be interesting and compelling. They should be thoughtful and passionate with needs and wants as driving as your own. The main character must change in some way, either good or bad, by the end.

Establish time, place, and firm up your setting. It's important for the audience to be able to see your world.

Next, write believable dialogue for the times. Remember, the 1920's have different slang than the 1980's. A little research here will give your play the authencity it needs.

Incorporate action into your play. Remember the audience wants to see your characters in action. Finally, remember this is a play, not a film. Keep it simple and keep the focus on good character development and you'll have a successful formula for a play.

*Idea* To organize your idea, write down your items on a worksheet that you can refer to.

*Idea* Remember, you might need to do research as well as editing and re-writing as you put the play together.

As you draft your play keep in the following in mind:

*Check2* Plays need action. Keep monolgues to a minium.

*Check2* Characters need purpose. Don't have them mill around on stage. Give them something to do.

*Check2* Plays need to hold the audience's interest.

Let's come up with a first draft. Here's 4 polls for you to take. Over the course of the next couple of newsletters, I'll compile the more popular answers into a rough draft play.

Let's work on developing an "idea" for a play. Your feedback is important. As we talk about putting a play together, the first thing we have to do is establish our idea. The answer that receives the most responses will be our working idea in future Drama newsletters.

Thanks for taking the poll.
      Effects of war on a war vet
      A young french winegrower in the 1940's during WW II
      A young woman must chose between love and a career
      The tragedy of Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia


Now that we've established our idea and main character, we need a supporting cast member. Pick your supporting cast member so that is in line with your idea.
      a paper pusher at a Veterans affairs office
      A helpless mother
      a frustrated girlfriend
      an invalid mother
      a Nazi overseer
      Alexandra, empress of Russia
      Anastasia, Olga's sister, Nicholas's youngest daughter
      A young man who works at a bank


After picking your idea for the play, now it's time to establish who the main character should be. Pick your response to match what your idea was.
      a bitter war vet
      a war vet with an injury
      A naive young man who has inherited a vineyard
      An arrogant young man who has inherited a vineyard
      Czar Nicholas II
      Grand Duchess Olga (Nicholas's eldest daughter)
      A young woman who has just graduated college


Now that you've picked the idea for your play, you have to pick a setting. Pick your setting in line with what you picked for your idea.
      Iraq War
      Vietnam War
      World War I
      Burgundy, France
      Alace, France
      St. Petersburg, Russia
      Boston, MA
      Odessa, Russia on the shores of the Black Sea
      San Francisco, CA


NEXT: Pick a style of play and flesh out your characters.


Editor's Picks

Here are some recent script/plays that were posted on WDC.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1415545 by Not Available.


Done in verse, like a Shakespearan play.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1423743 by Not Available.


I like how they've set the scene direction apart. It's easy to know when the act is changing scenes.

 The Mime  Open in new Window. (E)
A short play that i have been working on, which i hope to put on in August
#1407807 by captainzeep Author IconMail Icon


Great characterization.

 The Path to Serenity Open in new Window. (13+)
A boy. A war. A chance to save everyone.
#1406060 by phantomwing Author IconMail Icon


Good characterization. The play flows well.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1367036 by Not Available.


A play that looks at "issues."

*************


Some Drama Fun:

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1382917 by Not Available.


Drama Forum Open in new Window. (13+)
For those of us drama queens and kings, a forum to swap writing ideas and post questions
#1394242 by Joy Author IconMail Icon


The Play's The Thing Open in new Window. (E)
A contest for script writers. Winners announced. New round open.
#1421907 by SantaBee Author IconMail Icon


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IN & OUT
The Best of the Rest at the Bee Hive  Open in new Window. (E)
DEC 2024 Contest is open! Submit your Favorite Surveys!
#1134192 by SantaBee Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

Feedback from my last Drama Newsletter which was on "True Crime Drama."

Adriana Noir Author IconMail Icon

I love Ann Rule and have almost all of her books, including her fictional novel, "Possession." A large part of my library consists of true crime stories. Barbara Davis sounds like an interesting author, one that I may have overlooked! Court TV aired a show about Darlie Routier not too long ago...a tragic and heartwrenching tale. I will definately be scouring the local bookstore for Davis's work! Great edition as always!

I like Ann Rule at lot. The first true crime author I read was Joe McGinness who wrote about Jeffery McDonald and the crime he committed on Ft. Bragg where he murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters. After that, I was hooked. Him and Ann have a similar style of writing that just plunges the reader into the world of the victim.

A pic of me taken 2 years ago.


SantaBee Author IconMail Icon is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her short story, "The Wolf's Kiss," received an Honorable Mention in the 2007 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Contest. You can find "The Wolf's Kiss," in her short story folder.

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