Playwriting 101 Resources

Once you start writing, you are a playwright

The following resources are designed to help you in your career as a playwright. These links are updated when new resources come in.

Combating Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is a side effect of waiting for inspiration. Lightning rarely strikes on its own, so help it along. Work through the block.

If you find yourself stuck or uninspired, write through the block. Write anything. What is the character doing? What are they thinking? What are you feeling? What does the world think about the situation? How does the frustration feel and how might it relate to the show? Anything. Remember that inspiration comes from the work, while perfection comes from the rewrite. Just get something down, anything. It’s the raw material you’ll use to complete your show. Fix it after. The important thing is that you started.

A first draft is your first step. It’s the equivalent of pulling the clay out of the package. You’ll refine it and make something beautiful with it after you pry it out of the carton. Your first draft is that hunk of clay.

If you get stuck, remember that bad work is okay. The job of the first draft is to get it on paper. Give yourself permission to do bad work. Give yourself permission to fail in the first draft. Trust in your ability to fix it later.

Don’t worry about spelling, formatting, or grammar. Don’t worry about doing your best. Focus more on finding the story and exploring. Focus on the freedom a first draft gives you. Focus on giving yourself enough to cut in the edit.