Writing Your First Play, Second Edition

Writing Your First Play provides the beginning playwright with the tools and motivation to tell a story through dramatic form. Based in a series of exercises which gradually grow more complex, the books helps the reader to understand the basic elements of drama, conflict, and action. The exercises help the reader to become increasingly sophisticated in the use of dramatic formats, turning simple ideas into a viable play. Topics include: the role of action in drama; developing action and conflict to reveal character; writing powerful and persuasive dialog; writing from personal experience:pros and cons; how to begin the story and develop the storyline. This new edition is thoroughly updated and contains new examples based on contemporary plays. The author has added additional writing exercises and a new student-written one act play. It also contains a new chapter on how to sell your play once it is written. With examples based on student work, this text both inspires and educates the student and fledgling playwright, providing solid tools and techniques for the craft of writing a drama. Roger A. Hall, a professor of theatre at James Madison University, had taught playwriting for nearly 20 years. Many of his students have gone on to write for theatre, television, and the screen. He has written numerous plays and articles and has acted and directed extensively in the theatre. Explores all aspects of how to write a first play Examples are based on undergraduate level student work Thoroughly updated, including a new chapter on how to market your play once it is written

• Explores all aspects of how to write a first play.
• Examples are based on undergraduate level student work.
• Thoroughly updated, including a new chapter on how to market your play once it is written.

Writing Your First Play provides the beginning playwright with the tools and motivation to tell a story through dramatic form. Based in a series of exercises which gradually grow more complex, the books helps the reader to understand the basic elements of drama, conflict, and action. The exercises help the reader to become increasingly sophisticated in the use of dramatic formats, turning simple ideas into a viable play.

Topics include: the role of action in drama; developing action and conflict to reveal character; writing powerful and persuasive dialog; writing from personal experience; how to begin the story and develop the storyline. This new edition is thoroughly updated and contains new examples based on contemporary plays. The author has added additional writing exercises and a new student-written one act play. It also contains a new chapter on how to sell your play once it is written. With examples based on student work, this text both inspires and educates the student and fledgling playwright, providing solid tools and techniques for the craft of writing a drama.

Booknews

Based on his 20 years of teaching playwriting, Hall offers beginners tools and motivation to tell a story through dramatic form. He breaks the action, dialogue, characters, and conflict into separate exercises that lead from one to another and become increasingly sophisticated. No date is mentioned for the first edition; the second includes contemporary examples, additional writing exercises, a new student's one-act play, and a chapter on marketing a finished play. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

The second edition of Writing Your First Play provides the beginning playwright with the tools and motivation to tell a story through dramatic form. Based on many years of teaching experience, this book breaks the action, dialogue, characters and conflict into separate exercises that lead naturally from one to another and become increasingly more sophisticated. Before the reader has realized it, simple ideas have taken on the shape of a play. Topics include understanding the role action plays in drama; developing action and conflict to reveal character; writing powerful and persuasive dialogue; writing from personal experience, and how it can be both enriching and dangerous; and knowing where to start the story and what details help to develop the storyline. Content: Copyright , Page iv Foreword , Pages ix-x Preface , Pages xi-xv Introduction , Pages xvii-xviii Chapter 1 - Action , Pages 1-11 Chapter 2 - Direct Conflict , Pages 12-24 Chapter 3 - Character , Pages 25-37 Chapter 4 - Dialogue , Pages 38-52 Chapter 5 - Three-Character Conflict , Pages 53-69 Chapter 6 - Writing from Life , Pages 70-88 Chapter 7 - Writing from a Source , Pages 89-103 Chapter 8 - Expanding Your Skills , Pages 104-111 Chapter 9 - Writing Your Play , Pages 112-140 Chapter 10 - Marketing Your Play , Pages 141-148 Appendix - Classroom Procedures , Pages 149-150 Bibliography , Pages 151-154 Index , Pages 155-159