Exercises That Work

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > WORKING > OUTLINE > START WRITING > EXERCISES > WORK

'I'm what you call a pressure-cooker writer. I give myself ten days to two weeks to write a first draft because it's too terrifying to have an open amount of space. I make myself start on a given date and then I have a first draft.'

-- Naomi Wallace

• Getting Rid of Spoken Subtext

  Go through the section on Subtext before you start. Then . . .

  • Write 2 Pages of Dialogue without allowing any character to say more than 3 words per line.

  The limitation on words per line will automatically remove Spoken Subtext from your dialogue. Think of this like wringing out a washcloth -- the water's the Subtext. A caution: this sparse result will probably not be in your Voice as a playwright. Now you'll need to experiment with line length to find that point where Subtext remains where it should while allowing your Voice to come out.

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• Combining Suspense & Emotional Plots

  Go through the section on Plots before you start. Then . . .

  • Select 2 Characters Ideally with a shared past.
    • Pick the Emotional Issue that lurks between them -- ideally one they've never spoken about before.

  • Then Find a Reason for them to start talking about this.

  This Reason becomes your Suspense Plot. The Issue between them is your Emotional Plot.