Playwriting In Process: Thinking and Working Theatrically

by Michael Wright

Playwriting-in-Process was created to provide a resource, a craft-reminder/reinforcer, a stimulus, a self teaching mechanism, and a reference work. The urge which led to its creation came from feelings shared by many dramatic arts educators around the country, that playwriting textbooks in general aren't very useful--or used, for that matter--in the classroom. Much like athletes and musicians, playwrights must exercise their skills and practice their craft. But how does this translate to the page? Can we exercise the way we think and write? Playwriting-in Process is a hands-on compendium of games and exercises designed to help do just stimulate creativity, provide reminders of basic craft skills, and build strong playwrights.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, Writing

206 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 1997

About the author

Applied Professor of Creative Writing, Theatre and Film at The University of Tuls. He is a playwright as well as author of both long and short fiction.

Reviews

[Brigitte]

Excellent exercises all throughout the book. Useful for prose fiction writers as well, not just playwrights.

[E.W.]

As someone who has studied playwriting and taught playwriting for many years, this workbook is by far the best playwriting text out there. I have read nearly every playwriting text in existence and come back to this text again and again. It is the only text I have used in my workshops. A close second might be Jean Claude Van Italie's "The Playwright's Workbook."

Playwriting in Process provides practical, hands-on exercises to work through problems and explore ideas, as well as etudes for discovering how structure, plot, character and scenery impact one's writing.

[Derek Kaellner]

This is the most helpful book on playwriting I've read. Instead of telling the reader what works, the author lists several exercises to help writers find what works for them. It turns the frequently arduous task of creative writing into a flexible and educational series of games.

[Leen Tool]

A great guide. Very practical, but it also makes you think and see the bigger picture. Great stuff. Perfect timing.