Writing Your First Play

by Roger A. Hall

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

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

178 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1991

Reviews

[Калоян Захариев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Това е книга не е просто книга за писането на пиеси, а за писането като цяло.
Изключително полезно четиво, написано стегнато, ясно, с многобройни примери. Всеки творец, решил да направи първи стъпки в театралното изкуство трябва да отдели време на тази книга, защото ще научи много. Определено получих много повече отколкото очаквах.
Жалко, че не е преведена на български.

[Maha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good examples and exercises. Great food for thought that can be extended into other kinds of writing, not just for playwrights.

[Amy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very useful tips I never would have thought of! Great examples and prompts as well to fuel creativity :)

[Rachel]

I read this for my English 327: Playwriting Workshop class at SNHU.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great guide for beginner playwriters and even scripts in general. It brings out major points of writing, although I believe the character chapter should have been the second chapter followed by direct conflict, since conflict very often arises from characters. I thought of this like how Steve Krug is to usability studies. The points are very basic, almost common sense, but essential. Great writing exercises available. This was used for a playwriting workshop, and was a great resource.

[Pat Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference book for playwrights. The crafting of a play remains a mixture of dialog, action, character development, and conflict. Then there is the interplay of the characters. The examples and the exercises proved to be very helpful to me as a budding playwright.