March 29, 2024
Updated May 12, 2025
17 minute read
A Career Guide to Playwriting
A playwright is a writer who crafts plays, scripts intended for theatrical performance. They build worlds, create characters, and weave narratives primarily through dialogue and stage directions. Unlike novelists who often describe inner thoughts directly, playwrights reveal character and plot through action and spoken word, relying on the collaborative magic of theatre to bring their vision to life.
The journey of a playwright can be deeply rewarding, offering the unique thrill of seeing one's written words embodied by actors and experienced collectively by a live audience. It involves grappling with the fundamentals of dramatic storytelling, exploring human nature, and engaging with the vibrant, dynamic world of theatre. For those drawn to the power of live performance and the art of crafting compelling narratives for the stage, playwriting presents a challenging yet potentially fulfilling creative path.
Introduction to Playwriting
What is Playwriting and How Did It Evolve?
vmocbj|
Find a path to becoming a Playwright. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/vmocbj/playwrigh
Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Playwright.
Provides a comprehensive overview of character development, covering topics such as creating believable motivations, goals, and backstories, as well as developing physical and emotional characteristics. It valuable resource for writers of all levels who want to create memorable and engaging characters.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the playwriting process, from developing ideas and characters to writing dialogue and stage directions. It valuable resource for both aspiring and experienced playwrights.
Provides a comprehensive overview of character development, covering topics such as creating believable motivations, goals, and backstories, as well as developing physical and emotional characteristics. It valuable resource for writers of all levels who want to create memorable and engaging characters.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dialogue writing, covering its essential elements, techniques, and strategies. McKee draws on his experience as a screenwriter and story consultant to offer practical advice and insights for writers of all levels.
A highly popular and accessible book that breaks down screenplay structure into 15 key 'beats'. is particularly useful for beginners and those looking for a practical template for plotting. While some find its formulaic approach limiting for advanced writers, it excels at solidifying a basic understanding of story structure in a clear and engaging way. It's a must-read for many starting out.
Provides a step-by-step guide to creating memorable characters. It covers topics such as developing character arcs, creating believable dialogue, and avoiding common pitfalls. It valuable resource for writers of all levels who want to create characters that readers will love.
This comprehensive and in-depth book explores the principles of storytelling that underpin successful screenplays. It delves into the nature of story, character, and genre, offering a robust framework for understanding dramatic writing. While more theoretical than some other guides, it's highly respected and provides a deep understanding of the craft, suitable for undergraduate and graduate levels.
Offers a practical approach to writing drama, with a focus on developing characters, creating conflict, and writing dialogue that is both realistic and engaging. It is an excellent resource for both students and aspiring playwrights.
Considered a foundational text in screenwriting, this book introduces the basic principles of screenplay structure, particularly the three-act structure. It's an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the craft and is often used as a textbook in introductory courses. is more valuable as foundational reading than a contemporary reference.
Focuses on the importance of creating believable and relatable characters. It provides tips on how to develop characters that readers will connect with and root for. It valuable resource for writers who want to create characters that drive their stories and keep readers engaged.
Focuses on the six core competencies of successful writing: concept, character, plot, scene, sequence, and theme. It provides practical advice on how to develop each element of your story.
Presents a comprehensive 22-step process for developing a story, focusing on underlying patterns and techniques used by master storytellers. It goes beyond basic structure to explore genre, moral arguments, and character transformation, offering a detailed approach for deepening one's craft.
Based on Joseph Campbell's work on mythology, this book explores common archetypes and the hero's journey structure as applied to screenwriting. It provides a deeper understanding of character arcs and thematic development, offering a valuable lens for analyzing and constructing compelling narratives. This widely recommended book for understanding underlying story patterns.
Provides a structured approach to character development. It includes exercises and worksheets to help writers create well-rounded and believable characters. It valuable resource for writers who want to improve their character development skills.
Provides a practical and business-oriented approach to screenwriting, focusing on crafting stories that have market potential. Hauge's expertise as a story consultant makes thvaluable resource for understanding the commercial aspects of scriptwriting and how to structure a story to appeal to industry professionals.
Focuses specifically on the challenging task of writing a television pilot script. It breaks down the essential elements of a successful pilot, including establishing characters, premise, and tone, and navigating the specific requirements of the pilot format.
Is focused on character design and is intended for those creating characters for a visual format. It covers topics such as visual development, character sketching, creature design, and environment design. While it is not specifically focused on character development for writing, it can still be a valuable resource for writers who want to visualize their characters and create a more visually appealing story.
A practical guide specifically for aspiring television writers, covering the unique structure, formatting, and collaborative process of writing for TV. It includes exercises and insights from experienced TV writers, making it a useful resource for those targeting a career in television.
Explores the role of dialogue in character development. Bickham provides techniques for creating distinct and memorable characters through their speech patterns, word choice, and interactions with others.
Practical guide to writing a novel, from the initial idea to the final draft. It covers all the essential elements of plot development, including character development, conflict, and resolution.
This textbook offers a broad overview of writing for various media, including television, radio, and emerging digital platforms. It covers different formats and considerations for each medium, providing a good introduction to the wider landscape of scriptwriting beyond feature films. It is commonly used as a textbook.
Reflecting the broader scope of scriptwriting today, this book explores the unique demands and creative opportunities of writing for animated series, comic books, and video games. It delves into format, structure, and collaboration within these specific industries, making it relevant to contemporary topics in scriptwriting.
Offers a step-by-step guide to the essentials of writing for film, drawing on the author's extensive experience. It's written in an accessible manner and includes practical tasks, making it particularly suitable for those new to scriptwriting and looking for a user-friendly introduction.
Provides a step-by-step guide to writing a novel, with a focus on plot development. It covers all the essential elements of plot, including character development, conflict, and resolution.
Explores the specific techniques and challenges of writing dialogue for comedic purposes. Carter provides examples from classic and contemporary comedies to illustrate how dialogue can be used to create humor and laughter.
Examines the relationship between dialogue in fiction and film. Black analyzes how dialogue is adapted and interpreted when it is translated from one medium to another.
A highly entertaining and insightful look at the realities of working as a screenwriter in Hollywood. While not a traditional how-to guide, Goldman's anecdotal style offers invaluable practical wisdom, shedding light on the business, the personalities, and the unpredictable nature of the film industry. It provides valuable context for aspiring professionals.
Based on Hunter's popular UCLA screenwriting course, this book offers a practical and encouraging guide to writing a screenplay. It emphasizes discipline and the importance of finding your unique voice, providing a structured approach suitable for students and those seeking a classroom-like experience. It can serve as a useful textbook.
Analyzing a wide range of narratives from ancient myths to modern blockbusters, Yorke argues for a five-act structure as a fundamental pattern in storytelling. provides a compelling alternative or complement to the traditional three-act structure, deepening one's understanding of narrative architecture.
Explores the cognitive science behind why humans are drawn to stories and how to use this understanding to write more effectively. It offers a fresh perspective on narrative from a psychological standpoint, adding depth to one's understanding of audience engagement.
Michael Hauge, a respected story consultant, focuses specifically on the romance genre in this book. It provides a detailed breakdown of the conventions and emotional beats specific to writing compelling love stories, making it a valuable resource for those interested in this popular genre.
Focuses on creating a deep emotional connection with the reader (or viewer). It explores techniques for evoking emotion and adding layers of meaning to a story, which is crucial for impactful scriptwriting. While aimed at fiction writers, its principles are highly applicable to creating emotionally resonant screenplays.
Although this book focuses on screenwriting, it offers valuable insights into the principles of storytelling that are applicable to playwriting as well. Seger provides practical advice on developing characters, creating conflict, and writing dialogue that is both effective and engaging.
Drawing on Jungian psychology and a vast array of stories, this book explores seven basic plot structures found throughout literature and film. While not solely focused on screenwriting, its in-depth analysis of narrative patterns provides a rich foundation for understanding story construction. It's more valuable as additional reading for a deeper theoretical understanding.
Focusing on the internal struggles of the protagonist, this book emphasizes the importance of understanding character motivation and internal conflict to drive the plot. Like 'Save the Cat! Writes a Novel,' it applies principles relevant to compelling storytelling across different mediums, offering a character-centric approach.
Provides a practical and accessible guide to writing effective dialogue. Stein offers tips on creating realistic characters, avoiding clichés, and using dialogue to advance the plot.
Provides a beginner-friendly introduction to playwriting, with step-by-step instructions on how to develop characters, write dialogue, and structure a play. It good resource for those who are new to playwriting and want to learn the basics.
This comprehensive textbook includes a section on dialogue writing. It provides an overview of the principles and techniques of dialogue, with examples from both classic and contemporary plays.
Focuses on character development, and how it can be used to create more compelling and engaging plots. It provides practical advice on how to develop your characters' arcs, and how to use them to drive your story forward.
Offers practical, bite-sized writing exercises and tips for busy writers. It focuses on overcoming procrastination and developing a consistent writing habit, making it a good supplementary resource for building discipline and generating ideas.
Offers a collection of essays by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson on the art and craft of playwriting. Wilson provides valuable insights into the creative process, the importance of language, and the power of theater to shed light on social issues.
More advanced guide to plot development, focusing on the techniques used by professional writers. It covers topics such as plot structure, pacing, and conflict.
Provides a practical guide to writing more engaging and suspenseful plots. It covers topics such as creating conflict, building tension, and resolving the story.
Offers a collection of practical techniques and exercises for playwrights of all levels. Ayckbourn provides advice on everything from developing characters and creating conflict to writing dialogue and stage directions.
Provides a practical guide to writing narrative for games, with a focus on plot development. It covers all the essential elements of plot, including character development, conflict, and resolution.
Offers a comprehensive guide to the art and craft of playwriting. Chodorov provides detailed advice on everything from developing characters and creating conflict to writing dialogue and stage directions.
Comprehensive overview of the latest research on trauma and its effects on the brain, mind, and body. It provides practical advice on how to heal from trauma and rebuild a healthy life.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/vmocbj/playwrigh
Save
