Becoming a successful playwright involves watching and reading plays, taking appropriate courses, and seeking feedback from actors and directors. Starting locally and establishing a personal network is recommended before moving to larger theater centers. Writing frequently and rewriting based on feedback is crucial.
The steps to becoming a playwright are different from those involved in other writing careers. Playwrights, unlike most other screenwriters, including screenwriters, cannot do all their work in isolation and expect the resulting play to be successful. Actors and stage directors can offer ideas for making a play more viable for live performance. Fortunately, there are many programs available to help the aspiring writer who wants to become a playwright. In many cases, however, the would-be playwright may need to rely on personal contacts and local theater groups for support.
Theatrical drama is the oldest of the dramatic arts, with the exception of narrative poetry. It originated with the ancient Greek playwrights such as Sophocles and Aristophanes. Many of the dramatic concepts created by these early writers are still used in modern times. Stage theater was once the most popular form of entertainment, and British playwright William Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer in history. In modern times, even with competition from various forms of popular media, stage theater is still a thriving industry, with theater companies large and small active across the world.
If you want to become a playwright, start by watching and reading as many plays as you can. Write down your favorite plays and writers and focus on what appeals to you; these can provide guidance for your own writing. If you are a student, take appropriate courses, and not just in creative writing. Technical classes in acting, directing and theater will help you understand the tasks of those who will one day produce and present your plays. If you’re not in school, look for local theater companies and volunteer; in addition to providing you with valuable professional contacts, you will feel the demands of theater production.
New York and London are the world’s centers of theater production, but competition is fierce and entry can be difficult for those not yet established. Many writers recommend a local start for anyone trying to become a playwright. Find actors and directors at school or local theater groups and create your own theater company. Live readings and feedback from these artists will help you turn your piece into a viable production. In the beginning you will make mistakes, as all writers do, but they will only be seen by your co-workers and perhaps small local audiences, not influential agents or producers.
Obviously, the most important step in becoming a playwright is writing. Pay attention to feedback, whether from professionals or friends and family, and rewrite frequently. In the United States, the Dramatists Guild offers fellowships for beginning playwrights; there are similar programs in other countries. Once your work has been performed locally and successfully a few times, consider moving to New York, London or another large city with a thriving community of playwrights. Establish a personal network with other stage professionals, use the Internet as a resource for connection and promotion, and always keep writing.
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