My 7 Most Profound Writing Tips
Just this weekend, I decided to check out my own Podcast, The Playwriting Podcast, to see what I could learn. (What? I recorded it? LEARN?) AND what I found was really interesting.
I saw playwriting tips that I currently use and I saw some tips which I currently avoid, which are actually super useful. So just for fun, I thought I would go back and list my 7 most profound writing tips, the tips which truly make a difference for me in my writing process.
Here we go:
1. WRITE WRITE WRITE, WAIT WAIT, MAYBE SLEEP, THEN EDIT.
Writing and editing are two different things. My best practice is to write and then sleep and then edit. I write, then take some time away from writing and go back fresh with a new brain and I edit. This is my most profound writing practice. Been doing it for years and it works.
2. MAKE A PLAN.
Plot out your play with EVENTS that happen in each scene, with things that happen on stage. Yes, take the time to make an outline with action and events from the beginning of your play to the end. Know in advance what you are going to write, and your writing will flow like never before.
When you have a plan, you don't fall down rabbit holes and get lost in undirected creativity, and you complete your first draft infinitely faster. There is nothing wrong with undirected creativity, but it may take you a lot longer to complete your play, if you complete it at all.
But once you get your ideas and plot outlined with clear dramatic action and events happening in every scene, writing your play becomes incredibly easy.
So make a plan, a map of your play with EVENTS and CLEAR DRAMATIC ACTION. This really works.
3. KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS.
Write about people you know, people in your life, just change the names or the occupation, or the context. When you make your characters people you know the dialogue flows like never before for you know your characters!
4. GET OFF YOUR COMPUTER AND WRITE ON REAL PAPER.
There is something amazing about writing by hand, especially when you feel stuck. There is some sort of physical connection - hand to brain to creative consciousness that often jump starts your creativity. So bag the computer when the creative flow dries up, and try writing by hand with pen and paper.
5. USE TECHNOLOGY TO WRITE EVERYWHERE.
Write on your PHONE. Dictate your play into your PHONE and watch it magically type for you. Write in short intervals on the Subway on your PHONE or IPAD, or when you have 10 minutes in a coffee shop. Know that you can ALWAYS “imput” your play where it will be safe and saved (If you use Icloud or Dropbox) wherever you are. I have written full length plays in 10 minute intervals on my Phone. It is awesome.
6. WHEN YOU FEEL STUCK WITH "WRITER'S BLOCK"... RESEARCH!
When you feel like the words are not flowing on the page, take your writing time and research your play during that time. Research info on the setting, the time period, the genre. Watch movies that relate to what you are writing. See and read other plays of the same genre that are set in the same time period, or location. Become a sponge of information about the world of your play. And when you get back to writing, you will be surprised what manifests.
7. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR INNATE CREATIVITY.
Get out of your own way. Make the choice to believe that you have a unique voice and can write an amazing play. Stop listening to the negative voices in your head, and focus on that still strong voice inside your heart, that KNOWS you are a great writer.
AND GET TO WORK!!
Need some help?