A NOTE ABOUT 10-MINUTE PLAYS:
A 10-minute play is short. It is a ONE-act in that there should only be one major action in the plot. Because they are short, you don't need to waste time with scenes that build up to the climax slowly. Begin at the beginning of the end of the story! Keep your canvas small. Not one of you is prolific enough to write a 50 page play, so keep your action tight.
A note about SETTING:
Don't change setting without a good reason. Setting can be used to comment on theme or character. An interior setting usually indicates that we are dealing with private issues. An exterior setting symbolizes society or the outside world. When a play takes place is important. Be specific. What season is the action taking place in? What time period or year? What time of day?
A note about THE UNITIES:
The unities of time, place, and action should keep your plays in a small amount of time. Plots should be short enough to take 1 or possibly 2 settings or locations at most. Think 1 setting for every 20 pages of script and you'll get the idea. Again, action should be started close to where you're setting your climax. Did I mention a 10-minute play is short? A 10-minute play is short.
Several NOTES ABOUT CHARACTER:
Remember that plays are essentially about characters. A character can drive a plot forward based on the needs and motivation of that character. A well written character is constructed to be believable (i.e., human) and so there are a few ways we can ensure this:
1. Characters are often aspects of the writer. Shatter your personality into fragments, with each fragment a part of YOU. Remember that there are opposites to your standard behavior and personality. If you are a quiet, shy person, perhaps your shadow-self is a loud-mouthed bully.
2. Make your characters make decisions. Conflict and plot are driven by decisions. You need characters who are willing to risk everything for what they want/need.
3. Characters have a function. Whether archetypical, stereotypical, as a foil, or as a protagonist or antagonist, characters serve a function and purpose in a play. Characters that do not, should be removed. If you can't be bothered to give a character a line or significant stage time, consider dropping this character from the play.
4. The better the author knows his/her character, the better he/she can develop the character through characterization. Characterization, as you know, is a character's description, a character's actions, a character's speech, and what other characters say ABOUT a character. The power of gossip is helpful when writing a scene.
5. Build your scenes. Add beats to develop your characters by providing backstory. Allow characters a chance to explain themselves (particularly after doing something that seems contrary to their personality or something that causes conflict for other characters).
6. Just like in poetry or fiction, what is the last image you are presenting to the audience? A last speech, line, or action in a play is a powerful thing. Does your play have an effective and memorable ending? What are you leaving your audience to think about?
Workshop:
Get into your workshop groups. Help your fellow writers. Writers ask questions about how you can IMPROVE your plays. Get some effective feedback (as you're about to revise these plays for your final grade). Complete the workshop sheet for your play and turn in for participation credit.
When you have completed your workshop, please travel to the lab and work on your revision. Revisions are due by end of next class. Chop-chop. Get re-writing!
HOMEWORK: Continue rewriting your script. Be prepared to complete your revision by next class.
A 10-minute play is short. It is a ONE-act in that there should only be one major action in the plot. Because they are short, you don't need to waste time with scenes that build up to the climax slowly. Begin at the beginning of the end of the story! Keep your canvas small. Not one of you is prolific enough to write a 50 page play, so keep your action tight.
A note about SETTING:
Don't change setting without a good reason. Setting can be used to comment on theme or character. An interior setting usually indicates that we are dealing with private issues. An exterior setting symbolizes society or the outside world. When a play takes place is important. Be specific. What season is the action taking place in? What time period or year? What time of day?
A note about THE UNITIES:
The unities of time, place, and action should keep your plays in a small amount of time. Plots should be short enough to take 1 or possibly 2 settings or locations at most. Think 1 setting for every 20 pages of script and you'll get the idea. Again, action should be started close to where you're setting your climax. Did I mention a 10-minute play is short? A 10-minute play is short.
Several NOTES ABOUT CHARACTER:
Remember that plays are essentially about characters. A character can drive a plot forward based on the needs and motivation of that character. A well written character is constructed to be believable (i.e., human) and so there are a few ways we can ensure this:
1. Characters are often aspects of the writer. Shatter your personality into fragments, with each fragment a part of YOU. Remember that there are opposites to your standard behavior and personality. If you are a quiet, shy person, perhaps your shadow-self is a loud-mouthed bully.
2. Make your characters make decisions. Conflict and plot are driven by decisions. You need characters who are willing to risk everything for what they want/need.
3. Characters have a function. Whether archetypical, stereotypical, as a foil, or as a protagonist or antagonist, characters serve a function and purpose in a play. Characters that do not, should be removed. If you can't be bothered to give a character a line or significant stage time, consider dropping this character from the play.
4. The better the author knows his/her character, the better he/she can develop the character through characterization. Characterization, as you know, is a character's description, a character's actions, a character's speech, and what other characters say ABOUT a character. The power of gossip is helpful when writing a scene.
5. Build your scenes. Add beats to develop your characters by providing backstory. Allow characters a chance to explain themselves (particularly after doing something that seems contrary to their personality or something that causes conflict for other characters).
6. Just like in poetry or fiction, what is the last image you are presenting to the audience? A last speech, line, or action in a play is a powerful thing. Does your play have an effective and memorable ending? What are you leaving your audience to think about?
Workshop:
Get into your workshop groups. Help your fellow writers. Writers ask questions about how you can IMPROVE your plays. Get some effective feedback (as you're about to revise these plays for your final grade). Complete the workshop sheet for your play and turn in for participation credit.
When you have completed your workshop, please travel to the lab and work on your revision. Revisions are due by end of next class. Chop-chop. Get re-writing!
HOMEWORK: Continue rewriting your script. Be prepared to complete your revision by next class.
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