Basic Playwriting
By Christian Ray C. Licen, Ph.D.
Unlocking the terms
Play refers to a written composition,
Drama implies the depiction of fictional
which is meant to be performed on stage
or non-fictional work, by way of acting
and asks to be imagined by the
of the written script; writer who writes
audience; writer of a play is called a
the drama is the dramatist
playwright
The playwright does not narrate the
story, rather the audience interprets the
story as the characters interact and Playwriting is the art of crafting a
perform on the stage; the drama is dramatized narrative for a theater
presented in dialogue, where the production ([Link])
characters talk to themselves and
respond to the events accordingly.
Elements of a play
setting characters plot
conflict theme
Developing your character
Antagonist
Protagonist
(thwarts the
(wants sth.)
protagonist)
It’s a cause and
effect; one has to
be the result of
another
THE PLOT
▪PLOT
STRUCTURE
▪ This is the “idea” behind ; what’s the story about; what’s the
point?
▪ This is a statement about the nature of the human condition
▪ Theme and plot are inextricably linked
Theme
Tips in
writing a
playscript
Determine your
story
▪ Consider the following:
▪ Message of your play
(central conflict)
▪ Visual aspects: keep
production elements like
space and special effects
in mind
Determine the
character
▪ Create believable fictional
characters who are unique,
relatable, and three-dimensional.
▪ Protagonist’s goal, traits and
backstory
▪ Antagonist to bring conflict to
the main character
▪
▪ Write down the beginning, middle, and end
Outline your of your play, including major story beats and
plot points surrounding your main conflict
idea
▪ Include stage directions (such as entering and
exiting the stage) and any physical actions
necessary to the storyline or character
development.
Input ▪ Actors need the freedom to embody the
character in their own way, so don’t get overly
specific with movement description.
stage ▪ Note important elements about set design,
lighting, or props. Leave time between scenes
for technical elements such as scene changes or
directions costume changes
▪ If your play is longer than one act, include an
intermission so that your audience members
have a break to stretch their legs and refresh
their minds.
Write your acts
▪ Flesh out the body and action of the play.
▪ Each act should contain its own arc within the larger
narrative, always highlighting the play’s theme and message.
Break long scenes of dialogue up with action, tension, or
surprise.
▪ Most playscripts center and capitalize the
character names on the page
Use proper ▪ Indent and italicize stage directions
▪ Center act and scene headings in all capitals.
formatting ▪ When in doubt, use script-writing software, which
will automatically format your playscript and
remove any guesswork.
Reread and revise; proofread
and edit again
READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE JOT DOWN ANY NOTES FOR REREAD THE SCRIPT WITH THESE CHECK FOR INCONSISTENCIES
PLAY FROM BEGINNING TO END. YOURSELF IN THE MARGINS, INSIGHTS IN MIND. (SUCH AS CONTINUITY OR
TIMELINE ISSUES), PLOT HOLES,
OR WEAK CHARACTER
DIALOGUE.
Do a table read
▪ Ask some willing participants to
volunteer for a table read, which
is an organized script reading in
which actors and producers read
out the dialogue, stage directions,
and scene headings of your play.
References
▪ Writing a play [Link]
▪ Lecture notes. Cornelio Faigao Memorial National Writing Workshop on Drama and
Performance. May 2015.