ELEMENTS AND TIPS: HOW TO WRITE A GREAT ONE-ACT PLAY
DEVELOPING ONE ACT
PLAY SCRIPTS
ONE-ACT PLAYS are as old as the Greeks (Oedipus). From the comedy of Chekov, to the Americana of Percy Mackaye, to Tennessee Williams' drama, to the drawing room wit of John Galsworthy's, they are thrilling. The short story of the theatrical world, they play without intermission, have few subplots, costume changes, setting or scenes, and move to a swift resolution. A punchy, short form theatre piece teaches us the craft of playwriting. And what’s more fun than seeing your writing come to life on stage? But you might be searching for how to write a play for beginners. The rules here will also apply to any film and television format! Read More here!
While writing my musical, HOW RUDE, I followed a step-by-step format that I learned as a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Playwrighting is fun! So for all aspiring playwrights, here is your step-by-step guide to writing your first good play.
HOW TO WRITE YOUR PLAY: FROM CHARACTER TO ONE ACT STAGE DIRECTIONS
One-Act plays follow the same rules as full-length plays but in a more compact form. They share several technical elements and common play structures of plays with a two-act structure but they are faster. If you want to create a script that is exciting to watch, you will need to know how a good play is made.
Here are several simple steps to take before you write a stage play.
1. READ/SEE SHORT FORM PLAYS: Immerse yourself into the traditional form! Learning examples one-act plays is essential before you begin. Read the classics but also search out diverse writers from different perspectives and cultures to gain an appreciation of what makes a great one-act play. You want maximum exposure to plays to understand the format. Read More
2. CHOOSE A FASCINATING CHARACTER TO WRITE ABOUT: a good one-act play is 2-7 characters max, please. Make sure that your story focuses on one well-defined character that will hold the audience’s attention. An interesting character's actions hold an audience's attention. Do a character sketch; who is this person and their motivations? Will they be an interesting companion to be with as the events unfold? The rest of the cast is small; limiting the number of characters will help the audience focus on the important elements of the play.
3. CHOOSE A SPECIFIC LOCATION: a great play has a specific setting. Where exactly does your one act play unfold: in the interrogation room of a police station, in your bedroom closet, behind enemy lines, in the lobby of a hotel? Where are you, and what is your relationship to this place? Since short plays have no intermission, most have only one setting, but set changes are possible if the story dictates. Set your play in a place that adds meaning to the text.
4. CHOOSE A SPECIFIC TIME: When exactly does the story of your one-act take place: midnight on December 31st , the afternoon of your graduation, 15 minutes before the wedding? The one-act play format requires absolute clarity about who, what, when, where and why.
5. CHOOSE YOUR GENRE: A successful one-act play belongs to a definite genre: romantic drama, science fiction, murder mystery, etc. You should know you’re writing a comedy, right? What is the right genre for the subject matter of your play?
6. GIVE YOUR ONE-ACT PLAY CONFLICT: a one-act play is all about conflict between enemies, i.e., arm-wrestling. Choose a central conflict and move swiftly from action to action with a beginning, middle and end that holds an audience's attention throughout the play.
7. CREATE URGENCY: a great one act is propelled by a sense of urgency. A time-bomb adds suspense and momentum! Give your main character an urgent reason to resolve the conflict swiftly or face the consequences. A strong sense of urgency will leave the audience breathless with suspense. This link is awesome.
8. USE STAGE DIRECTIONS: When you compose a play, remember that not all action needs to be spoken; unspoken actions play as well as dialogue, some might even say better. Playwrighting is about action! You can talk about putting out a fire, or you can get a hose! A characters' actions speak volumes about who they are. Characters may reveal themselves in dialogue, but what they do tells us even more. Stage directions lend the playwright an opportunity to further the story in the most direct and exciting way.
9. ADD A TWIST: You are not writing a two-act play format; a sudden complication can spice up your single act narrative arc. Trying to unlock a door becomes more important when the room catches on fire. Brainstorm plot complications and your play will become a treat! More about plot twists!
10. SAY SOMETHING (THEME): An idea for a play comes first. Do you have anything you want to say? What is the key content Have something you passionately want to say with your one-act play and say it: love is a battlefield with no winners; life is a constant struggle between change and status quo; capitalism corrupts. Have a story you need to tell. Good dramatic writing expresses an opinion.
11. GIVE YOUR PLAY STRUCTURE: after a good brainstorm, you will have made the above decisions for your stage play and are now ready pen the action of the play in an outline format. Choose the exact events that happen in your one-act play and remember to have a clear beginning, middle and end. Add stage directions to clarify how the story will unfold throughout the rest. Construct a play script with a great bone structure!
Even though you are writing a short play, you will want to keep the three-act play format in mind. Here is a basic one-act play format for an aspiring playwright keep in mind:
A. FIRST ACT: EXPOSITION. The protagonist is chased up a tree by a mob. The basic format of protagonist and antagonist in direct opposition has existed since the beginning of theatre. Some plays may need a specific set up or exposition to keep the audience's attention.
B. SECOND ACT: RISING ACTION. The protagonist attempts to get out of the tree and away from the mob. The mob tries to get to them. TWIST: THE TREE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND CATCHES FIRE!
C. THIRD ACT: CLIMAX AND FALLING ACTION. The protagonist gets out of the tree and away from the mob by either success or failure. The conflict is resolved, and your hero has changed. Brainstorm some endings for your play script before deciding what works best before you begin your one-act play.
12. KEEP IT SHORT: Remember that you are writing a play without an intermission! There is no time to use the restroom! Unlike a play in three acts, a good short play runs between 20-50 minutes in length. Generally, scripts should be between 10-40 pages and the running time should be between 10 and 45 minutes. Is this story too big? It may be better as a two act play.
13. WRITE YOUR PLAY: once you've written your outline, you are ready to do the dialogue. Start writing! Get in the flow and go without worrying about mistakes. Compose the play script from the beginning to the end of the play keeping the narrative arc in mind. Writing your first draft should be fun! Enjoy yourself!
How to rewrite a great one-act play.
1. REWRITE IT: The art of writing, is re-writing. You have your first draft, but now your one-act play will need editing. The format is tight; keep it short and don't confuse your audience. After you have finished your first draft, re-read it, edit it, and polish it. Reading the lines out loud will give you an indication of what actors and actresses will bring to the play. Read through the entire play several times try to remain objective. Is the narrative arc understandable? Are the characters fully invested in the action of the play? Have you used enough stage directions clarify the story? Have you told your story in the best way possible or do you need a narrative arc that is cleaner?
2. ASK A FRIEND PROOF-READ IT: you probably missed something. Allow someone to read it for any mistakes you made.
3. DO A READING AROUND THE TABLE: Playwrighting comes to life under the proscenium arch! An informal reading around the table with a group of actors may help. As you listen to your play unfold -- even the first draft -- several things will be revealed. Is the exposition distinct? Do you quickly get to the rising action?
4. FINAL DRAFT: Polish the play with a final re-write and start submitting it!
