1 00:00:00,248 --> 00:00:02,831 (upbeat music) 2 00:00:08,530 --> 00:00:10,820 -: Hello, I'm Rachel Atkins. 3 00:00:10,820 --> 00:00:12,800 I'm a playwright and a teaching artist, 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,433 and this is a lesson to help you to write your own play. 5 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:20,880 Today I'm going to be giving you a series of prompts 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,150 to help you write your own short play. 7 00:00:23,150 --> 00:00:24,410 So you're going to need something 8 00:00:24,410 --> 00:00:27,950 to write with and something to write on. 9 00:00:27,950 --> 00:00:29,500 It can be paper and pen 10 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:32,030 or it could be something electronic, computer. 11 00:00:32,030 --> 00:00:34,360 You can even write on your phone. 12 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,210 You might want to have your phone nearby 13 00:00:37,210 --> 00:00:39,470 even if you're gonna write on something else 14 00:00:39,470 --> 00:00:42,090 so that you can take a picture of some of the prompts 15 00:00:42,090 --> 00:00:43,200 that I'm going to show you, 16 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,110 so that you're able to write at your own pace. 17 00:00:46,110 --> 00:00:49,020 If you've already done some of my earlier lessons, 18 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:50,810 you know some of the important elements 19 00:00:50,810 --> 00:00:52,670 that make a really strong play. 20 00:00:52,670 --> 00:00:55,580 If you haven't taken any of those lessons, that's okay. 21 00:00:55,580 --> 00:00:57,410 I'm gonna give you a reminder right now. 22 00:00:57,410 --> 00:01:00,280 Some of the elements that make a really strong play. 23 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,540 You have clear, distinct characters 24 00:01:02,540 --> 00:01:05,170 who have different points of view. 25 00:01:05,170 --> 00:01:07,490 All of your characters have objectives. 26 00:01:07,490 --> 00:01:09,020 They have something that they want, 27 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:11,220 and those objectives, those things that they want, 28 00:01:11,220 --> 00:01:14,970 are specific, they're immediate, they're important, 29 00:01:14,970 --> 00:01:17,070 and they have consequences for the characters 30 00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:18,293 if they don't get them. 31 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,920 There are different actions, different tactics 32 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,180 that characters use to get what they want, 33 00:01:24,180 --> 00:01:27,090 no matter what their objectives are, 34 00:01:27,090 --> 00:01:30,170 and every line of dialog that you write 35 00:01:30,170 --> 00:01:32,400 should be really specific. 36 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,350 Should have new information to raise the stakes 37 00:01:35,350 --> 00:01:38,290 and make things more important for characters. 38 00:01:38,290 --> 00:01:40,350 You can also use stage directions, 39 00:01:40,350 --> 00:01:43,550 putting things in parentheses to help us know 40 00:01:43,550 --> 00:01:46,280 how a character's feeling or what they're doing 41 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:47,483 while they're talking. 42 00:01:48,670 --> 00:01:50,720 If you've done any of those previous lessons, 43 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,570 you can use any of the ideas 44 00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:54,170 that you came up with from them 45 00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:56,250 in this play that you're about to write. 46 00:01:56,250 --> 00:01:58,020 If you didn't or if you just feel 47 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:00,190 like starting new, that's great. 48 00:02:00,190 --> 00:02:03,333 You can use any ideas you want to write your own play. 49 00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:06,930 If you happen to be doing this lesson 50 00:02:06,930 --> 00:02:09,710 with one or more other writers, 51 00:02:09,710 --> 00:02:14,240 you can do this activity by passing the paper around. 52 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:15,560 You'll be doing the same prompts, 53 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,590 but everybody will start at the same time 54 00:02:17,590 --> 00:02:19,720 and then you'll keep passing your paper 55 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,790 so that you'll be adding on to each other's plays. 56 00:02:22,790 --> 00:02:25,350 If you have another writer to do that with, that's great. 57 00:02:25,350 --> 00:02:27,060 If you don't, no problem. 58 00:02:27,060 --> 00:02:28,680 You can do this whole series 59 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,920 where you are writing every single part. 60 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:32,240 I'll try to remind you at points 61 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,430 when you could pass it though 62 00:02:33,430 --> 00:02:35,430 if you have somebody else to write with. 63 00:02:36,770 --> 00:02:39,310 So I'm gonna give you a series of prompts. 64 00:02:39,310 --> 00:02:40,470 This is where you're gonna want 65 00:02:40,470 --> 00:02:42,040 to have something to write with or on 66 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,700 or where you're gonna wanna be able to take pictures. 67 00:02:44,700 --> 00:02:48,740 You might write as I'm giving you the prompts, 68 00:02:48,740 --> 00:02:51,110 but I might go more quickly than you're writing 69 00:02:51,110 --> 00:02:53,490 because everybody writes at their own pace. 70 00:02:53,490 --> 00:02:56,960 So if you are writing more slowly than I'm prompting, 71 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:57,890 don't worry about it. 72 00:02:57,890 --> 00:03:00,420 All of the prompts will appear on the screen 73 00:03:00,420 --> 00:03:03,130 so that you can just track them as they appear. 74 00:03:03,130 --> 00:03:05,600 Again, by writing them down and taking a picture. 75 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,370 You can even let me go through all of the prompts, 76 00:03:08,370 --> 00:03:10,130 then take a picture of the whole thing, 77 00:03:10,130 --> 00:03:12,960 and just wait and do your writing when I'm done talking 78 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:14,560 or you can start to do your writing 79 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,510 while I'm talking and then finish up while I'm done. 80 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:19,920 I'll try to pace it out so that you can take notes 81 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:22,580 on what you need, so that you've got all the prompts 82 00:03:22,580 --> 00:03:25,330 by the end and you can write your play. 83 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:27,870 Your first prompt is setting. 84 00:03:27,870 --> 00:03:29,940 Write the word setting. 85 00:03:29,940 --> 00:03:31,670 You're going to come up with an idea 86 00:03:31,670 --> 00:03:34,653 of a place where your play will happen. 87 00:03:36,020 --> 00:03:38,980 Write a one to two sentence description 88 00:03:38,980 --> 00:03:41,630 of the place where your play takes place. 89 00:03:41,630 --> 00:03:44,580 You wanna include what the specific place is. 90 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:48,190 You can include time of day, time of year, 91 00:03:48,190 --> 00:03:50,780 time period if it's relevant. 92 00:03:50,780 --> 00:03:52,700 You're writing one to two sentences 93 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:55,580 to describe the setting of your play, 94 00:03:55,580 --> 00:03:57,173 whatever that is for you. 95 00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:03,630 Here's your next prompt. 96 00:04:03,630 --> 00:04:04,650 You're going to come up 97 00:04:04,650 --> 00:04:08,230 with your first character for your play. 98 00:04:08,230 --> 00:04:11,760 The character should be somebody who belongs in the setting 99 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,350 that you just described who might be there, 100 00:04:14,350 --> 00:04:16,350 although you might have an idea for somebody 101 00:04:16,350 --> 00:04:19,140 who really doesn't belong there, and that's fine too. 102 00:04:19,140 --> 00:04:21,620 You're going to write the name of this character 103 00:04:21,620 --> 00:04:25,800 and a one sentence description of who this person is. 104 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,050 Although, of course, a character 105 00:04:27,050 --> 00:04:28,360 doesn't have to be a person. 106 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:29,710 It could be an animal. 107 00:04:29,710 --> 00:04:31,730 It could be an imaginary creature. 108 00:04:31,730 --> 00:04:33,683 It could be an inanimate object. 109 00:04:34,930 --> 00:04:37,850 You're going to come up with one character, 110 00:04:37,850 --> 00:04:41,480 the first character who will be in the setting of your play. 111 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,670 Write their name, and write a one sentence 112 00:04:43,670 --> 00:04:45,083 description of who they are. 113 00:04:46,450 --> 00:04:48,800 If you're writing with somebody else, 114 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,610 this is where you will pass your paper to the next person. 115 00:04:52,610 --> 00:04:54,260 When you get somebody else's paper, 116 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:55,480 you read what they've written 117 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,220 and now you're going to add on to that play. 118 00:04:58,220 --> 00:04:59,560 If you're not passing the paper, 119 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,590 if you're writing on your own, great. 120 00:05:01,590 --> 00:05:03,840 You're gonna keep going with the next prompt. 121 00:05:05,090 --> 00:05:06,820 The next prompt is to come up 122 00:05:06,820 --> 00:05:09,903 with a second character for this play. 123 00:05:10,750 --> 00:05:14,260 The second character should also belong in the setting 124 00:05:14,260 --> 00:05:17,080 that you've described, and they should have some kind 125 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,400 of relationship to character one. 126 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,960 They might have a relationship to start with that person 127 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,470 or they might have a relationship that develops 128 00:05:24,470 --> 00:05:26,420 in the play that you're going to write. 129 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:30,930 So you're coming up with a second character for your play. 130 00:05:30,930 --> 00:05:32,910 You're writing the name of that character, 131 00:05:32,910 --> 00:05:35,350 and you're writing a one sentence description 132 00:05:35,350 --> 00:05:37,223 of who that character is. 133 00:05:41,230 --> 00:05:46,220 Next you're going to think about the character's objectives, 134 00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:49,440 the conflict between these characters. 135 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,640 Each of your characters wants 136 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,040 or needs something from the other character. 137 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:56,720 What is it? 138 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,320 The objectives should create a conflict 139 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,080 between your characters. 140 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,733 The characters can't both get what they want. 141 00:06:04,870 --> 00:06:08,610 Remember that every objective should be immediate, 142 00:06:08,610 --> 00:06:13,433 important, specific and have consequences. 143 00:06:15,330 --> 00:06:19,120 You're going to write a sentence for each character 144 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:24,120 describing their objective and why they need or want it. 145 00:06:25,140 --> 00:06:29,423 Remember each character should have their own objective. 146 00:06:32,330 --> 00:06:34,480 If you're writing in this play 147 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,213 with other writers or with another writer, 148 00:06:38,070 --> 00:06:40,293 now you should pass the paper again. 149 00:06:41,170 --> 00:06:43,540 If you're doing this pass the paper version, 150 00:06:43,540 --> 00:06:45,330 when you get this next paper 151 00:06:45,330 --> 00:06:48,070 read everything that's been written from the beginning 152 00:06:48,070 --> 00:06:50,393 and then you're going to add on to this play. 153 00:06:51,260 --> 00:06:53,830 If you're writing this on your own, great. 154 00:06:53,830 --> 00:06:57,040 You're going to keep going with the next prompt. 155 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,800 Your next prompt is to write 156 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,780 the opening stage directions for your play. 157 00:07:02,780 --> 00:07:07,090 Remember that you put stage directions in parentheses. 158 00:07:07,090 --> 00:07:09,670 You're going to write one to two sentences 159 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:14,670 describing what's happening on stage when the lights go up. 160 00:07:15,010 --> 00:07:17,390 This is going to be a pretty short play, 161 00:07:17,390 --> 00:07:19,040 so you don't need a lot of setup. 162 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,030 You should start with the action. 163 00:07:21,030 --> 00:07:24,830 Start with the characters on stage or making an entrance. 164 00:07:24,830 --> 00:07:27,530 Start with something happening. 165 00:07:27,530 --> 00:07:31,160 In parentheses, write one to two sentences 166 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,060 of the opening stage directions describing what's happening 167 00:07:35,060 --> 00:07:36,893 when the lights go up on your play. 168 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,713 For your next prompt, you're going to start writing dialog. 169 00:07:45,030 --> 00:07:49,550 Write a total of six lines of dialog, 170 00:07:49,550 --> 00:07:52,913 three lines for each character going back and forth. 171 00:07:53,930 --> 00:07:56,630 It's up to you who speaks first. 172 00:07:56,630 --> 00:08:01,040 You can use stage directions within these lines if you want. 173 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,880 For each line write the character's name, 174 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,020 then a colon, and then their dialog. 175 00:08:07,020 --> 00:08:10,070 If you're using stage directions, it goes in parentheses 176 00:08:10,070 --> 00:08:12,163 at the beginning of the character's line. 177 00:08:13,460 --> 00:08:16,280 So you're writing three lines for each character 178 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,550 going back and forth for a total of six lines of dialog 179 00:08:20,550 --> 00:08:22,623 between the two characters. 180 00:08:23,950 --> 00:08:27,393 If you're doing the pass the paper version of this activity, 181 00:08:28,510 --> 00:08:30,280 now you should pass the paper 182 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,470 after you've written the dialog. 183 00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:34,400 Again, when you get a new play 184 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:35,930 you read everything from the beginning 185 00:08:35,930 --> 00:08:37,893 and then you'll add on to that play. 186 00:08:38,730 --> 00:08:41,020 For your next prompt, you're going to write 187 00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:45,920 a short monologue for either one of the characters. 188 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,520 The monologue should be related 189 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,770 to the character's objective. 190 00:08:49,770 --> 00:08:52,810 Remember a monologue is a little bit of a longer speech 191 00:08:52,810 --> 00:08:55,993 where one character speaks without interruption. 192 00:08:57,100 --> 00:09:00,360 The monologue could be for the next character 193 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,680 whose turn it would be to speak 194 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:04,920 in your dialog going back and forth, 195 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:06,180 but it doesn't have to be. 196 00:09:06,180 --> 00:09:10,240 Your monologue could add on to the last character speaking. 197 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,190 So it's up to you whose monologue it is. 198 00:09:13,190 --> 00:09:16,540 You're going to write a monologue of up to four lines 199 00:09:16,540 --> 00:09:20,663 for either one of the characters related to their objective. 200 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,430 If you're doing the pass the paper version, 201 00:09:24,430 --> 00:09:28,270 after you write the monologue you should pass the paper, 202 00:09:28,270 --> 00:09:32,520 and again, read the whole play that you get to add on to it. 203 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,040 For your next prompt, you're going to write 204 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,010 a one-line response to the monologue 205 00:09:38,010 --> 00:09:40,040 from the other character. 206 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,000 So whichever character was not speaking the monologue, 207 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,150 they get one line to respond to what the character 208 00:09:47,150 --> 00:09:49,353 who is doing the monologue said. 209 00:09:51,710 --> 00:09:56,187 After the one line response, something happens. 210 00:09:58,870 --> 00:10:02,720 You're going to write another set of stage directions. 211 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,850 Something happens on stage. 212 00:10:04,850 --> 00:10:07,810 This could be something extraordinary like a bank robbery 213 00:10:07,810 --> 00:10:11,490 or it could be something ordinary like a phone ringing. 214 00:10:11,490 --> 00:10:13,640 Whatever happens, it should make sense 215 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:14,993 in the world of the play. 216 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,280 You're going to put these stage directions in parentheses 217 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:23,223 and write one to two sentences describing that event. 218 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,853 If you're doing the pass the paper version, 219 00:10:28,850 --> 00:10:31,240 you've written the one-line response 220 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:32,910 and the stage directions, 221 00:10:32,910 --> 00:10:35,063 and then you're going to pass the paper. 222 00:10:36,470 --> 00:10:40,250 For your next prompt, you're going to write 223 00:10:40,250 --> 00:10:44,523 two lines of dialog, one for each character. 224 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,380 The dialog might respond to what just happened 225 00:10:49,380 --> 00:10:52,550 in your stage directions or it might respond 226 00:10:52,550 --> 00:10:54,163 to the previous dialog. 227 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,390 Again, it's up to you who speaks first. 228 00:10:58,390 --> 00:11:01,960 Each character gets one line of dialog. 229 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,160 So you're writing a total of two lines 230 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,213 of dialog back and forth. 231 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,440 If you're doing the pass the paper version of this activity, 232 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,120 you should now pass the paper 233 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,600 so that the original writer gets their play back. 234 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,330 So no matter how many people you're writing with, 235 00:11:22,330 --> 00:11:26,120 you should wind up with the play that you started. 236 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:31,120 Everybody now gets to end their play using as much dialog 237 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:35,670 and as many stage directions as you need. 238 00:11:35,670 --> 00:11:38,690 So no matter where you are in your play right now, 239 00:11:38,690 --> 00:11:41,080 you're going to write an ending for it. 240 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:42,220 It can be short. 241 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:43,150 It can be long. 242 00:11:43,150 --> 00:11:46,460 It is up to you, but you can use as much dialog 243 00:11:46,460 --> 00:11:49,833 or monologue or stage directions to end your play. 244 00:11:50,940 --> 00:11:52,730 When you have finished your play, 245 00:11:52,730 --> 00:11:56,090 write the words "End of Play" at the end, 246 00:11:56,090 --> 00:12:00,023 and then go back to the top, and give your play a title. 247 00:12:02,130 --> 00:12:03,300 Congratulations! 248 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:04,820 You have a written a play 249 00:12:04,820 --> 00:12:07,810 or maybe you haven't finished it yet, but that's okay. 250 00:12:07,810 --> 00:12:10,890 When I'm done talking, you can now go off with those prompts 251 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:14,810 and take as much time as you need to write at your own pace. 252 00:12:14,810 --> 00:12:17,210 When you're done writing your play, 253 00:12:17,210 --> 00:12:20,260 you should find someone to read it out loud with you 254 00:12:20,260 --> 00:12:23,820 or even better, get two people and have them read it for you 255 00:12:23,820 --> 00:12:25,750 so that you can hear your work. 256 00:12:25,750 --> 00:12:27,000 Even better with this one, 257 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,480 if you have a bunch of stage directions, get three people. 258 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,440 One person to read the stage directions 259 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,330 and the other two people to read the characters of the play 260 00:12:36,330 --> 00:12:38,373 so you can hear everything out loud. 261 00:12:39,260 --> 00:12:42,750 I'm gonna show you those prompts again all in one shot 262 00:12:42,750 --> 00:12:46,330 so that if you didn't get to take note of all of them 263 00:12:46,330 --> 00:12:47,880 or you were writing at a slower pace 264 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,220 and you didn't catch them all, you'll be able to see them. 265 00:12:50,220 --> 00:12:51,630 So once you've got all the prompts, 266 00:12:51,630 --> 00:12:54,340 again, you can keep writing at your own pace. 267 00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:55,580 If you finished your play 268 00:12:55,580 --> 00:12:57,760 or when you finished it using my prompts, 269 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,130 you might even decide to go back 270 00:12:59,130 --> 00:13:01,700 and expand what you've written into something longer. 271 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:03,728 It is totally up to you. 272 00:13:03,728 --> 00:13:06,311 (upbeat music) 273 00:13:33,930 --> 00:13:35,530 My name is Rachel Atkins. 274 00:13:35,530 --> 00:13:38,040 I thank you so much for joining me. 275 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,210 I hope you feel a real sense of accomplishment 276 00:13:40,210 --> 00:13:42,500 because you just wrote a whole play. 277 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:43,370 Well done. 278 00:13:43,370 --> 00:13:45,973 Thanks, and I hope to see you again. 279 00:13:45,973 --> 00:13:48,556 (upbeat music)