Student Blog: Playwriting

The Acting and Musical Theatre majors at my university are required to take the course Playwriting and Play Analysis in their first semester. I took this last semester and still miss it almost a semester later. Not only did I miss it for the fact that I loved being with the entirety of my cohort; I also loved rekindling my passion for writing. I have always loved writing and used to want to pursue a career as an author. As I grew up and became more busy, I lost more and more time practicing writing and only practiced writing in the form of poetry every now and then, when I used to write short stories and scripts constantly. Upon starting the playwriting class last semester, my inspiration was relit and I began writing more than I had in months. I even talked to our professor about the prospects of a playwriting minor, only to learn they do not offer one at this moment and double majoring as an MT isn't a very plausible option. I have decided to keep it an active hobby in my life and even started working on a play, from which I have learned a lot in the process of working on so far.

I began working on the play towards the later half of last semester. I fell into a rut with it just before we left for winter break. I told myself I would work on it over the break....I did not. In fact, I took a few months of a break from it, simply because I felt stuck for so long and had no ideas how to continue. I didn't return to it until I randomly had an idea for the script and began writing like mad again. There's no right way to maintain a schedule on your art. Breaks can be very beneficial, whether it be a few days or a few months. I don't regret taking such a long break on the script because I came back to it eventually with a new idea I have really loved working on.

Something that can be a little intimidating, but SO so important is receiving feedback from other people. I was incredibly nervous to send my work to people who are more versed in playwriting. Of course I wanted their feedback and was very receptive to it, just the same way I am with one of my songs or monologues, for example. But the difference between the two is that the songs and monologues are directly within my craft, my major, what I am working towards to become my career. Being a playwright is not technically in that wheelhouse, causing my sharing of it with others to feel quite nerve wracking. Still, I sent it to two people, both of whom have written their own plays and had them performed in some sense, big or small, on this campus. Though it felt vulnerable to have them read my work, I was also very appreciative that they took the time to read the script in depth enough to give me feedback, and very helpful notes at that. Soon, I will be organizing a reading with friends to hear my script aloud, as I know it will be helpful for further editing. This is another big step to take on the vulnerability side of creating this art, but I feel more ready for it now that I have already shared my work with others.

I have learned a lot from my playwriting journey thus far. I am hoping to make room in my schedule to eventually take more playwriting classes on campus to hone my skills. I am already planning on taking poetry workshop classes that work within my English minor, as one of my goals in life is to publish a poetry book. I've found that making time specifically for my writing as simply a hobby has proven to be a really great outlet and it should be essential that everyone find that outlet for themselves in life.