How to Write a Play in 9 Steps

Playwriting is the art of crafting a dramatized narrative for a theater production. Much like a screenwriter drafts screenplays for television and film, playwrights compose playscripts for characters to perform live on stage in front of an audience. Whether the artist chooses to write a full-length play or a powerfully concise one-act piece, this type of dramatic writing affords a great degree of creative freedom.

Whether your goal is to take your creative writing skills to Broadway or put on a performance for friends and family, you can use the following steps to pen your masterpiece:

1. 1. Determine your story. Brainstorm a few ideas that translate to the stage. Consider the message of your play, and invent a central conflict that underscores what you want to say. Everything in your narrative will happen live on stage, so keep production elements like space and special effects in mind. If you have a complex or surreal concept, think of a creative way to represent it physically. Read other plays by famous dramatists, such as Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Samuel Beckett, David Mamet, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams, to draw inspiration, set the pacing, or even help determine the scope of your own world.
2. 2. Determine the main character. Stage plays are largely character-driven stories. Believable fictional characters are unique, relatable, and three-dimensional. A character’s motivations inform their actions and decisions, creating the narrative arc in the story. Identify the protagonist (the main character) and their goals, traits, and backstory. Craft a compelling antagonist to bring conflict to the main character or supporting characters. Avoid tropes or clichés when crafting your main characters, which can turn an audience off. Turn to classic archetypes to invent characters who will bring the best (and worst) out of one another.
3. 3. Outline your idea. Begin outlining your play by separating it into acts. Common structures include the one-act play (which is very short), the three-act play, or the five-act play. Write down the beginning, middle, and end of your play, including major story beats and plot points surrounding your main conflict. Separate your plot points into their respective acts, following a pattern of rising action (leading up to the climax) and falling action (leading up to the resolution). Keep your act breaks compelling to maintain the audience’s interest. Include a subplot or two that helps to develop your characters.
4. 4. Input stage directions. Consider stage movement when drafting your playscript. Include stage directions (such as entering and exiting the stage) and any physical actions necessary to the storyline or character development. Actors need the freedom to embody the character in their own way, so don’t get overly specific with movement description. Note important elements about set design, lighting, or props. Leave time between scenes for technical elements such as scene changes or 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.
5. 5. Write your acts. Once you break out your narrative arc, flesh out the body and action of the play. Write the play out of order if it helps with your creative flow. Some writers start writing the climax or end of the play before the first act to help them avoid overwriting and to ensure that the story stays on track. 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.
6. 6. Use proper formatting. Like writing for the screen, scriptwriting for the stage follows specific formatting conventions. Format your play correctly to ensure it is easy to read and looks professional. Most playscripts center and capitalize the character names on the page; indent and italicize stage directions; and center act and scene headings in all capitals. When in doubt, use script-writing software, which will automatically format your playscript and remove any guesswork.
7. 7. Reread and revise. After completing your first draft, read through the entire play from beginning to end. Jot down any notes for yourself in the margins, then reread the script with these insights in mind. Check for inconsistencies (such as continuity or timeline issues), plot holes, or weak character dialogue. Ensure that the characters’ actions and behaviors align with their motivation, and tweak as necessary.
8. 8. Proofread and edit again. Using the notes from your draft, take a second pass at your script. Fine-tune the dialogue and the action. Commission family and friends to read the script and provide honest feedback.
9. 9. 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. The table read will highlight elements of your play that you might need to tweak. Pay attention to each line of dialogue and how the action flows. Apply the learnings from the table read to the final draft of your script.

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