To get the maximum benefit from my Udemy course, Playwriting Primer: Write Original, Short Stage-Ready Plays, I recommend duplicating a structure similar to what I experienced during the first four weeks of Master of Fine Arts-level playwriting. You don’t need any special training; regardless of your level of writing experience, all you need is the desire to learn and the ability to construct intelligible sentences. With a minimal time investment (about one-hour per day), if you follow the section-prescribed week-by-week timeline, you will easily be able to meet deadlines and complete the final, polished draft of your original 10-minute play during this four-week introduction to the craft. But more importantly, you will be a playwright … because you are what you do.
Please, complete ALL lessons and assignments … I prioritize help and assistance to those who finish all course elements in order. For the purpose of learning various techniques related to writing for the stage, we will read and study full-length plays from master stage writers:
Tennessee Williams, SUMMER & SMOKE
David Mamet, AMERICAN BUFFALO
Harold Pinter, THE CARETAKER
Samuel Becket, HAPPY DAYS
At the end of this course, we will discuss what avenues you have available to you to have your play read, presented, entered into contests, or expanded into longer works.
The basic foundation provided by this course will prepare you to write your first full-length play for the stage or continue writing short-form/one-act plays.
Coming Soon: Optional Moderated Playwriting Workshops – free workshops where students enrolled in this class can participate, read and critique each others’ short plays – will be made available to you. Workshops are essential for great writing and the best way to incubate and mature your work. [Workshops will be private and WordPress-based. You will be able to submit your short play for discussion and constructive criticism. If there is enough interest, I will add a live workshop component.]
Keep in mind: No one has a “gift” for writing. Writing is a teachable craft that is learned through guidance, practice and thoughtful, constructive criticism.