352 / Types of Writing
mind. Only when you see each character clearly will you be able to make him or her
real for the audience. Consider the following:
First Female Character Second Female Character
naïve self-assured
honest to a fault tells white lies
slightly paranoid assertive
follows others assumes leadership role
concerned for others is introspective
is introspective self-centeredDevelop a list of traits for each character in your play.
STEP 4: Prewriting—Selecting the Setting
Where does the action take place? Picture it in your mind’s eye. Can a producer build
a set of the place within reasonable financial limits? Alter your vision as necessary,
then develop a complete description of it. Include details that bear on the plot. For
instance, if the characters discuss what they see out a window, describe the window’s
location. If a character makes a surprise entrance from an adjoining room, describe
the room in relationship to the rest of the setting and describe the door’s location.
If acts and scenes take place in more than one setting, develop similar descriptions
of each.
STEP 5: Writing—Putting the Plot into Script
As you write, keep in mind that the audience knows only what the characters say or
do. Without being blunt, you must have your characters clue the audience as to time,
place, and situation. Dialogue tells all.
Follow the traditional form of scriptwriting. Note these techniques in particular:
- The name of the character speaking is listed first, followed by a colon.
Following is the dialogue the character speaks. - Quotation marks are omitted around a speaker’s words. The identification of
speaker by name eliminates the need for them. - Stage directions appear in parentheses, printed in italics. Stage directions serve
as general guidelines for blocking the play, the finer nuances being left to the
director.
As you write, make every effort to include the items listed in the list of characteris-
tics earlier in this section. Picture the action as you want the audience to see it.