Student Writing Handbook Fifth+Edition

Scripts / 353

Include sufficient directions to achieve that reality. Also keep in mind that stage
directions should be written from the actor’s point of view: hence, stage left is to the
audience’s right. Use the following chart to locate your characters onstage.

STAGE DIRECTIONS

Upstage Right

Right

Downstage Right

Upstage Center

Center

Downstage Center

Audience

Upstage Left

Left

Downstage Left

STEP 6: Revising—Polishing the Content

As you complete your script, you will, of course, improve plot and dialogue. Consider
the following questions to suggest potential changes:

• Have^ I^ developed^ believable^ characters?


• Are^ their^ words^ consistent^ with^ their^ characters?


• Does^ the^ dialogue^ help^ the^ audience^ make^ deductions?


• Do^ the^ characters^ behave^ according^ to^ clearly^ defined^ motives?
  -^ Does the plot develop smoothly, from rising action, through crisis and climax,
  to falling action? [See entries for each in the Glossary.]
  -^ Is the plot believable, avoiding frequent coincidences and shaky cause-and-
  effect situations?
  -^ Have I used good techniques to portray my characters, allowing the audience to
  see and hear them as well as hear what other characters have to say about them?


• Do^ I^ show^ rather^ than^ tell?


• Is^ my^ message^ clear^ by^ the^ end^ of^ the^ play?

In addition to content, you will need to make some final revisions with the script for-
mat. Note these specific details:

-^ Add a title to your script.
-^ Precede the script with a list of characters, perhaps stating their relationships
to one another. Keep the identifications brief.
-^ Follow the cast of characters with a description of the setting: time, place,
scene. Describe it clearly enough for a producer to stage your play. [Use the
information developed in Step 4.]
-^ Identify each speaker as he or she speaks.
-^ Offset the stage directions with parentheses and print them in italics.
-^ Revise whatever you can to improve your script. Then go on to the next
sections to make final adjustments.