Playwrighting Book

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER I  
Formats. Introduction to line economization.
  1. Script formats.
  2. Economizing. Line loads.
  3. Cutting words.

CHAPTER II 
Introduction to plotting.
  4. Plotting thought.
  5. Ending. 
  6. Storytelling. Adaptations.

CHAPTER III 
Characters.
  7. Character traits.
  8. Number of characters.
  9. Character choice. Stereotypes.
10. Scene-character table.
11.  Character names.
12. Historical personages.
13. Combinations. Free creations.
14. Relations between characters. Status.

CHAPTER IV 
Structure and plot.
15. Driving the action. Wandering.
16. Action of play on characters.
17. Theme. Messages.
18. The lattice of scenes. Promises.
19. Entrance and exit lines.
20. Chronology. Time gaps.
21. Stage reality. Contrived action.
22. Theatrical imagination.

CHAPTER V 
Line economization.
23. Replacing words with shorter words.
24. Several words replaced with one.
25. Voiced sounds. Phonetic alphabet. Homophones.
26. Projectability of consonants.
27. Diction for playwrights. Meditation.
28. Cliches.
29.  Decoding of lines. Word placement.
30. Irregularities of spoken language.
31. Overlapping speeches.
32. Literary language. Aphorisms.
33. Grammar.
34. Speech economization.
35. Semantic connection. Clarity.
36. Summary of auxiliary documents.
37. Musical comedy. Songwriting.

CHAPTER VI
Stage directions.  Production values.
38. Stage direction economy. Grammatical mood.
39. Overcontrol. Stage locations.
40. Scenery. Right-hand complexity.
41. Lights. Sound.
42. Props.
43. Costumes. Masks.

CHAPTER VII 
Personal development.
44. Your circle of friends.
45. Helpline.
46. Vocabulary.
47. A curriculum for playwrighting.
48. Making a living.

CHAPTER VIII 
In production.
49. The Dramatists Guild contract.
50. Relations with director and actor.
51. Script development.
52. Script changes.
53. Marketing. Connecting with a theatre.
54. Theater audiences.
55. Starting your own theater.

Bibliography
List of improv exercises