Customer Reviews

Writing Your First Play

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This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in playwriting - whether you're overwhelmed by the idea, struggling with a manuscript, mulling over completed drafts needing revision, or seeking a perspective for understanding the craft. It really does take you step by step from idea through revision. It distills a deep understanding of the dramatic art into a straightforward approach to structure, character and technique. Exercises to guide and stimulate the budding playwright are woven throughout. Later sections build intelligently on earlier learnings, and important points are returned to for reinforcement. I particularly liked the warnings about what NOT to do and why, the section on the nine functions of dialog (the best I've ever read), and the included Writer's Workbook. Brief and to the point, the book is loaded with useful information and intelligently organized. It is clear that Sossaman brings a wide knowledge of dramatic literature, a clear understanding of the craft of playwriting, and his own impressive teaching experience to this work. For sure, many of the best plays I've read or seen over the last forty years ring true to his guidance, and the others would certainly have benefited from his solid nuts and bolts advice.

This book may be useful for new playwrights. Very new playwrights, first-year creative writing students maybe. Its concise writing and short, fortune cookie-like advice will probably serve for somebody who has never written a play and has little familiarity with theatrical conventions. I just don't see it as something that will grow with the writer.

Sossaman focuses heavily on making sure your first play has a theatrical idea, sufficient conflict, round characters, and correct format. I think every bit of this is important, and the absence of these traits is the biggest reason new playwrights flub so often. But once you've savvied these parts, Sossaman is out of anything to say.

The book is slim, I'll give it that, and Appendix E, in which Sossaman breaks down the beats and components of Ibsen's "A Doll's House," was helpful for me. But most of what this book offers can be found by intensively reading plays or volunteering at a local theatre. Paying the best part of fifty bucks for such basic stuff seems a bit squirrely to me.

There's a book out there, called Naked Playwriting, by William Missouri Downs and Robin Russin. It's less than half the price, much more detailed, and has enough content to grow with readers as novice writers become experienced. That's the book you need; unless it's a required textbook, you can put this book down right now.

I like this book alot- it's helpful and readable. My only complaint is the price - seriously, it seems like it should be about $10 - not nearly $50...

Having had the advantage of being Professor Sossaman's student, I was glad to be able to pick up a copy of his book. The text expands nicely on many of the things i learned in his playwriting class, but of course, stands alone as a fantastic reference for any playwrite...especialy those of us just hitting the market as young playwrites. A must have for anyone serious about writing