How Is A Play Script Different From Narrative Writing

A play is not like other writing types- it’s not narrative, it’s not persuasive, it’s not journalistic. It’s not even really dialogue, except when there are brief exchanges of conversation.

A play is action! Action oriented stories have been told for centuries across many cultures, so this type of story structure has been worked into other literary forms, such as novels and movies.

But until recently, stage plays were mostly just long bouts of action punctuated by bits and pieces of dialog here and there. That’s what makes them different from scripted TV or film, which also feature lots of dialogue but no truly dramatic moments without an element of action. (Think House.)

That’s why we sometimes call a movie with very few conversations a “scripted event."

With the rise in popularity of the theatrical script format, though, dramas that span several seasons now include longer stretches of talky scenes to bridge over events or create more elaborate backstories. And while those are definitely needed in television, they can get kind of boring to read.

So how should writers organize their drama scripts? Here are some tips.

Use specifics

A play script is very different from narrative non-fiction writing. While both use stories, narratives are typically longer and more complex than a play script.

A play script is usually one to two pages long, with no longer than three paragraphs. They are mostly made up of and followed by bullets that describe action or events.

This style of scripting is great for writers who are new to storytelling because it does not require too much structure or organization. You do not have to worry about introducing and developing characters or creating intrigue.

All you need to do is write out what happens and then add your bullet points! This article will discuss some tips for writing a play script like a pro.

Include all important details

A play is not like other forms of writing, such as an article or a narrative story. It is described by some as “script” because it is written word for word, but that term is inaccurate.

A script is a stage play that has been adapted to read very easily on paper. For example, The Girl Who Knew Too Much was a screenplay that could be read in book form without much changing.

But if you compare a screenplay to a play, you will see that they lack several key components. Most importantly, dialogue is totally removed!

In fact, there are no set pieces in a play; every scene needs to contain something happening. There have to at least two characters talking, interacting, arguing, etc.

Organize your writing

A play script is not like other types of writings, such as an article or a diary entry. It is usually much longer than most documents due to all the additions that are needed for actors to perform their parts.

A play script must tell someone how to act a certain part, what lines they should say, and when those lines are said. In addition, it can include information about decorations, settings, and even stories that occur before and after the main plot!

All these things need to be organized into scenes, which are typically one minute long. A scene may contain only a few sentences, or up to several pages depending on the length of the scene.

When you write a play, you have to keep organizing everything until it all fits together easily. This way, you will know how to organize a play script.

Create a plot

A play is not like other writing genres. It does not have to focus on telling a story, it is instead focused on creating an experience.

A play is not about stories; it is a story. The story of the play comes from the characters and their interactions with each other.

The script writer will need to be very careful to ensure that the audience can connect with the characters and understand who they are before the play starts. This is very important since the play will spend most of its time together!

Another key part of the play as a narrative form is the use of action and dialogue which propel the scene forward and tell the story.

However, there is no clear storyline until the actors perform the roles and create these actions and conversations. This process takes practice and cannot be learned in theory only.

There are many ways to prepare for a play acting career, but nothing compares to actually performing for an audience.

Write with theme and tone

A play is not like other narrative writing. It is not focused on telling an interesting story, it is instead about exploring an idea or theme.

A play can be thought of as a concentrated piece of storytelling. Like a movie, a play has a definite beginning, middle, and end. But unlike a feature length film, the audience does not need to connect the stories being told together.

With a stage play, each scene is self-contained. The setting, characters, and actions are all clearly defined, which helps make the reading more seamless for the audience.

When creating your own plays, stick to this structure! Creating a play that is well written and engaging takes time, so start off by crafting a good one-and-a-half page script before expanding from there.

Look at it as a creative exercise

A play script is not like normal narrative writing. It’s not designed to tell a story, so it doesn’t contain chapters or scenes.

A play script is instead a blueprint for a theatrical work. Like any good blueprint, it features instructions for building something, in this case, a play.

The thing about a play is that there are only so many ways you can tell its story. There are usually one main character, some secondary characters, and a situation or plot that ties everything together.

With that kind of structure, most stories have already been told. So why write another version of the same thing? That would be pointless!

As writer Barry Marnell points out, play scripts actually use very specific tools to help inspire new plays. These tools include dramatic situations, emotional reactions, and conflict.

Get it down quickly

A play is not like other forms of writing, such as an article or a book. It does not contain chapters or breaks between sections.

A play is always one continuous piece. This makes editing very difficult. Because there are no break points, it can be hard to tell when a new section has ended and another begins.

This also means that your reader will have to read slowly to make sure they do not skip any important information. They may even need to reread something you wrote earlier if they cannot easily place it in context!

Running a spell check and proof reading is almost impossible because there is no way to know where one part ends and another starts. As mentioned before, this goes against how plays are written.

There are some ways to fix this, but the best solution is to use tone determined writing. With this style of writing, content clearly comes from character emotion, situation, and/or narrative. You get the effect of a seamless story without too much work.

Consistency is key

While both writing styles focus on telling stories, there are significant differences in how they do so. A play script is not like most narrative non-fiction books you’ve read before because it is more focused on telling a story quickly than developing characters and plots.

That said, the script format does offer some benefits over normal narrative prose. For one, consistency is of the upmost importance when editing your play scripts.

This applies mostly to scenes but also to overall structure and tone. Your editor will likely look at several pages or even chapters at a time so making the same stylistic choices across multiple places gives your work greater cohesion.