8.1 Idea generation and brainstorming

Generating ideas and brainstorming are crucial steps in playwriting. These processes tap into personal experiences, historical events, current issues, literature, and dreams to create compelling stories. Writers use various techniques like freewriting and mind mapping to unlock creativity.

Developing strong concepts involves identifying themes, creating characters, and establishing conflict. Refining ideas through evaluation and feedback helps polish the concept. Overcoming creative blocks may require taking breaks, changing environments, or collaborating with others to maintain inspiration and productivity.

Sources of inspiration

• Drawing from personal experiences, historical events, current events, existing works of literature, and dreams can provide a rich well of ideas for playwriting
• Inspiration can come from a variety of sources, both internal and external, and can be found in everyday life as well as in extraordinary circumstances

Personal experiences

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• Mining one's own life experiences, including relationships, challenges, and triumphs, can lend authenticity and emotional depth to a story
• Drawing from personal memories, such as childhood events, family dynamics, or significant milestones, can provide a unique perspective and voice to a play
• Transforming personal struggles or conflicts into dramatic narratives can be a powerful form of self-expression and catharsis

Historical events

• Researching and adapting historical events can provide a framework for exploring timeless themes and human experiences
• Examining the lives of historical figures, such as political leaders, artists, or scientists, can inspire compelling character studies and narratives
• Setting a play in a specific historical context (World War II, the Civil Rights Movement) can add depth and resonance to the story

Current events

• Engaging with contemporary issues, such as social justice, environmental concerns, or technological advancements, can make a play feel relevant and urgent
• Exploring the human impact of current events, such as natural disasters, political upheavals, or cultural shifts, can provide rich dramatic material
• Addressing current events through a dramatic lens can encourage audiences to reflect on and engage with the world around them

Existing works of literature

• Adapting classic works of literature, such as novels, short stories, or poems, can provide a fresh perspective on familiar narratives
• Drawing inspiration from the themes, characters, or styles of admired authors can help develop one's own unique voice and vision
• Reimagining existing works in a new context or genre (a modern-day Shakespeare adaptation) can create exciting creative challenges and opportunities

Dreams and imagination

• Tapping into the subconscious through dreams can uncover surprising and surreal imagery, characters, and storylines
• Allowing the imagination to run wild, without judgment or limitation, can lead to innovative and unconventional ideas
• Combining elements from dreams and imagination with real-world experiences can create a rich and layered dramatic world

Brainstorming techniques

• Utilizing various brainstorming techniques can help generate a wide range of ideas and possibilities for a play
• Experimenting with different approaches, such as freewriting, mind mapping, or word association, can unlock new creative pathways and connections

Freewriting

• Setting a timer and writing continuously without stopping to edit or censor can help bypass the inner critic and access raw, unfiltered ideas
• Allowing the mind to wander and explore tangents can lead to unexpected discoveries and associations
• Freewriting can be done with a specific prompt or theme in mind, or as a completely open-ended exercise

Mind mapping

• Creating a visual diagram of connected ideas, characters, or themes can help organize and expand upon initial concepts
• Starting with a central idea and branching out into related topics can reveal new layers and dimensions to explore
• Using colors, symbols, or images in a mind map can engage different modes of thinking and inspire creative leaps

Listing

• Generating lists of potential titles, characters, settings, or conflicts can provide a quick and efficient way to brainstorm ideas
• Listing can help identify patterns, themes, or areas of interest to pursue further
• Combining items from different lists (a character from one list, a setting from another) can spark new and unexpected connections

Word association

• Starting with a single word and writing down the first words that come to mind can uncover subconscious associations and ideas
• Building a chain of connected words can lead to surprising and evocative combinations
• Using word association to explore the connotations and emotional resonance of specific terms can deepen the thematic richness of a play

Collaborative brainstorming

• Working with a partner or group to generate and bounce around ideas can provide fresh perspectives and inspiration
• Building upon each other's suggestions and exploring different possibilities together can lead to more robust and well-rounded concepts
• Engaging in improvisational exercises or games with others can help break through creative blocks and encourage spontaneity and play

Developing strong concepts

• Once initial ideas have been generated, the next step is to develop them into strong, compelling concepts that can sustain a full-length play
• Focusing on key elements such as theme, character, setting, and conflict can help ensure that the concept is rich and engaging enough to explore in depth

Identifying central themes

• Determining the core ideas or messages that the play will explore can provide a clear focus and purpose for the story
• Considering the philosophical, moral, or social questions that the play will grapple with can add depth and resonance to the narrative
• Identifying how the themes connect to universal human experiences can make the play more relatable and meaningful to audiences

Creating compelling characters

• Developing complex, multi-dimensional characters with clear desires, obstacles, and arcs can drive the dramatic action of the play
• Ensuring that the characters have distinct voices, personalities, and backstories can make them feel authentic and engaging
• Considering how the characters' relationships and conflicts with each other can create tension and illuminate the central themes

Crafting unique settings

• Choosing a specific time and place for the play can help ground the story in a tangible reality and provide opportunities for visual and sensory details
• Exploring how the setting can reflect or contrast with the characters' inner lives can add symbolic meaning and depth
• Considering how the setting can create obstacles, challenges, or opportunities for the characters can enhance the dramatic stakes of the play

Establishing dramatic conflict

• Identifying the central conflict or problem that the characters must grapple with can provide the engine for the play's plot and action
• Ensuring that the conflict is both external (between characters or characters and their environment) and internal (within the characters themselves) can create a rich and layered dramatic experience
• Considering how the conflict escalates and resolves over the course of the play can help structure the narrative arc and keep the audience engaged

Considering audience appeal

• Thinking about what will resonate with and engage the intended audience can help shape the play's tone, style, and content
• Considering the cultural, social, and political context in which the play will be produced can inform how the story is told and what themes are emphasized
• Balancing the desire to challenge and provoke audiences with the need to entertain and emotionally connect with them can help create a satisfying and impactful theatrical experience

Refining ideas

• Once a strong concept has been developed, the next step is to refine and polish it through a process of evaluation, feedback, and revision
• Taking the time to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the idea can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the final product is as strong as possible

Evaluating potential

• Assessing the dramatic potential of the idea, including its ability to sustain a full-length play and engage audiences, can help determine whether it is worth pursuing further
• Considering the originality and freshness of the concept, and how it compares to existing works in the genre, can help identify its unique selling points and competitive advantages
• Evaluating the feasibility of realizing the idea on stage, given the constraints of budget, resources, and technical requirements, can help ensure that it is practically viable

Identifying strengths and weaknesses

• Analyzing the concept objectively to determine its inherent strengths, such as compelling characters, innovative themes, or high stakes, can help focus the development process on enhancing these elements
• Identifying potential weaknesses or challenges, such as unclear motivations, uneven pacing, or lack of dramatic tension, can provide specific areas for improvement and revision
• Considering how the strengths can be leveraged to address or compensate for the weaknesses can help create a more balanced and effective overall story

Seeking feedback from others

• Sharing the concept with trusted readers, such as fellow writers, directors, or dramaturgs, can provide valuable outside perspectives and insights
• Soliciting feedback on specific aspects of the idea, such as character development, plot structure, or thematic resonance, can help focus the revision process
• Being open to constructive criticism and suggestions, while also staying true to one's own artistic vision and voice, can help refine the concept in meaningful and authentic ways

Making necessary adjustments

• Incorporating feedback and insights gained from the evaluation process to make targeted revisions and improvements to the concept
• Streamlining the story by cutting extraneous characters, subplots, or themes that do not directly serve the central narrative or conflict
• Clarifying character motivations, enhancing the dramatic stakes, and refining the overall structure and pacing of the play to create a more engaging and satisfying experience for the audience

Choosing the best idea to pursue

• Assessing the relative merits and potential of multiple refined concepts to determine which one is the strongest and most compelling to develop into a full play
• Considering factors such as personal passion, artistic challenge, and market appeal when making the final selection
• Trusting one's own instincts and creative vision while also being open to the input and guidance of trusted collaborators and mentors in the decision-making process

Overcoming creative blocks

• Experiencing creative blocks or obstacles is a common challenge for writers, but there are strategies and techniques that can help overcome them and maintain productivity and inspiration
• Identifying the specific nature of the block, whether it is related to ideas, motivation, or execution, can help determine the most effective approach to addressing it

Identifying the source of the block

• Reflecting on the underlying causes of the creative block, such as fear of failure, perfectionism, or external distractions, can provide insight into how to overcome it
• Considering whether the block is related to a specific aspect of the writing process, such as character development or plot structure, can help focus problem-solving efforts
• Recognizing patterns or triggers that tend to lead to creative blocks, such as time pressure or lack of sleep, can help develop strategies for prevention or mitigation

Taking breaks and stepping away

• Allowing oneself to take breaks and step away from the work can provide a fresh perspective and renewed energy when returning to it
• Engaging in activities that are unrelated to writing, such as exercise, hobbies, or socializing, can help recharge creative batteries and reduce stress
• Setting boundaries around writing time and creating a balanced lifestyle can help prevent burnout and maintain long-term productivity and motivation

Engaging in creative exercises

• Participating in writing prompts, improvisational games, or other structured creative activities can help stimulate new ideas and break through mental blocks
• Experimenting with different writing styles, genres, or points of view can help expand one's range and flexibility as a writer
• Collaborating with others on creative exercises or projects can provide accountability, support, and inspiration to keep moving forward

Changing your environment

• Sometimes a change of scenery or environment can provide a fresh perspective and renewed creative energy
• Writing in a different location, such as a coffee shop, park, or library, can help break up routine and stimulate new ideas and associations
• Surrounding oneself with inspiring or stimulating visual, auditory, or sensory elements, such as music, artwork, or nature, can help create a more conducive atmosphere for creativity

Collaborating with others

• Working with a writing partner, mentor, or group can provide support, accountability, and constructive feedback to help overcome creative blocks
• Engaging in brainstorming sessions or feedback exchanges with other writers can help generate new ideas and solutions to creative challenges
• Participating in writing workshops, classes, or retreats can provide structure, community, and inspiration to help maintain momentum and motivation over the long term