CREATIVE WRITING

GROUP 4
 LESSON OUTLINE
A. TECHNIQUE IN WRITING SCENES FOR ONE
ACT PLAY
B. HOW TO WRITE A PLAY SCRIPT
C. IMPORTANCE OF BRAINSTORMING
D. HOW TO WRITE A SCRIPT
A.TECHNIQUES
IN WRITING
SCENES FOR
ONE-ACT PLAY
 A good one-act play focuses only on one
main action or problem. As a writer, you
have to avoid complicated layers of plot as
they may take longer time in presenting on
stage.

The following are some considerations and

innovative techniques that you may put in
mind in writing a script with scenes for
one-act play.
 1. BE CLEAR WITH YOUR
THEME

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN PLANNING FOR
SCENES IN A PLAY.

YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS LIKE:

WHAT WILL MY PLAY BE ALL ABOUT? IS IT ABOUT
FRIENDSHIP? ABOUT LOVE? ABOUT STRUGGLES, OR
SUCCESS IN LIFE? YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR
PICTURE ABOUT THE THEME BECAUSE THE OTHER
ELEMENTS LIKE PLOT, CHARACTERS, AND SETTINGS
WILL POINT TO OR SUPPORT THE THEME.
2. DEVELOP THE PLOT
SIMPLY
In a one-act play, identify only one
significant event. You may develop the
action first, then compose the dialogue
before deciding on other elements. Keep
the plot simple for a one-act play, and
it should move consistently throughout
the play.
3. DEVELOP THE
CHARACTERS

Create character sketches before

bringing them to life. Focus on the
hero or protagonist, while
developing the antagonist to show
conflict and allow characters to
face problems.
4. GENERATE THE SETTING
The setting for one-act play will be one scene.
Thus, you have to develop the scene in order for
the audience to see everything about the story
line. Include imagery so that the audience can
imagine the setting. Make sure you describe how
the lightings and the scene should look like.
5. CRAFT MEANINGFUL
DIALOGUES
The dialogues that you will create need not to be
terse, but concise and meaningful. Each line must
be crafted carefully. You have to make sure that
the lines point out on the theme, the plot, and the
characters of the protagonist.
6. ADD IN THE STAGE DIRECTIONS
AFTER YOU WRITE THE ACTION.

In the script, write notes on character responses, sounds,

and props. Include details like standing near a window,
talking to someone over the phone, and looking scared to
allow the audience to visualize the scene and action.
7. INCLUDE OTHER LITERARY
DEVICES
Include some literary devices such as
foreshadowing, imagery, personification, satire,
and symbolism. This will help enhance emotional,
aural, and visual experience of the audience. This
will also underline scripts meaning.
 B. HOW TO
WRITE A PLAY
SCRIPT
 HOW TO WRITE A PLAY
SCRIPT
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
PROPER FORMATTING OF A PLAY AND
WHAT STORY ELEMENTS YOU NEED
TO INCLUDE.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO WRITE A

PLAY SCRIPT:
1 .GET INSPIRATION
TO DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL PLAY SCRIPT,
READ AND WATCH NUMEROUS PLAYS,
OBSERVING OTHER PLAYWRIGHTS'
STRENGTHS AND EMULATING THEIR
DIALOGUE OR STAGE DIRECTIONS.
READING A PLAY FIRST AND THEN
WITNESSING A LIVE PERFORMANCE CAN
HELP VISUALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF A
SCRIPT.
2.CHOOSE A THEME
PICKING A THEME FOR YOUR PLAY
CAN HELP YOU WRITE A PLAY THAT
AUDIENCES CAN CONNECT TO AND
UNDERSTAND.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING WHEN DECIDING ON

WHAT KIND OF STORY YOU'RE TELLING:

GENRE:
THIS IS THE STYLE, TONE, AND
SUBJECT MATTER OF YOUR PLAY,
WHETHER THAT BE SERIOUS
CHARACTER GROWTH:
THIS IS HOW YOUR CHARACTERS
DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR
PLAY.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
THESE ARE MORALS OR LESSONS THAT
THE AUDIENCE LEARNS BY THE END OF
THE PLAY.
3.CREATE A PLOT

THE PLOT OF A PLAY IS THE EVENTS

THAT LEAD THE STORY, AND CAN BE
PLOT-DRIVEN OR CHARACTER-
FOCUSED. PLAYWRIGHTS OFTEN
CREATE A PLOT THAT ENCOURAGES
CHARACTER GROWTH, ALLOWING THE
STORY TO UNFOLD FROM SCENE TO
SCENE.
 When creating your plot, consider
these key components:
Characters:
Create a believable play with a main
character, supporting characters, and
conflicting relationships to keep the
audience interested and keep them
engaged
 When creating your plot, consider
these key components:
Settings:
The play's setting adds to the
story, impacts scenes and
characters, and contextualizes
themes. Limiting settings improves
production and allows crew to
quickly transform them, unlike film
and television.
 When creating your plot, consider
these key components:
Time:
When is your play taking place? You need to
figure out a way to convey this to the audience,
whether that be through narration, costume, or
dialogue.
Story:
The story of your play focuses on the
characters' reactions and emotions
surrounding events of the plot.
 When creating your plot, consider
these key components:

Narrative arc:
Many plays follow a structure
of exposition, rising action,
and resolution.
4 .PICK A STRUCTURE

Plays consist of acts with

multiple scenes, and new
playwrights may prefer a
simple one-act structure.
 These are the most common play
structures:
One-act play:
The play runs all the way through
without an intermission. You still
need a narrative are, but you may
have fewer settings and scenes.
 These are the most common play
structures:
Two-act play:
Most contemporary plays often employ
a two-act structure, consisting of two
parts with an intermission, allowing for
more complex sets and audience
interaction during intermissions.
 These are the most common play
structures:
Three-act play:
Three-act plays are complex and require
intermissions between acts, often
requiring an exposition, rising action, and
resolution. They are typically longer due
to these extra intermissions.
5.MAKE AN OUTLINE

Before writing the entire play from

scratch, create a general outline of your
play.
Include the following in your outline
Acts Scenes
When characters appear
Narrative arc
General stage actions
6.WRITE USING THE OUTLINE
Once you have a solid outline, you can start
writing your play script. Filling in the outline with
your actual script is a smart way to stay
organized.

You want to start giving your script depth and

move it along with the following components:
 Dialogue:
This is one of the main components that guide your play.
Consider what dialogue each character has and how this
develops who they are.
Actions:
Within the script, you need to note what each character is
doing. Make it clear so the actors have a better
understanding of what they need to do.
 Technical elements
This includes things like costume changes, props,
lighting, and settings.
7.EDIT AND REWRITE
After writing your first draft, read the entire
play script and make adjustments. Consider real-
life dialogue and make characters feel human and
emotional. Include interruptions and tangents for
realistic sound. Have someone else read the play to
identify any confusion or need for development.
C. BRAINSTORMING
 BRAINSTORMING
BRAINSTORMING IS A TECHNIQUE, GENERALLY USED IN A
GROUP SETTING, TO QUICKLY GENERATE A LARGE NUMBER
OF IDEAS ABOUT A SPECIFIC PROBLEM OR TOPIC. IT CAN
HELP YOU:

- ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND BUILDING ON THE

IDEAS OF OTHERS
-ENCOURAGE CREATIVE THINKING AND GENERATE
ENTHUSIASM
THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAINSTORMING

• TO FOCUS STUDENTS' ATTENTION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC

•TO GENERATE A QUANTITY OF IDEAS
• TO TEACH ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL
DIFFERENCES
• TO ENCOURAGE LEARNERS TO TAKE RISKS IN SHARING
THEIR IDEAS AND OPINIONS
• TO DEMONSTRATE TO STUDENTS THAT THEIR KNOWLEDGE
AND THEIR LANGUAGE ABILITIES ARE VALUED AND ACCEPTED
THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAINSTORMING

• TO INTRODUCE THE PRACTICE OF IDEA COLLECTION PRIOR

TO BEGINNING TASKS SUCH AS WRITING OR SOLVING
PROBLEMS
• TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE
IDEAS AND EXPAND THEIR EXISTING KNOWLEDGE BY
BUILDING ON EACH OTHER'S CONTRIBUTIONS
HOW TO DO IT
THE GOAL OF BRAINSTORMING IS TO GENERATE IDEAS. BEFORE
YOU START, MAKE SURE

•EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP UNDERSTANDS THE

IMPORTANCE OF POSTPONING JUDGMENT UNTIL AFTER THE
BRAINSTORMING SESSION IS COMPLETED.
• WRITE THE PROBLEM OR TOPIC ON A BLACKBOARD OR
FLIPCHART WHERE ALL PARTICIPANTS CAN SEE IT
•WRITE ALL IDEAS ON THE BOARD AND DO AS LITTLE EDITING
AS POSSIBLE
• NUMBER EACH IDEA FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
AFTER BRAINSTORMING
• REDUCE YOUR LIST TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS
• COMBINE ITEMS THAT ARE SIMILAR
• DISCUSS EACH ITEM - IN TURN ON ITS OWN MERITS
• ELIMINATE ITEMS THAT MAY NOT APPLY TO ORIGINAL
ISSUE OR TOPIC
• GIVE EACH PERSON ONE FINAL CHANCE TO ADD ITEMS
D. How to Write a
Script
 1) Brainstorm
Write up what you want to happen in the
play.
Where will the story take place?
2) Characters
Develop main characters with unique
voices and personas based on
backgrounds, affecting attitude, word
choices, and dialect to prevent
blending and maintain a cohesive
storyline.
3) Outline
Before you actually begin writing the script,create
a basic plan for the story before writing, detailing
events in the third person, to avoid forgetting or
getting off trac
4) Style
Scripts are all about acting and dialogue so make
sure your characters are speaking
realistically.Avoid excessive mixing of speech
styles and vocabulary unless you are aiming for a
specific effect
5) Scene
Don't forget to include important details such as
time of day, setting, and actions of characters in
the scene.These are nearly as important as the
dialogue that occurs.
6) Dialogue
Make sure the dialogue is important, relevant,
and helps move the story forward
7) Notation
Decide how to notate your script. Will a narrator
introduce the characters, or will characters set
up the scene and other characters through
dialogue or monologues?
8) Annotations
Tell the reader what is happening by annotations
(notes) in square brackets if you will not find out
from the narrator or dialogue.

Example: [Jeff walks off the stage and John closes

the door behind him].
9) Rough Draft
Begin to develop a rough draft. Remember to stick
to proper script formatting. (See next page for
details on how to format a script).

Skip lines between different characters speaking.

This will make it easier for people reading the
script to distinguish between speakers more
easily, and also allow space for notes.

Write "INT" when the scene takes place inside and

"EXT" when the scene takes place outside.Put the
characters' names in capital letters above their
lines.
10) Edit
Read over your work, and have your friends and
family read it over as well.
Don't let yourself be insulted, controlled, too
fragile, upset, or angered by remarks about your
script. They are opinions, not facts. Remember, you
asked for their help!

11) Final Copy

Type up your script (Calibri, size 12) to be handed
in. Congratulations, you're done!
THANK YOU