Over the past month I tried something I've never done before. I participated in a playwriting workshop. Although I've written five novels, I've never attempted to write a play. As it turns out, the two are very different. While a novel allows you to get in the mind of the characters and describe in detail the scene, a play does none of those things. What you see and hear is what you get.
At the end of five weeks, the other playwrights and I each put on scene that we wrote. Mine was titled, "Coffee Break" and featured two local actors who started out talking about trivial things from their lives. Then it took a turn toward a dark concern in which one of them expressed fear that her husband was going to kill her. Considering the fact that I'm a mystery writer, I couldn't resist.
Seeing my work come to life on stage was exhilarating. The next time you have a chance to experience something entirely out of your comfort zone, be sure to do it. You never know where it might lead, or as in my case you may end up meeting new people and having a lot of fun!
At the end of five weeks, the other playwrights and I each put on scene that we wrote. Mine was titled, "Coffee Break" and featured two local actors who started out talking about trivial things from their lives. Then it took a turn toward a dark concern in which one of them expressed fear that her husband was going to kill her. Considering the fact that I'm a mystery writer, I couldn't resist.
Seeing my work come to life on stage was exhilarating. The next time you have a chance to experience something entirely out of your comfort zone, be sure to do it. You never know where it might lead, or as in my case you may end up meeting new people and having a lot of fun!
Actors Sondra Karben and Pamela Briggs
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