Creative Writing: ENGL 2660 Playwriting

How can a handful of words, scribbled on a napkin or a train schedule, grow into a timeless play? How does a storyteller create characters with lives and intentions of their own? Is writing a miraculous act, impossible to explain or describe, or is it 90 percent perspiration? In this program, a chorus of famous authors discuss creative strategies that lead to emotionally charged stories and dramatic narratives. The video weaves together rarely seen interviews featuring nuts-and-bolts commentary from Neil Simon, August Wilson, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Peter Shaffer, Tina Howe, and other artists whose work profoundly moves readers and audiences. Exploring the writer’s craft from several different angles—the roller coaster of inspiration, the pros and cons of collaboration, the importance of listening to a character’s voice, and more—this luminous compendium of literary wisdom is an indispensable resource for any aspiring author or writing instructor. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (48 minutes)