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Review
--Jon Robin Baitz, author of "Ten Unknowns and Substance of Fire "
"Stuart Spencer's The Playwright's Guidebook is indispensable. Clearly and thoroughly, Mr. Spencer--a playwright himself--leads all playwrights (not only the beginner) through the travails of creation and the jungle of production. He is to be congratulated."
--Edward Albee
"Eureka! A clearly written, well-structured, intelligent how-to book about playwrighting. Like the good teacher and good writer that he is, Stuart Spencer guides rather than browbeats. Should be next to the laptop of any aspiring, or working, playwright."
--Warren Leight, author of "Side Man "
"If you want to be a playwright, here's your bible."
--David Lindsay-Abaire, author of" Fuddy Meers" and "Wonder of the World"
"At last! A straight-from-the-shoulder approach to playwrighting that finally blows the dust off much of the mystique surrounding this craft. Stuart Spencer writes with wit, insight, clarity, brilliant first-hand knowledge, and yes, finally, offers genuine help! Refreshing and beautifully organized, this book is long overdue."
--Jack O'Brien, Artistic Director, The Globe Theatres, San Diego
"A sensible, lucid, thorough and tremendously helpful journey into the always mysterious realities of playwrighting."
--Romulus Linney, author of "The Sorrows of Frederick," "Holy Ghosts," and "Tennessee"
"Mr. Spencer's guidebook is full of solid, straightforward advice in a conversational voice that takes the
Product Description
THE TOOLS we're about to discuss provide you with the means to begin writing your play. Read the first page
Concordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
The main strength of this book is Spencer's ability to distill the concepts of story structure and character into workable and easy-to-grasp ideas. Spencer is able to say in a few chapters what Robert McKee needs 500+ pages to say. I have read a multitude of books explaining how stories are assembled, but it was this book that brought it all together for me.
Another strength to this book is the quality of the practical advice, which is all too rare in writing books. I rarely do the exercises in any book, but I found myself plugging through the exercises in this book.
This is not to say that the book is entirely infallible. When trying to discuss "what" to write rather than "how" to write, Spencer resorts to the touchy-feely concept of the writer's impulse, which is really not that helpful (but then, all writing books falter on this point. Apparently, you actually have to use your own imagination at some point. Bummer). Another quibble that I have is with Spencer's running example of a guy wanting a glass of water. The triviality of the example tends to undercut Spencer's authority. But these are minor points that really don't detract much from an otherwise outstanding book.
Not only has this book helped me become a better writer (I recently had my first story published using what I learned from this book), but it has increased my enjoyment of reading and watching other stories because now I better understand the innerworkings of fiction.
I got my money's worth from this book. What more can you ask for?
I've read Syd Field and taken McKee's course on Story Structure, yet I found this book to be of greater value. Why? Because Mr. Spencer doesn't lay down directives (as is common with most how-to books). Instead, he offers suggestions. His observations are level-headed and his approach is open-minded. This is one instructional book that won't tell you that a plot point must land on page such-and-such.
Mr. Spencer encourages you to freely follow your creative impulse and get your story on paper. Then he lets you decide whether your story is as effective as it can be. The book discusses sensible ways to get the most out of your play. It's often like a trouble-shooting guide. If you feel something's not working in your piece, chances are, this book will help you figure out exactly where the problem lies.
Mr. Spencer is not a drill instructor barking out the sure and only way to commercial bliss. He comes across as an experienced teacher (which he is) giving you the opportunity to find your own way to successful writing.
I'd like to add that this is an invaluable asset whether you're writing a play, a film or a novel. That's because "The Playwright's Guidebook" is a comprehensive study of drama, of why it works and why it often fails. No matter where you are in your writing career, you'll most likely benefit from reading this book. If you've been writing a long time, you'll be reacquainted with fundamentals you may have forgotten. You'll also pick up some fresh ways of looking at your craft. If you're a novice, you'll learn things that are essential to building an interesting story.
Take my advice: familiarize yourself with this book and then write the story that's in you.
While most of this book covers well trod ground, there are some unique aspects to Spencer's approach. His introductory essay on the differences in writing for fiction, film and theater should be a must read for every new student. I also appreciated his "Impulse" exercises. Too many texts delve into the process of writing without ever discussing how someone finds something to write about in the first place. The other exercises in the book are very good, but as a teacher I would have appreciated even more of them. Also, Spencer's discussion of how to build plots is a little thin. I'd recommend combining this book with some hard core instruction in dramatic structure.
In the world of playwriting texts, there are alot of useful books, but very few interesting ones. This one manages to be both. I highly recommend it.
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