Our gratitude to Liz Lochhead, for a wonderful talk this evening on playwriting and writing in general.
Revelations were abundant (such as to name an emotion is to kill it dead, and that dialogue is actually the very last thing which falls into place when playwriting – arriving long after the basics of who characters are and what they want). There were many recollections and anecdotes, which concerned the likes of Edwin Morgan and Norman MacCaig, and phrases to ponder (like “singing the song of your own life”).
Start in the middle of your idea, and often drop the first and last scene. Never take more time than you need. And once a scene “has turned”, just get the hell out of there…
