Daphne Mintz's Helpful Tips for Writers

OMP's Literary Manager Daphne Mintz is a pretty awesome playwright. Besides that she is a skilled writing instructor, with lots of wisdom to share. Recently, she conducted her much loved "Action Speaks Louder than Words" Workshop with OMP. Because Daphne loves to help writers, we prodded some more writing gems out of her....


DAPHNE'S NOTES ON...ABSTRACT CHARACTER

Examples of abstract characters: Feminism, Civil Rights, the Depression, Beauty, etc.
You can complete the character breakdown exercise for your abstract characters, including giving them a name.
Example of FEMINISM name: Candy (give yourself a challenge)
Example of DEATH habits:

• Death keeps a compact mirror and lipstick handy. She methodically applies lipstick whenever she is about to take over a situation or conversation.
• Death keeps a pair of dice handy, but never rolls them.
• Death is always reading. You're never sure if he's really listening to anyone.

Most of us will NOT personify our abstract character as the examples above indicate, but your actual characters may interact with the symbol you assign to your abstract character.

Example:

• Abstract character: Death; Symbol: Lipstick
  Susie keeps a compact mirror and lipstick handy. She methodically applies lipstick whenever she is about to take over a situation or conversation.
• Abstract character: Love; Symbol: Dice
  Lewis keeps a pair of dice handy, but never rolls them.

DAPHNE'S NOTES ON....SETTING 
Setting is a character, it has a personality and an agenda.

• Read the Lillian/Martin example again (You can find this in Daphne's earlier post on Action here:  http://onionmanplays.blogspot.com/2011/07/action-is-character.html )
  Notice the use of "or"..."science or philosophical" informs the director that you simply want to get across that Lilly is a "brain." The director can then make some choices to help create that concept throughout the play (have examples of lab equipment laying about or a bust of Sigmund Freud on the bureau.)
• Have your set description capture atmosphere. Do not use theatre jargon. If you want eerie and foggy, describe it thus "The wood was eerie, but not at all silent, until a fog crept in" not "on stage are bent and crooked old trees with moss. Tree fogs, crickets, screech owl, and howling noises are heard. A fog machine from stage left sends a heavy fog across the stage. As it progresses further across the stage, the sounds fade."  A fog machine is not the only way to create the essence of fog. You do not want your director to hear "cha-ching" as he reads your work.
• Limit props to those that matter. If your set is a Victorian style tea room, say just that, plus an item for atmosphere or character. "Lights go up on a Victorian style tea room except for the velvet Elvis portrait on the wall." Notice "wall" not "fireplace." Say "fireplace" only if there is to be a fire for someone to warm himself by or burn evidence in. Likewise, if you're going to have a line like, "Why didn't we put a fireplace in this room? This place is always so damned cold," be sure to give a heads up so the set designer doesn't automatically picture a fireplace even though you didn't mention one: "Lights go up on a Victorian style tea room, except for the velvet Elvis portrait on the wall, hanging above a spot where a fireplace should be, but alas, the Jamison's could not afford one (or chose to not have one because it irritates Aunt Alma's emphysema)."