Lindsaywriter

I got two requests for script changes today: 1) a word in a play that is against admin policy; 2) the students were struggling with a reference. Both were well in advance of their productions and respectful of my input. Easy. I'm not precious about my words so long as the intention remains.

When you're looking for a classical piece that you sort of remember but don't, but you know it's the perfect jumping off point for a play and eventually, after hours of searching, you find it! It's exactly right....and it's...not...in the public domain....and the estate just...isn't....sigh.

Yesterday plays of mine were bought in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, California, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Romania and close to home in Ontario. That is so cool! #findjoy

My oldest play, written in 1991, just got a production in 2025. 😊

Best. Present. Ever.

Fun fact for my writing back pocket: When a crow dies other crows will gather to investigate what happened and why the crow died.

Publication proof of my latest play ready to be reviewed! The title for this one went through about eight drafts all using roughly the same words. Gotta keep trying till you get it right...

Preparing today to mentor some student playwrights over the next month or so. First meeting we use my favorite sentence starters to explore ideas: what if.... If only....I wonder.... Why does....

In other news, I just learned about a fad regarding killer whales wearing salmon as hats. That's going in the back pocket to show up in a play somewhere....

The first eight minutes of the Star Wars Holiday Special have felt like eight years. That is all.

Long car ride. Final edits on a play. Gotta work where you can... 😊

There is nothing I loathe more than the dentist. "Loathing. Unadulterated loathing..."

Observation of the day: just walked by a guy wearing a bass pro shop hat with a second bass pro shop hat attached to his backpack. Because you never know when you need a spare.

Figure out what works best for your writing style. Some people like being told when to have a draft done by. Some really, really don't. Whatever gets you writing, and more importantly finishing those drafts is what you should do.

Confession: I'm afraid of deadlines. I hate not having things done on time. But I know plenty of writers who simply wave at as deadlines as they pass by. A lot of times the person who sets the writing deadline is me, which means I'm afraid of something I decided. Which is really weird. /1

It's always a great day when I hear about a school having a fun and fulfilling experience with one of my plays. 😊

Overheard conversation of the day
"I smoke cigars. I don't do it for my health. There's lots of things I do for my health" said a man who in no way looked "healthy"

The Greeks absolutely had it right when they included a chorus in their plays. They knew audiences are dumbasses who need to be told “THIS MAN IS BAD. HE IS HERE AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT *NOT* TO DO. WOE TO THE BUMPTIOUS FOOL WHO WOULD IDOLIZE HIM. YOU ARE NOT, NOR DO YOU WANT TO BE, ALEX DELARGE”

Observation of the day: just watched a guy, wearing sunglasses (it's 7pm) determinedly chuck ice out of his glass behind him. So many questions.....

Don't know where to start with a second draft of your play? Start asking why. Why does this happen? Why does this character do this? The first draft is the what draft - what is it and how can I make it happen. The second draft is the why draft. The why of character and story.

You don't have to write the same way as everyone else. And if someone says I hate XYZ and you love it, that doesn't mean it's wrong. There's someone right now who hates something you love when it comes to writing style, or formating, or characters. So what? The point is to just write.

I was today years old when I learned a bezel was a watch part. ( Not exciting but learned nonetheless)

Observation of the day: I'm watching an event where everyone is dressed up but the definition of "dresses up" is quite vast. I love seeing what people choose to wear to express themselves. The cut, the colours, the fabrics, it all tells a story.

Play number three: The Other Road

I am frustrated because I think I have to take that 1/4 and start from scratch.

Ah well.

2 out of 3 ain't bad! /3

Play number three: The Other Road

Broke it apart and turned it into a one Act while I thought about the ending, was only okay with the one act vereion. Broke it apart again, for a workshop this November. 3/4 of the play rocks. It's great. 1/4 still sucks. /2

Story of three plays, I've been workshopping this fall.

Play number three: The Other Road

I've been working on this play for a year and a half. It started life as a full length and I workshopped it this past June as such. Hated the ending. /1

My value as a writer is not connected to my value as a human. Rinse and repeat.

Woke up today to two productions of two of my plays that address censorship in places that actively censor. 😊

Play number two: Underwater

That was the hardest part. It took way longer to research this play than write it (months and months). First workshop, I was petrified it wouldn't work. And when it did, I was petrified it was a fluke. Second workshop was a huge relief. It worked. It's a play.

Play number two: Underwater It took a long time (months and months) to figure out what sport I wanted to focus on for this idea and then research that particular sport, and then figure out how to theatricalize the sport so that it was true to the sport but also true to being a play.