Stay With the Story

What’s your play about? What questions is it trying to answer? What provocations does it make? After a period of intense focus on the big ideas of the play, it can be helpful to switch focus and 'stay with the story'.

I speak about: 


  • Writing from your authentic voice. The place where you are the most honest, most lyrical, most creative.

  • The difference between what your play is about, and what it’s really about.
- Developing the story versus developing the ideas.

  • The dance between complex ideas in a simple story, and simple ideas within a complex story.

  • Looking at feedback through a story lens.

  • Looking at your outline through a story lens.

  • Using note cards to physicalise your story spine.

  • Why I always print out the material I’m working on.

I reference:

  • Episode 22 'Writing a Draft Zero’

  • ‘36 Assumptions About Writing Plays’ by José Rivera

Get one-on-one support for your writing by visiting www.emilysheehan.info/dramaturgy  

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