from the author of Final Draft's
"Ask the Expert" for Playwrights
and Playwriting101.com

While this page is designed for young (i.e. student) playwrights, no matter how old you are, if you've made it this far, feel free to keep on reading and learn all you can.

This page is an official part of the reading/visiting list for the Scriptwriting course, part of the English Department's Writing Major at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK 01695 575171.

**NOW AVAILABLE: YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS 101!**

"...an intelligent, practical,and highly accessible guide for young playwrights. [Jonathan Dorf's] breadth of knowledge and humanity shine through..."--Janet Neipris, Head of Graduate Studies, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Dramatic Writing

"Amust-read for any up-and-coming young dramatic voice."--Matt Buchanan, Theatre Director, St. Luke's School (CT)

Get ready for the ultimate playwriting resource for young playwrights... Young Playwrights 101 is here! Inside you'll find detailed instruction for young playwrights, organized in easy to follow lessons, including practice exercises: it's a complete playwriting course, available in paperback or as a downloadable e-book! Ideal for drama classes or for young playwrights who don't have access to classes at school.

Order it now!

WANT TO STUDY WITH ME?

Now you can! For individuals, I teach Introduction to Playwriting for Writers University, with the next session beginning on March 10, 2008. We go through all of the playwriting basics, and for each of the course's four weeks, you'll be assigned writing exercises on which I'll personally give you feedback--and you'll have the opportunity to interact with me online to ask questions about playwriting. To learn more or to enroll, visit Writers University.

The next best thing to having me visit your school in person is to have me as a virtual guest artist. Let me know your needs and parameters, and I'll custom design a course for your students, with possibilities for interaction through email, your own private bulletin boards and live chat. Have access to a speakerphone? If so, I can even talk to your class on the phone--whether your school is in the United States or Canada, or as far away as the United Kingdom or Australia!

Please feel free to or to call me (from the US) at 1-310-869-8985 from Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time for more information on either class!

WANT ME TO VISIT YOUR SCHOOL?

I have been to numerous schools as a guest artist, talking to classes and helping students learn how to write plays. Want me to visit yours? I love traveling and working with young people. You provide transportation, lodging and a stipend to cover meals and my time, and you can have me spending anywhere from a day to a week or more (I do consider longer residencies, schedule permitting) teaching at your school. Want to do something even more awesome? Commission me to write a new play to world premiere at your school! Please go here for details and answers to commonly asked questions.

SCRIPT CONSULTING DISCOUNT FOR STUDENTS!

Need professional feedback on your script? I help writers from all over to improve their plays and screenplays. As part of my commitment to young writers, full-time students (with valid ID) receive 20% off. To learn more about what I can do for you, click here.

JOIN THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS LIST!

Want to stay in the loop as I add new information and contest opportunities to the Young Playwrights Page, and discuss playwriting with other young playwrights?

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
SAVE BIG ON FINAL DRAFT!

PLUS BOOKS, SOFTWARE AND SUPPLIES THROUGH

Because of my work with The Writers Store and Final Draft, full-time students and teachers that I refer get a special deal on the top scriptwriting software on the market, even lower than the already low $169 academic rate. POLITELY for more info, and be sure to provide your full name, educational institution and whether you're a student or teacher. And for all your writing needs, from software to books about playwriting (for example, the excellent writings of Jeffrey Sweet) to writing supplies, click on the link to The Writers Store (and hey, I get a commission if you do!).

MORE PLAYWRITING FROM ME ON THE WEB

Read the interview with me at AbsoluteWrite.com and hear my thoughts about playwriting, including how I got started.

Visit The Writers Store's Playwriting101.com, one of the internet's most popular playwriting sites, for which I wrote the content, and my articles about playwriting on the Final Draft website. Both are full of information for writers of all ages, so take a look!

WARNING! CAUTION! WARNING!

I hope you find my page useful. But don't find it so useful that you reproduce any part of it without getting my permission first AND without properly crediting me. Reproducing my work without permission is a violation of copyright law. That having been said, here we go--good luck!