Creative Writing Sample

As you know, a play consists of conversations among characters. However, the dialogue in a well-written play never seems like filler. Every bit of speech, especially in a one-act play, should help move the plot forward by revealing important information.

Revealing important information is not the same as explaining, however. You can't just have one or two characters say what is happening--or have them act it out the way mimes do. That would get pretty boring very quickly! Well-written dialogue works smoothly and efficiently to convey information while also keeping the plot moving. Take a look at this brief example.

Ella: (leaning against her locker) Did you study?
Jaizon: (looking confused) Study?
Ella: Uh, for the history test? (shaking her head) You always do this!
Jaizon: (laughing) Nah, I totally studied this time.
Ella: That's great!
Jaizon: Yep. I now know everything about Marie Antoinette.
Ella: Jaizon . . . the test is on Marie Curie.

This short exchange reveals quite a bit about the characters and the plot. We see that Ella is a responsible student and that Jaizon perhaps is not. We can also infer that Ella cares about how her friends perform in school and that Jaizon likes to joke around rather than taking a serious look at his situation. This difference in the personalities of the two characters quickly sets up some tension that could develop into a broader conflict. And all of that in just seven lines!