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The Art and Craft of Playwriting Paperback – March 1, 2000

by Jeffrey Hatcher (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 148 ratings
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Jeffrey Hatcher knows the nuts and bolts of writing for the theater. Here, he shares his views on it all--from building tension and plotting a scene, right down to moving a character from one side of the stage to the other. From crafting an intriguing beginning to delivering a satisfying ending.

In Hatcher's one-on-one discussions with acclaimed American playwrights Lee Blessing, Marsha Norman and Jose Rivera, you'll find a wealth of practical advice, tricks of the trade and insight that will help you in your own creative efforts.
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 1, 2000
  4. Dimensions
    0.52 x 5.98 x 9.02 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1884910467
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1884910463
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group (March 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1884910467
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1884910463
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.52 x 5.98 x 9.02 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 148 ratings

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Jeffrey Hatcher

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4.5 out of 5 stars
148 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an enormously useful resource that is easy to read and concisely written. Moreover, the book serves as a perfect textbook for playwriting courses, with one customer noting it provides guidance and structure for the effort.

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16 customers mention "Book value"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a valuable resource, with one customer particularly appreciating the interviews at the end that provide new perspectives.

"...I enjoyed the interviews at the end to get new perspectives and help identify the breakable and unbreakable rules of playwriting...." Read more

"...As a playwriting primer, it's incredible. How it compares to other works in its genre, I have no idea...." Read more

"...I find this book an invaluable resource, that is an easy read. An excellent book." Read more

"An enormously useful book. Clear and to the point. Lots here for the sophisticated or the uninitiated. Buy this book." Read more

16 customers mention "Clarity"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-structured, with one customer noting that the suggested writing exercises are helpful.

"...This book really addressed many of the unique aspects of playwriting I had been thinking about as well as mentioning others which I hadn't thought..." Read more

"I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to learn the art and craft of play writing. It's filled with good tips and examples." Read more

"...Hatcher writes with clarity and humor and his patience with neophytes is clear on every page...." Read more

"...I find this book an invaluable resource, that is an easy read. An excellent book." Read more

15 customers mention "Advice"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful, particularly as a textbook for playwriting courses, with one customer noting it provides guidance and structure for the effort, while another mentions it's recommended by college theater arts professors.

"...The technical examples were helpful as were the suggested writing exercises...." Read more

"...It's filled with good tips and examples." Read more

"Hats off to the writer’s choice of plays for discussion and his pedagogical analysis." Read more

"It is very well written with exercises useful to the beginning playwright...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • JuliaS
    5.0 out of 5 stars clear, concise...invaluable
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I cannot express how helpful I found this book to be. I have never attempted a play before but was merely thinking about the elements of playwriting on my own and felt like i needed some guidance. This book really addressed many of the unique aspects of playwriting I had been thinking about as well as mentioning others which I hadn't thought of.

    The technical examples were helpful as were the suggested writing exercises. I enjoyed the interviews at the end to get new perspectives and help identify the breakable and unbreakable rules of playwriting.

    Additionally, the book was clearly and concisely written and as such, a pleasure to read.

    I highly recommend this book as a way to help structure your thoughts about playwriting.

    Julia
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Fazlin Abdullah
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well structured and engaging
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to learn the art and craft of play writing. It's filled with good tips and examples.
    Helpful
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  • CodaCreator
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Keeper
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Still in this book as assigned for a Playwriting and Performance class. I've been to a half-dozen stage performances in my life which is not a lot, but enough to know that I know virtually nothing about playwriting. Hatcher writes with clarity and humor and his patience with neophytes is clear on every page. As an emerging writer and literature student, I'm familiar with the works he uses as examples, but not familiar enough from a playwriting perspective not to need to collect them and read them again, but most of the authors are familiar. As a playwriting primer, it's incredible. How it compares to other works in its genre, I have no idea. But I'm liking this one enough that I'll keep it and use it again.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Harold A. Bascom
    5.0 out of 5 stars AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR NEW PLAYWRIGHTS
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I am a full-time playwright. I am someone who believes that one never knows enough, and that one's craft can always be improved, with new guidelines. This book, has reaffirmed my faith in my playwriting craft. I have a Kindle copy for my own reference, and I bought, and mailed a hardcopy to a colleague in South America, who is also a practicing playwright. I find this book an invaluable resource, that is an easy read. An excellent book.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Alisturk MacNanty
    5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    If you are into writing or playwriting this is a MUST!!!!
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  • Doubter
    3.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not great
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Like most craft books, this lays out a set of rules that you must follow to write a good play. The rules, as with most craft books, tend to be somewhat different than the rules in other craft books. Overall there are some good ideas here, but you have to take what works and leave the rest, because all of this is essentially the author's experience of what works, and what has worked for him might not work for someone else. Better yet, drop the craft books and just write the plays. When playwrights actually pay attention to these craft books, the quality of the work tends to suffer, in my experience.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Martin Foroz
    4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have in any play lover’s bookshelf
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Hats off to the writer’s choice of plays for discussion and his pedagogical analysis.
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  • Lauren Osornio
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on the craft of playwriting.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It is very well written with exercises useful to the beginning playwright. I especially liked how the author used established playwrights’ plays to show the reader how the craft is done through clear examples.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kazarina B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant book!
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A good book on playwriting
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read, Heed and Succeed
    Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Jodie Renner's 'Fire up your Fiction' is a precise example of exactly what every writer and wanna-be writer needs to read and heed.
    Her great examples show in detail what to do and what not to do, and more importantly, why. 'Fire up your Fiction' is perfect whether you need to shape, sharpen, or hone your writing ability in an easy to understand, clear, concise format. Kudos to Ms. Renner, she nails it.
    Report