Writing Your First Play, 2nd Edition

3

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Character

Exercise 3.1 • Character

List the characteristics of three people you know very well. Select one of those people, and place a character based on that person in a situation of conflict with another person. Use correct stage terminology and dialogue as needed. Minimum length: 2–3 pages.

In the previous chapter on conflict, I stated that conflict does not arise out of nothing; rather, it stems from intentions at cross purposes. Intention, in turn, stems from character. A logical question follows: If conflict comes from intention, and intention comes from character, why start with conflict? Why not start with character? Many writers, as you can see from the Character vs. Action chart (see following page), ...