How Long Does it Take to Write a Play

This is a question I frequently get from non-writers. And the answer is, "It depends." There is a lot that goes into a play, and some flow more easily and quickly than others.

For example, I wrote Places, Please, a 17-page one-act play with four characters, in about two hours. Certainly there was some editing and polishing involved, but the bulk of the script was done in one sitting. On the other hand, I have several full-length plays that have required more than a year to complete.

Neil Simon, in the introductions to his play collections, and in his book, Rewrites, talks about many scripts that get to a certain point, and then stop, possibly because he's not sure what to do with the rest of the script, or because it's just not working, or many other reasons. He cites several instances where he has then put the script in a drawer where it may rest for years, but then, at a certain point, retrieve it and finish it. The Odd Couple was such a script.

I think was Mark Twain who, when asked about his writing, said, "I start at the beginning, and when I get to the end, I stop." While that may seem over-obvious, it actually makes a lot of sense. I've used that approach on many scripts, and when I'm finished, and even though the script may not seem long enough, I consider very carefully before I pad the script with useless dialogue or an unnecessary scene.

One of the problems that hits playwrights is in the standards set by publishers and tradition. Generally, a full-length play should run 90 to 120 minutes, which translates to 90 to 120 pages of dialogue. With one-act plays, the length can vary from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. There seems to be a modern tradition forming of full-length plays running without intermissions. Personally, as a writer, performer, and audience member, I prefer the intermissions. I think in some ways modern theater is trying too hard to compete with movies.

One key to making sure the length of the play is appropriate is with good planning and outlining of script. Knowing where the script is going assists greatly in the ability to create a work that is as long as you want it to be. And good, detailed planning and outlining will also help you determine how long the drafting will take. Some scripts I plan with great detail, outlining what scenes will occur, what the characters will discuss, who enters or exits, what actions take place, what emotions a character will experience, and other specifics. When I have a list of those, I can then estimate fairly accurately how many pages each will take. From my experience, I know that given periods of uninterrupted work (a rare luxury sometimes), I can usually draft a certain number of pages.

I have previously written about William Saroyan, a playwright from the middle of the 20th century, who had a practice somewhat similar to that of Mozart. Saroyan would get the play into his head - the characters, dialogue, scenes, etc. - and then check into a hotel room in New York City, and for about a week, do nothing but pour out the contents of his head onto the paper in his typewriter, almost like transcribing or taking dictation, with the creative work mostly accomplished in his head.

Deadlines may also play into how long it takes to complete a script. Last September, I began writing a full-length script for a theater in Houston. This summer, the script will be produced in July and August, because I was able to finish the first draft by May, and rewrite two more drafts by early June so they could go into rehearsals. A little pressure can be a good motivator.

So, when considering how much time may need to be invested when looking at a blank page, carefully consider all the factors: type of play (full-length or one-act), how complete the story line, how much planning has been done or needs to be done, what deadline you or someone else have have for completion, and how quickly or slowly you may normally work. When all else fails, determine where the story begins, start writing, and when the story's over, stop.