Do you have any tips for someone trying to write a play about some college students, some of which are in a "battle of the bands"-type thing?
Yes! Okay, I’m drinking so here goes:
1. DIALOGUE. Listen around you. If you’re in college, listen to college kids talk. Practice listening to the speech patterns, the repetitive words, just anything that’ll help get a natural dialogue. You don’t want ‘em sounding flat. Give them even more life through different types of speech! Does one of your characters have a stutter? Does one use “like” WAY too much (as we young scallywags tend to do)? Does another talk like a stoner, or do they fidget like they mixed a 5hour energy into their coffee?
2. RESEARCH. What setting are they in? A specific college? If so, what would be some key locations used? (For example, if you were to set it at App State, look up places on King St. they could appear at, different venues they could play at (AKA Boone Saloon, The Local, Legends.) Is it present time or set in the 90′s? All things to consider.
3. RELATIONSHIPS. Fuck it man. How does each character feel about the other characters? (ooh, I am FEELING IT NOW MR KRABS. ALCOHOL ENGAGED.) Okay, Think abot how those relationships will affec the dynamics of the group, how the relatioships change, how that changes the music even. How does each personality sound in the band? That sounds weird, but trust me.
4. PLOT. Questions to ask: WHY THIS PLAY NOW? WHAT MAKES THIS PLAY DIFFERENT AND MORE INTERESTING? How can you utilize the music to symbolize a deeper meaning? give depth. YOU MUST GO DEEPER! (or not. Just make it worth reading, but ALWAYS write what you want. Don’t sweat the small stuff, just learn to listen to your head. The dialogues will play out, and the plot will come to you. Don’t stress it.) I’d suggest doing those character sheets to get to know your characters and how each one effects the sequence of events. Write something cool. (If you think it’s cool, then it’s cool. Yeah.)
5. WRITE DRUNK EDIT SOBER. (Nah don’t do that. Unless you want to, then hell yeah.)
THAT’S FROM ME. NOW GO OUT AND WRITE YOUR HEART OUT. WHAT.YEAH.