{"id":4016,"date":"2017-07-31T00:13:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T00:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=4016"},"modified":"2017-09-25T22:57:25","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T22:57:25","slug":"judges-tactics-how-playwriting-judges-score-superior-scripts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/judges-tactics-how-playwriting-judges-score-superior-scripts\/","title":{"rendered":"Judges\u2019 Tactics: How Playwriting Judges Score Superior Scripts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Judges\u2019 Tactics: How Playwriting Judges Score Superior Scripts<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by\u00a0Andy Haynes<\/p>\n

July 27, 2017<\/p>\n<\/font>

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I\u2019ve been a playwright for many years now and during that time I\u2019ve been asked several times to judge playwrighting at thespian competitions for both district and state level festivals. Over the years I\u2019ve seen several common (and easily correctable) mistakes come up time and time again. If you\u2019re thinking about writing a play for a competition, check out these simple tips and tricks that can move you up from an excellent to a superior and maybe even help you grab that \u201cBest of Show!\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow the formatting guidelines.<\/h4>\n
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The number one easily fixable mistake I always see is not following the formatting guidelines. For each competition, the format rules should be posted online and will include things like font size, page length, title pages and more. Find those rules and follow them to the letter! Proper format will score you some easy points, make your script look more professional, and make it easier for the judges to read (and enjoy) it.<\/p>\n

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Make sure your play is stageable.<\/h4>\n
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Remember that you\u2019re writing a play that is meant to be performed. On a stage you can\u2019t use camera tricks and fancy editing like you can in a movie. How easily you play can be performed is what we call \u201cstageability.\u201d You can do a lot of things on a stage but if what you\u2019ve written is physically impossible, you\u2019re going to lose points!<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t rush the falling action!<\/h4>\n
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At its most basic level, your play should have an inciting incident, rising action, a climax, falling action, and a denouement. Very often the element that is lacking the most is the falling action. The falling action gives the audience a chance to process the consequences of the climax before the play reaches the conclusion. Going straight from the climax to the end doesn\u2019t give your audience a chance to breathe and can leave them feeling jarred and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

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Have others read your play out loud!<\/h4>\n
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You\u2019ve finished your play and are ready to turn it in. There\u2019s one last thing you need to do. Invite some friends over and have them read the play out loud to you. Listen to how they sound when they read it and take careful notes. You\u2019ll hear them stumble over typos and get caught up in dialogue that doesn\u2019t sound natural. Take these as cues to revisit your play and fix any trouble spots before you send it off for critique.<\/p>\n

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Relax but be ready!<\/h4>\n
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When it\u2019s finally competition time and it\u2019s your turn to present your play, try to relax, you\u2019ve already done the hard work so you\u2019re mostly just here to listen to any feedback. But remember, even though the judges have already read and scored your play, those scores aren\u2019t yet final. They can still change your score based on how you answer any questions they may have. Being professional and prepared may just net you an extra point or two!<\/p>\n
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Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n