Play-Making: A Manual of Craftsmanship

This handbook offers a thoughtful look at the craft of writing for the stage, asking the question why drama seems to demand a textbook while the novel does not. The author argues that theatre’s unique reliance on performance creates a set of practical puzzles that beginners feel compelled to solve before their words ever see an audience. Drawing on the timeless works of Shakespeare and Ibsen, the text illustrates points with passages that readers can check themselves, making the lessons concrete rather than abstract.

Written largely during long voyages, the guide is peppered with footnotes that reveal the author’s on‑the‑fly research and the lively feedback of fellow dramatists. Rather than imposing rigid formulas, it presents a series of “don’ts” and sensible guidelines rooted in common sense and the observations of past masters. The result is a conversational, well‑referenced manual that invites aspiring playwrights to experiment, revise, and understand the mechanics of the theatre before they begin.