Thanks to Eric Ehn for this cool angle on playwriting.  I found it again so I thought I would put it up. mostly so I will be able to find it when I want to.  Especially helpful in times of relentless self flagulation when involved in stringing together something new and difficult:

• Writing is about form. It can use the structure of anything - tai chi, a Beethoven symphony etc.
• You can have characters play non-human roles. For example, take cancer, name it Freddie. Have Freddie act upon another character exactly as cancer might act upon a character.
• If you are stuck with a play, try taking a minor character and making him or her into a major character.
• With each character, ask yourself, "who is this character taking care of?" "Who is this character being a caregiver to?"
• To break out of old modes of thought and speech, try this: Write your play, then force it to be ten sylables per line, or iambic pentameter etc.
• Your plays don't have to mean anything.