Writing a solo show is a theatrical storytelling art unto itself.  These are techniques & tools that will allow you to manipulate the journey of your story.  Each one has a specific function and result. 

 

THE STORY

• The ten styles of Solo pieces
• Getting started using "Points of Departure"
• Finding your voice & the Voice of the story
• Componenets of a story: Beginning, middle, end, crisis, resolution & insight
• Designing the arc of a story
• The Universality of the story.  The big story in the little story
• Objectives & obstacles
• Planting seeds
• Techniques to manipulate the storyteller/audience relationship
• Creative & nontraditional use of timelines, plotlines & stories

Characterization

• Creating and establishing characters
• Psychology of characters & their function within the story
• Types of narrators & function
• Writing multiple character scenes
• Character fingerprints

Interesting Tricks to Dazzle & Delight

• Using & incorporating several solo styles
• Creating a functional scene
• Specificity & Univerality
• Repetition of ines/themes/word play/symbols
• Historical/cultural/period facts & references
• Setting up a joke & the payoff
• Inspiration vs. perspiration
• Don't tell me-  show me
• Multisensory descriptions
• Using your special skills
• Length of your solo show
• Use of music & sound effects
• Lighting as another character
• The wonderful world of props & scenery
• Producing your solo show
• Advertising & marketing blurbs
• Protecting your writing- Copywrititng & WGA
• Working with (and paying) a Director, Producer etc.