Product Description

The Playwright's Survival Guide is written for both aspiring and established writers looking for an emotional, spiritual, or just plain practical connection back to what's important - the writing. It's a "how-to-be" book - with thoughts, stories of inspiration, a few tricks of the trade, a few outlets for venting frustrations, and a reassuring voice that speaks to all the doubts with an "I know. I've been there. This is what you do . . ." Gary Garrison demystifies the playwriting process, speaking honestly, poignantly, and with humor about the lessons he's learned along the way. He explores the issues playwrights face every day, including:

• inspiration
• criticism
• self-doubt
• relationships with teachers and mentors
• the art of self-promotion
• writer's block
• staying healthy in the art after your fingers are off the keyboard.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2052176 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .38" h x 6.04" w x 8.99" l, .47 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

From Library Journal
Published playwright Garrison, associate chair of the Dramatic Writing Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, offers an entertaining if somewhat salty personal narrative of life as a professional playwright. Not a "how-to-write-a-play" book, this is instead an insightful look at "how to be a professional playwright." Garrison's experience shows. As he writes, "When I walk into the classroom, I can offer my students my experiences with my agent, my relationships in the industry, the lessons I learned as a writer from the theatre that just produced my play, the process of the actor who helped me discover the weakness in my script, and so on." He offers the same to his readers. Beyond Garrison's witticism is a serious, inspiring look at what it means to be a professional writer. Recommended for theater and writing collections.ALaura A. Ewald, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Gary Garrison is a published and produced playwright fearlessly slugging it out in New York City. His plays include Old Soles, Oh Messiah Me, Cherry Reds, An Angel in the Early Bird Special, The Big Fat Naked Truth, and When a Diva Dreams. He is Artistic Director and Division Head of Playwriting for the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, National Chair of Playwriting for the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival, and the recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Teacher of Playwriting for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education.