Just as the Internet and associated technology is changing the way many business practices are structured and is crashing certain career genres it is also opening new doors for many people. One profession for which this relates is playwriting. While the majority of playwrights enter their field due to passion for theatre and creative ambitions, there are also some incredible opportunities involved if the talent and commitment is there. Very few people are presented with playwriting as a viable path during career day at middle school, however, those who discover this option along the way and decide to follow their heart are rewarded in a variety of ways.
If you have the talent, and what some people consider to be the necessary it factor (which can relate to creativity, great ideas, or perhaps even the right kind of luck) you can forge a great career that earns respect and admiration from your peers and associates. It’s even possible to achieve a element of fame. Arthur Miller, Sam Shepherd, Neil Simon , are just three playwrights who have had Broadway hits and are something of household names.
But how did they, and others, get there? And how do the rest of the professionally minded playwrights earn a living? That is, how do they earn a living before winning the Tony Award for best play or a coveted Pulitzer? And if you’re planning on entering the field to gain fame, earn these awards or other externally oriented goals, you better stick with your original plan of becoming a lawyer. And while it just might be as difficult to become a star litigator and the field is highly demanding and competitive, there are definitely more jobs, of a more stable variety, and the path is a bit clearer. It’s also less likely you’ll need a cash advance on a regular basis just to pay your rent.
Meanwhile, your heart is in theatre, and your soul belongs to the stage. Too esoteric and melodramatic sounding? Hit the law books. If you plan to be a working playwright, you must except some life compromises and ongoing challenges. This is on top of writing that great play and getting it produced. There are some short term loans
that can help you in times of trouble, though you’ll need a certain amount of endurance and stamina, and a strong tolerance of rejection. Then you can take your script, send it to some local and regional companies and wait for their response. The Dramatist Sourcebook is an excellent resource for finding theatres that might be the right fit for your play. It also includes great information on competitions, grants and other possibilities. You might try and get your name out there by finding success with short ten minute scripts. However you go about it, getting your work produced is a challenge separate from, but equally important to writing that great script. And it’s estimated that most playwrights see about ten premiers in their lifetime, make yours count.
Despite coffee and beer being a favorite for many people today, coffee provides many advantages over beer. This is especially true when both mental and physical health are concerned. Coffee provides rich antioxidants that are known to help prevent cancer and the general effects that come with aging. After a night out drinking beer, what kind of benefit is provided to your body? Unless you are a fan of dehydration and splitting headaches, the answer is “none.”