What’s the first thing you do when you sit down to write a play? Philip Dawkins: Organize my thoughts. By which, I mean, organize my post-it notes. What’s the last thing you do before you hit the print button for your “final draft”? PD: Shut down the computer, and don’t look at it for at least two weeks. Are you conscious of when you hit the middle of the process? What does that moment look like? PD: Yes, because I storyboard my plays using post-it notes on the wall. So, I know I’ve hit the middle point when I feel like the first half of the play is off the wall. What techniques do you use to overcome your own personal writer’s block? PD: I read other excellent writers and immerse myself in fabulous, fabulous words. Are there any “rookie moves” that you think writers sometimes fall into? PD: That’s specific to every writer, don’t you think? Some writers have an Achilles heel, while others have an Achilles wrist, or an Achilles earlobe. I think one writer’s novice move can be another writer’s strength. How long would your dream writing process for a single play take? PD: Oh, I have no idea. Depends on the play. Some are a beast to drag out of me; those I wish I could sneeze onto a page and be done with it. But others are an amazing journey, and I enjoy the ride. I guess, creation is always about journey, so it’s a never-ending process, really. I suppose every play I write is just another chapter in the process of telling my life to the universe. In that case, I hope it’s never over.
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An interview with Philip Dawkins
What’s the first thing you do when you sit down to write a play? Philip Dawkins: Organize my thoughts. By which, I mean, organize my post-it notes. What’s the last thing you do before you hit the print button for your “final draft”? PD: Shut down the computer, and don’t look at it for at least two weeks. Are you conscious of when you hit the middle of the process? What does that moment look like? PD: Yes, because I storyboard my plays using post-it notes on the wall. So, I know I’ve hit the middle point when I feel like the first half of the play is off the wall. What techniques do you use to overcome your own personal writer’s block? PD: I read other excellent writers and immerse myself in fabulous, fabulous words. Are there any “rookie moves” that you think writers sometimes fall into? PD: That’s specific to every writer, don’t you think? Some writers have an Achilles heel, while others have an Achilles wrist, or an Achilles earlobe. I think one writer’s novice move can be another writer’s strength. How long would your dream writing process for a single play take? PD: Oh, I have no idea. Depends on the play. Some are a beast to drag out of me; those I wish I could sneeze onto a page and be done with it. But others are an amazing journey, and I enjoy the ride. I guess, creation is always about journey, so it’s a never-ending process, really. I suppose every play I write is just another chapter in the process of telling my life to the universe. In that case, I hope it’s never over.