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The next step in our monologue writing process is for you to write your first draft.
To begin, pull out a clean sheet of paper, or make a new doc on google drive. Keep in mind that this monologue will go through a revision process, so this first draft doesn’t need to be perfect! |
But Steve, How will I know when my first draft is complete?
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In general, your performance monologue will be about 1-2 pages long, and it should take about 3-6 minutes to perform. |
Some monologues will be shorter, some will be longer… this is perfectly okay! The page and minute guidelines are just that: guidelines. |
I designed these guidelines after reading hundreds of monologues over the years, and learning what tends to feel like a complete monologue. |
But remember: we’re making art here, not building a brick wall. Be flexible with your monologue, especially your first draft. |
Remember: Stage Directions!
Any monologue should start with an opening stage direction.
- This is the kind of monologue starter we’ve been working on. It should have the setting, time, weather, mood, characters who are there, and what they are doing
Not sure how to start?
If you don’t know how to start, look back at the example monologues you read in Part 1.
- How do they start? With a big question? With a big statement? With the speaker trying to engage the listener directly?
- What would this person with this problem in this moment of crisis need to say right now?
Keep writing!
Once you have your first sentence, just follow with what your speaker says! You can write in your own voice, even if your speaker is very different than you.
Just write for as long as it takes for you to tell the story you’re trying to tell.
Just write for as long as it takes for you to tell the story you’re trying to tell.
Finished with your first draft? CONGRATULATIONS!!! Now let’s move on to revision!
