5 Plays I Started But Scraped
This is the most public it has gone since living inside my Google Drive.
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Hello! Welcome to my weekly newsletter!
Enjoy a dose of my playwriting process,
writing confessions, and all the mess in between.
We all have those ideas and those plays that really never went anywhere. Maybe I finished it, maybe I didn’t. Maybe it stayed as just an idea. Maybe I’ll revisit it in due time. Who knows? These are all questions I refuse to answer.
And this is normal! If an idea is just not working, don’t force it to work.
It just means it wasn’t meant to be. You need some kind of gusto, some fiery burning passion in the story you want to tell. And if it’s, as the youngins say, sending you. Just scrap it and don’t think about it. Trust me.
And to inspire you, here’s 5 of them:
1. 31 Years in 56 Minutes
What’s it about: A man goes for therapy for the first time ever and his entire life is laid out in front of him — transparent, raw, and painful.
How far I got: 15 pages
Why I stopped: It was going anywhere. It was kinda uninspiring.
Probability of restarting: 5%
2. Dinner at Chows
What’s it about: A multi-racial family drama (I forgot the core idea. It’s been so long)
How far I got: The family tree lol
Why I stopped: Drawing the family tree tired me tf out and I didn’t actually have an idea. I had a concept. So it didn’t quite go anywhere.
Probability of restarting: 40% — once I find an idea
3. Aunty Flora
What’s it about: A grandmother who’s living her life out, struggles with loneliness and reconnecting with her daughter, tells her life story to her grandson who’s here for a visit.
How far I got: 4 pages
Why I stopped: Lack of structure — I didn’t know where it was going.
Probability of restarting: I actually forgot about this play. Now I think about it, I may try to bring it back. So… 70%?
4. The Flood
What’s it about: A family gets stuck on a roof during a flood. Horrifying secrets are revealed when the human psyche is pushed to the brink because of circumstances.
How far I got: Been writing since 2019. I’ve had 2 public readings. Many edits, many feedbacks, up to Draft 9.
Why I stopped: I needed to take a break from it after the last feedback I got. It was REALLY good feedback but it needed me to go in an reengineer the whole play.
Probability of restarting: 100% I’ve been cooking it for a long time in my brain, dormant but never forgotten. I’m waiting for a lightbulb moment.
5. Love, Sex, and Corporate Slavery
What’s it about: A compilation of vignettes about the truth behind relationships in multiple settings and how it’s fragility is so grey.
How far I got: 18 pages (pretty much 80% complete, since it’s physical theatre based)
Why I stopped: No real reason. Just pivoted to something else cos that was more exciting for now.
Probability of restarting: Hinges if I get invited for a festival. If I do, I will complete it. Won’t take long or much.
So if you’re struggling with an idea, scrap it! WHO CARES! Unless it’s a commission, then please complete it.
If not, tell the story YOU want.
Don’t be stubborn. Or do… Whatever.
Tease us with your an unfinished title?
Bleep words if you don’t wanna share the full thing. ;)