Writing Monologues
Types of Monologues include:
1- Autobiographical narrative. Recalling stories and events from your own life.
2- Autobiographical character. Telling stories from your life using multiple characters.
3- Character driven fictional. Multiple characters. Imaginary story. To express a theme perhaps.
4- Reality based docu-monologues. Created from real life events. Use exact words from the people involved. 9-11, D-Day, or Columbine for example.
5- Topical Monologue. Similar to stand-up. Events of the day seen thru the eyes of the monologist.
6- Storytelling monologues. Fictional stories performed by actor. Usually narrative, often with in character bits thrown in the mix.
- Access your private stories, memories, and points of view and put them into words.
- Observe people. Listen to them talk. Develop your ear for dialogue. Use your imagination to put them into situations.
- Learn to access your own truth, and utilize it as a writer.
- Think of writing as like talking to yourself.
- A tape recorder can be an effective way to develop material.
- Use your observations of the real world. Examine your imaginary world.
- Photographs, paintings, and newspaper articles can be very useful.
- Improvisation is an excellent way to develop material.
Questions Every Monologue Must Answer:
1- Who is your character? History, appearance, social standing, family, job etc.
2- What are the problems and complications that arise for this character?
3- When does the monologue take place? What time of day? Present, past, or future.
4- Where are we? Specify the exact setting.
5- Why does the character speak? What does he want?
6- How does your character resolve the complications you have set up?
You must know specifically to whom your character is talking.
Your character must have a goal. An ambition. An objective.
What does your character want?
