I’m reading Playwriting: Writing, Producing and Selling Your Play by Louis E. Catron.
I’m on chapter eight and writing out the scenario for my one-man play. What’s the basic conflict?
What does the protagonist want? I want to be happy. I want to connect with others. Who’s the antagonist? Me. My sloppy selfish ways. What’s my conflict? My good side versus my bad side.
Pursuing what I want doesn’t quite work for me because much of what I want is not good for me. So, the basic conflict of my play is within myself — will I get serious about getting the help I need so that I can lead a life with at least normal levels of attachment. Will I come to see the role I play in creating my own misery? What stops me from connecting? It’s easier to imagine my problems as the result of bad luck. It’s easier to see myself as a heroic blogger, battling the forces of oppression and corruption. My true greatness is about to blossom if I can just get a little more of my own way.
How long till the pain that results from doing things my way becomes so severe that I am willing to seek help to change? What stops me from achieving the connection I want?
When did I develop the sloppy habits that have haunted me my whole life? I was born with these habits and resisted the attempts of others to knock them out of me. I just want to do what I want to do and screw everyone else until they hurt me so bad that I become willing to change to make my life easier.