08 Oct I Am My Own Mentor, A True Story
So there I was, a hopeful young and aspiring Bay Area theater person, yearning to know how to write plays that people would want to put on and come see.
To have a career doing that, this was my dream. Playwrights were my heroes. I’d studied the hero’s journey. I’d seen STAR WARS a bunch of times. Where was my Obi-Wan? Who would be my Yoda? I went looking for mentors.
That famous playwright, the cowboy one, said, (insert charming drawl here) “You look too young to be writin’ a thesis ‘bout anything.”
That famous drama critic, the Theatre of the Absurd one, said, (insert Germanic accent here) “I don’t see how a play on ziss topic could possibly be interesting.”
My boss said, “You sure are putting a lot of stock in this whole Mentor thing.”
So I had to figure it out for myself. And I guess I did. I Am My Own Mentor. But it took many years, and many miles, and much trial and error.
I left the Bay Area a Promising Young Playwright. Now I’m back, and I’ve been getting a lovely, gratifying welcome. As if I were some kind of wily old veteran. The Playwrights Foundation has suggested I might like to teach some classes, talk to some newer writers, be a, what would you call it?
Well, all I’ve got to say is (insert Alec Guinness accent here):
“Obi-Wan? Now, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Long time.”
Yours truly,
Anthony Clarvoe
Anthony’s Class Training for the Marathon, Or, Full Tilt to the Finish Line, Writing a Successful Full-Length Play takes place at Playwrights Foundation’s New Play Insitute Nov. 3-Jan 26. Early Bird Discount through October 15. Class is filling quickly!
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