How do you start writing a play? In this workshop, students use personal experience as a springboard for generating original characters, stories, and imagery for the stage. Basic elements of playwriting are explored through in-class writing exercises and weekly writing assignments. We experiment with the possibilities of dramatic storytelling, with an emphasis on fictionalizing and transforming personal experiences and memories. Students read their own work aloud and discuss it in class and also read selections from well-known playwrights. By the end of the course, students will have completed the first draft of a one-act play or a collection of very short plays. Open to all levels, this workshop is designed to be a safe, supportive environment for a hands-on exploration of playwriting.