Directing seven short plays at a theatre in London (each by a different writer) has taught me a lot about storytelling over the past 18 months.

I joined my first OSO Writers’ Studio writing programme in autumn 2024, which challenged me to write a 10-minute play in just seven weeks.

I entered that programme to improve my short story and novel writing in three specific ways:

1| Writing a script was a great exercise to help me stop over-writing and over-explaining in my prose.

2 | The programme’s (challenging) deadline kept me accountable to finish on-time.

3 | Having my script performed in front of a live audience, with very limited rehearsal time, forced me to get over my perfectionism.

But when I decided to direct the play myself, I pushed myself miles outside my comfort zone and had to learn a whole new style of storytelling.

Since directing six more plays for the past three Writers’ Studio shows, I’ve learned even more about storytelling by working with other writers’ scripts, collaborating with actors, working on stories that are different to my own style, catering to a live audience, and more.

My latest article shares how and why I approach directing short plays as a prose writer, and breaks down all the ways it's helped me improve my writing and storytelling.

It contains plenty of insights that will be useful not only for writers, but storytellers of all kinds.

Read it via the link below. 

I hope it’s helpful!

And in my next newsletter this week, I’ll be sharing six lessons and observations from running a new online writing group where we write together four times per week.

I’m really excited to publish that article.

Please do subscribe to ensure you don’t miss it!

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