Notes on Chicago in Winter (Part Two)

December 21st, 2008Blog0 comments

I was in Chicago workshopping a play. What this means is that every morning I’d get up early and spend the day doing rewrites. Then go into the theater to work with the cast, director, dramaturg and run scenes. Then afterwards I’d go back, do more rewrites until late at night, and then go to sleep. Then repeat the next day and the next for about a week.

I really like doing rewrites — that’s when I’ve got my technician hat on, which is my second favorite hat to wear. It’s the part of the process where I learn the most, and learning is incredibly important in this line of work.

They put me in a four bedroom apartment in Lincoln Park. I had the whole place to myself. It was huge yet cozy.

It’s important that I have a view while I work. I like to be able to see the world going about its business outside while I work inside. It reminds me of what this whole business is all about.

For me, the rewriting process goes like this: 1. Identify the problem. 2. “Write into it”, scribbling notes, posing questions to myself and answering them on paper in my notebook. 3. Stare out the window. 4. Get an idea, work it out on paper. 5. Do the rewrites.

There can be no rewrites without a window to stare out of.