December is the ideal month to start thinking about what you’ve done well over the past year, what you could have done better, and most importantly: how you can change next year to help hit your goals.
With that in mind, here are my top 12 tips to help you become a better playwright in 2025–one for each month of the year:
## January ##
Finish the play you’re working on now.
This might be the #1 thing separating pros from wanna-be’s. Most people who start writing a play never finish. But if you want to see your work up onstage, finishing that play is the first step to getting there.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.
## February ##
Put that play in a drawer.
Before you start revising, let your work sit a while so that you’ll be able to see it more objectively.
And in the meantime…
## March ##
Take a playwriting class!
Taking a course is a great way to expand your skills. Did you know PSH offers a course taught by our professional Playwright-in-Residence, Andy Black?
Check it out here: https://playsubmissionshelper.com/get-playwriting-course/
## April ##
Get feedback on your work.
If you have access to a workshop, join it! If not, get a few friends you trust to read your work and let you know their thoughts.
You don’t have to agree with what they say, but you DO have to be open to their feedback and seeing your work from a new perspective.
## May ##
Set up a table read of your play.
Seeing your work acted out loud, even if it’s just a table read, can go a long way in helping you to see what’s working and what still needs tightened up.
## June ##
Revise with specific actors’ voices in mind.
This is one of my favorite revision techniques, and can really help your characters come alive.
Ideally, you can use some of the friends or actors from your table read; but if not, feel free to use celebrity actors.
Jack Nicholson is a great choice for a unique voice.
## July ##
Submit your play to theatres looking for new work!
The best play in the world will never get produced if you don’t send it out. Remember to check out PSH’s submission opportunities here: https://playsubmissionshelper.com/blog/
## August ##
Take an acting class.
Seeing how the theatrical process works from an actor’s point of view can be an incredibly helpful way to improve your ability to write plays.
As a bonus, you’ll make friends and meet more theatre people!
## September ##
Start something new–and different.
Sometimes, getting stuck on the same play can become counterproductive. You might find that starting a new play that is completely different can free your creativity in wonderfully unexpected ways.
## October ##
Write every day.
## November ##
Write every day.
## December ##
Write every day.
It’s what writers do, after all.
Obviously, you don’t need to follow this exact schedule. But consider some of the suggestions above–they’ve all made a huge impact on my development as a playwright, and I believe they’ll do the same for you.