Without a doubt, the #1 most common question that people ask writers is:
"Where do you get your ideas?"
We get them, of course, everywhere. From snippets of overheard dialogue. From images of a forboding landscape. From a relationship dynamic between two friends. From a crazy "what if" idea. From watching a play that we would have taken in a completely different direction.
Ideas are everywhere.
In a way, deciding what your play is going to be about is sometimes the easy part. Because you've probably got a half-dozen ideas for plays you could write. And if you don't, I bet you could come up with that many in an hour or less.
This is one area of playwriting where, I think, we sometimes go too fast. In other words, I think many playwrights start writing their play too quickly--before settling on the absolute best idea they can come up with.
Think about it this way. When you start writing a play, how long does it take you to finish it? Three months? Six months? Longer?
That's a significant time investment.
And because of that, I believe it's worth taking extra time--more time than most playwrights take--to consciously brainstorm more play ideas and come to a careful decision about which is the most promising, the most intriguing, or the most interesting to you.
Don't settle for a so-so premise.
I don't have any magic bullets for achieving this. For one thing, everyone's taste is subjective, which means an amazing premise to me might only be a so-so premise to you, and vice versa.
But I can say that if there's one thing that has always helped me to improve my play ideas, it's time.
When I dedicate more time to consciously developing more ideas, and giving my brain time to noodle on them, I always end up with a play idea that I'm much more excited about.
And speaking of play ideas, the PSH Playwriting Course has an entire lesson on coming up with--and developing--better play ideas. Plus, it also contains a 5-part video series with 5 places to look for better ideas.
The machine asked me to verify that I am indeed, human.