by Tee O’Neill Ph.D.
Writing the Biographical Drama
An Essential Guide for Playwrights and Screenwriters
Biographical dramas have entertained and enlightened audiences for centuries. They are still in high demand, being among the most profitable genres for stage and screen today.
First edition purchase links:
Second edition arriving in 2025
So why is there a dearth of books to guide playwrights and screenwriters who want to write a successful, engaging biographical drama?
Writing the Biographical Drama, by Edward Albee Award-winning and internationally acclaimed playwright, Dr. Tee O’Neill, fills that void. O’Neill offers a thoughtful, artfully written, practical, and academically rich book designed to equip writers to grow in the craft of writing biographical dramas.
All scripts are challenging to write, but writing about real people presents unique challenges. This book is designed to help writers overcome those challenges and produce a successful script for plays, television, and film.
By reading this book, writers will:
· Uncover the human traits that make biographical dramas so powerful and popular
· Gain insights about the creative process from renowned writers, such as Peter Morgan and José Rivera—all interviewed by Dr. O’Neill
· Learn how to select a person as a subject for a biographical play or film
· Explore the dynamics of research: where to start, what to look for, and when to stop
· Practice Dr. O’Neill’s writing principles with enjoyable exercises designed to inspire creativity
The book offers readers a holistic view of the entire creative process of writing a biographical drama. For accomplished screen and stage writers as well as new writers, this book is invaluable for anyone who hopes to transform a true story into a beautiful drama for stage or screen.
About the Author
Tee O’Neill (PhD) is an Edward Albee Award-winning playwright and lecturer in scriptwriting and dramatic structure. Her plays have been performed around the world. She lives on a farm in the Yarra Valley of Australia with five cows, five horses, two dogs, and one husband. You can read more about Tee or contact her at: www.teeoneill.com
What People Are Saying
“This book is a beautifully rendered journey into the joys, challenges, secrets, and time-tested methods of writing biographical dramas for the stage and cinema. Inspiring and wonderfully practical, this is the manual any writer, no matter the level of achievement, can turn to when wrestling with such questions as: how do I make my story relevant to today? What is the relationship between research and creativity? How much of myself can I pour into the life of this famous (or infamous) person? How do I explore a historical character’s fatal flaws? The book includes scores of examples derived from the work of such greats as Harold Pinter, David Mamet, David Hare, and Suzan-Lori Parks, but some of the best help comes from O’Neill’s meticulous and eye-opening analysis of her own biographical dramas: about footballer Ron Barassi, landscape designer Edna Walling, and musician John Lennon. Her insights into crafting her own award-winning biographical dramas are treasures.”
— JOSÉ RIVERA, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED SCREENWRITER OF THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES AND OBIE AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT
“Writing the Biographical Drama deeply and precisely describes the dilemmas and opportunities of writing a biographical script for theater or screen. Both playwrights and screenwriters will benefit from and be inspired by reading this book."
— Motti Lerner, award-winning international playwright
"How to write from real life, from real events, and keep it truthful and vital and fascinating? This is the book we've been waiting for."
— Patricia Cornelius, co-founder of Melbourne Workers Theatre and award-winning author of more than twenty plays
Copyright © 2021 Tee O’Neill
Published by Upriver Press
Cover design: James Clarke (UK)
jclarke.net
ISBN paperback: 979-8-9906236-0-6
ISBN Ebook: 979-8-9906236-1-3
196 pages