Notes on Monologues

Hey Guys,
These are my stream of consciousness notes on how I like to write monologues. A good prompt for thinking about this monologue might be "If only I had known..." You don't have to use it, but it might help.

Essential parts of a monologue:
The hook: Do not tell the story, start in the story. It is probably better to start ahead of the climax or point of tension, however, because of the length of monologues this stretch should not be long. You can hook in a variety of ways, not always starting in the action, startling the reader through vernacular, vocabulary, through character or plot. Remember, as “different” or “incomprehensible” to a point the opening is, the more effective it will be towards drawing people in.

The heart: develop your character through showing, not telling. Details are key here, try to make them as least cliché as you can and as authentic as you can muster. A bouquet of roses brought to a lover. Sure. A gallon of milk brought as the object of love…that’s something I’d be interested in.

The color: do not omit details, those are the things that draw people in.

Tension, climax: Because tension, in Spencer’s traditional sense, cannot be created by just one character, we must re-envision it. Perhaps it is something climactic happening in the plot, although this isn’t often the most interesting part. Most often, and most effectively, it is a whole-hearted change of perspective. (I don't love you, I don't love you, I don't love you, I do! OR We all like you, we all like you, we all like you, now we don't)

End: in my beginning is my end.

Notes:
**Stream of consciousness helps in first draft, definitively does not help in editing.
**Movement: Sometimes its helpful to envision yourself saying your monologue onstage. Some stories are very physical, how would you add physical theatre and drama to your piece?
** try to keep to: 1000 words