The Best New Playwriting Books To Read In 2025

Adam Szymkowicz is that rarest of things: a full-time playwright. In an era when the business of live theatre seems perpetually on the verge of implosion, most dramatists survive only through soul-sucking day jobs, the largesse of patrons or their own families, or writing for television. Szymkowicz has carved out a distinctive niche for himself without relying on big institutions or the brass ring of a mega-hit Broadway production. Each year, his body of work—over thirty sharp, funny, pop-culture-inflected plays animated by an unabashed romanticism—is staged everywhere from big-city theatres to colleges and high schools.

In Letters to a Young Playwright, Szymkowicz dispenses hard-earned, unsentimental, and entertaining advice to early-career dramatists. Modeled on Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, it covers topics like writer’s block, self-promotion, and the pluses and minuses of pivoting to Hollywood in insightful and digestible short essays. Perfect for beginning playwrights as well as mid-career writers looking to reinvigorate their craft and career, it contains endlessly useful advice and reflections from one of the most-produced living playwrights in America.

Most playwrights are unaware of the Principles of Playwriting, and because of this, they are unable to write a great play or even come close. Much like the Inuit, who live in Northern Canada, who have over 50 different words and distinctions for the thing we call snow, learning these Principles of Playwriting, these production based distinctions of play creation, will transform your playwriting and your playwriting career forever.

You will see and understand playwriting in an entirely different way, and if you put these 10 Principles of Playwriting into action, you will take your playwriting to the next level, whether you are novice or a seasoned pro! This book is essential reading for any playwright who is serious about a playwriting career. Written by Ken Wolf, Artistic Director, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Playwright, Off-Broadway Director and Producer, and Host of The Playwriting Podcast, this book is this a call for ACTION for Playwrights worldwide, and it is delightfully bookended with real life play production stories. Come learn a better way to write a play!

Do you just sit and stare at your computer when it's time to write a 10 minute play? Ken Wolf, Playwright, Artistic Director, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway Director and Producer, Host of The Playwriting Podcast, and author of How to Write a Fantastic Play in 28 Days, now offers a new way to Write a Fantastic 10 Minute Play in only 2 Hours, which is easy and fun! 10 minute plays are very popular today at theatre festivals, and they are a great way to "get in the door" at theatres around the world. What you will learn:A clear, detailed road map to write a Fantastic 10 Minute Play in 2 hours.

The Five Types of 10 Minute plays and how to choose the right type for you.How to create specific and compelling characters.A technique to write better and faster than ever before.How to use the Four 10 Minute editing questions to edit your play.How to integrate action, events and lifelines into every scene.And ultimately, you will learn a new way of writing a Fantastic 10 minute play that will increase your 10 minute playwriting productivity 10 fold! Ken also shares a very funny personal story of working with Anthony J. Ribustello of The Sopranos TV show, as they worked together on Ken's play, CONVERSATIONS WITH DOG, over 10 years, which will inspire you to dive into your playwriting and get your 10 minute plays produced! This book is for new playwrights, who have never written a 10 minute play, and for seasoned pros who take days and weeks to write a 10 minute play. It is time to do something different. It's time to Write a Fantastic 10 Minute Play in 2 Hours! Ken Wolf is an Off-Broadway director and producer and the Artistic Director of Manhattan Rep. He has written over 20 plays, all produced in New York City. He has also directed over 100 productions. As Artistic Director at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, with his partner, Jennifer Pierro, he has produced over 1000 full length plays and over 6000 short pieces. Ken hosts The Playwriting Podcast, which was voted the #1 Playwriting podcast in the world. He is a also a Playwriting Coach and a Play Production “Doctor.”. His One Man play THE PEOPLE IN MY HIPS was hailed by Martin Denton of nytheatre.com as being “unlike any theatre piece I have ever seen.” And Lise Avery of Anything Goes!! Internationally Syndicated Radio said “THE PEOPLE IN MY HIPS is one of the most extraordinary pieces of theatre I have seen on or Off-Broadway in years. Mr. Wolf’s one-man performance is exquisite, inspiring, courageous and beautifully constructed.” Ken also received rave reviews with his amazing 8lb dog Roma Pierro-Wolf, in his play DAD AND THE DOG, New York City’s first One Man One Dog show. He lives with his partner in life and Manhattan Rep, the incredible Jennifer Pierro and the adorable Roma Pierro-Wolf in Manhattan.