The twelve chapters of this book provide a complete survey of every step in playwriting from the germination of an idea to its complete development into a theatrical production. The book covers the basics of writing for theatre, creating characters in conflict, plots and subplots, structure and dialog and winning an audience. Cassady provides some basic rules but the reader learns most from the countless examples and anecdotal illustrations from amateur and professional playwrights. A basic text on the art of playwriting.

Twelve chapters: Germination, The Creative State, Getting Ideas, Beginning a Script, Some Basics, Dramatic Structure, Dramatic Structure II, Audience and Theme, Characterizations, Dialog, Planning and Revising, Producing and Publishing.