PLAY-WRITING CONTEST
"There'll Always Be An England" HE. CBS has received numerous inquiries from intending entrants as to whether MS for the play-writing contest, " There’ll Always Be Aa England," should be type-written. It is not necessary to type-write your play, so long as it is written legibly. Others have written asking for further hints on radio play writing. The following should be useful: In radio plays the first thing. to remember is economy of words. You must get right down to the heart of the scene being portrayed and do so without verbiage. Sentences should preferably be short, consistent with conveying the idea intended. Too many characters should not be introduced, as there is apt to be confusion in the mind of -the listener. In the case of stage or films there is additional identification by means of the eye, and consequently a number of characters can be introduced effectively; but, such technique is wrong for radio plays. In writing a radio play it is necessary to watch the construction from the point of view of balance; for instance, if you are portraying a storm, don’t hold it for an unduly long period. Unless it is essential to the atmosphere and character of the play, the listener may become weary of the incessant high tension and noise. The same observations would apply more or less to any particular mood. When concluding a scene in your play, endeavour to do so on a climax, or so arrange the dialogue that the scene would point logically to its own conclusion without waiting for the musical bridge or commentary which follows. ‘There is not much room in a radio play for subtlety; paint your canvas with bold
strokes, and remember that action is one of the most important means of doing so. The closing date of the contest is September 30, and entries are already coming in, so send along your radio play without delay. Don’t forget--it may be a quarter-hour, half-hour, or one hour play, or even thirteen episodes of thirteen minutes’ duration. The first prize is 25 guineas, second prize 10 guineas, third prize 5 guineas, and there dre ten consolation prizes of one guinea each,
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19400920.2.73
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 65, 20 September 1940, Page 47
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365PLAY-WRITING CONTEST New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 65, 20 September 1940, Page 47
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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