Writing Question: For someone interested in screenwriting, is there value in reading plays?
This question comes from GITS reader Darren McLeod:
I was going to ask you, Scott, about your opinion on reading plays. I’ve found that you can often find books of plays at thrift stores for under a dollar, and that the dialogue in plays is often sharper than in screenplays.
Obviously, the forms are very different and you need to take that into consideration, but do you find value in reading plays in addition to screenplays, or do you think it will simply confuse most screenwriters?
A shout out to all you playwrights. Or screenwriters who have a background in writing plays. What value is there for someone interested in screenwriting in studying plays? Dialogue? Characters? Conflict? Drama? Are there lessons per each of those areas — or more — from the world of playwriting for screenwriters? If so, what are they?