Gotta write a play!

I'm taking a writers workshop class, and I love to write short stories and poetry, but there is this rule that you have to submit 4 different kinds of writing. I've written an obituary (cheery, I know) and I think my only other option is to write a play. I read the resource on it but I have some questions. Should I plan more before I start writing (I usually don't in stories. How long is a short, maybe one or two short act play? How many words, pages etc?

Basically what are do I have to do differently to effectively use this medium?

I don't know much (well, anything, really), about writing scripts, but it's always important that things are formatted properly. So you might need to research how to set up the stage directions, dialogue, character's names etc.

Okay! So, I wrote a radio script. Not exactly a play, but whatever. Anyway, a page (correctly formatted) is generally one minute, if it's straight dialogue.

If it's NOT straight dialogue, then you'll have to time it.

But just be a lot more mindful of the time! And use actions to your advantage.

It's going to be okay!

I have an article on how to format stage plays, in particular. If you didn't see that one already, I can pull the link up for you.

I've written two one act plays. The first one way about 6 pages, I think, and the second was somewhere around 7 or 8 pages. I didn't really plan them either, and for the second one I edited it about three times in one week while it was in production, thanks to advise from my director/supervisor. As long as you've got a good idea that works good when viewed, you'll do wonderful. Stage plays aren't so hard actually, because there's a lot less to write than normal. although, I always left room for my actors/director to step in and add their own opinions, so mine were minimal in stage directs and cues unless they were absolutely necessary.

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This is a link to my group about script writing. Maybe it can help?

There are tons of brilliant articles and so on over at http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/ and there might still be some life on the forums. Also, if you want an easy way to get the formatting that you need, Celtx is a great script writing program and it's free.