“A detailed, soup-to-nuts primer on the art, craft, and business of writing short drama.” —Jim Wicker, Dramaturg, Literary Manager, Radio Theatre Project

“An impressive work and a great resource. Zachary Michael Jack…gives readers the guidance they need to write their own scripts.” —Jo Ann Katz, Actor, Director, Producer, Northport Plays

“Of the many submissions I have seen over the last twenty years I wish quite a few of them would have read a book like On Script.” —Brad Slavik, Actor, Director, First Run Theatre

“…A practical and creative guide to starting, building, and promoting a script. The writing prompts and exercises are invaluable.” —Jody Hovland, Founding Artistic Director, Riverside Theatre

Tired of self-promoting gurus touting easy “secrets”? In On Script seasoned scriptwriter, author, and educator Zachary Michael Jack explains step-by-step how successful Creatives write, edit, pitch, polish, and produce dramatic work. Packed with authoritative commentary, prompts, and advice, On Script is the perfect read for emerging and established writers in the Digital Age.

Part One, “The Process,” covers the fundamentals of successful scripts staged from Broadway to low-budget Indie theatres. How does the writer mine personal experience to create compelling work? What habits consistently generate new material for production? How can stage dialogue and plot better reflect how we speak, move, and interact? How can AI and other emerging technologies be harnessed to inform original scripts? Part Two, “The Products,” offers in-depth coverage of today’s multimedia, multigenre landscape, from comedic monologues to multi-character plays, to teleplays, stage and screen literary adaptations, and sketches for radio and audio podcast. Part Two culminates with a hands-on workshop, analyzing scripts crafted by contemporary practitioners to detail the specific strengths that helped each reach production.

On Script is the ideal handbook for dedicated writers seeking a virtuoso skillset and a deeper appreciation of the dramatic tradition, from Sophocles to sitcoms.