Help with writing a monologue?

Based on my experiences i used to follow these steps to create or to write a good and dramatic monologue and here are also the Stage Fright Strategies to help you.here are the steps:

Steps on how to write a monologue

Step 1.Study examples of interior monologues by great writers such as James Joyce, William Faulkner and Joseph Heller. Copy the parts you like from these passages by hand so you get the rhythm of the language.

Step 2.Identify the character you think would suit a monologue. Because this is a device for introspection, a superficial character who doesn't reflect on her actions or beliefs isn't suitable for an interior monologue.

Step 3.Work on developing your chosen character. You must know his mind well. An interior monologue reveals what the character thinks and feels about a particular situation, person or issue and what motivates his actions.

Step 4.Decide why you want to portray the character's thoughts in an interior monologue. This will help focus the monologue topic. You can expand on a major theme of the your story, highlight an important character trait or discuss other characters through the eyes of your monologue subject.

Step 5.Find the place(s) most suitable for an interior monologue. Keep in mind that they slow down the plot, so they work best as a breather between action scenes.

Step 6.Write the draft of your monologue. Let yourself write freely about the topic the character is reflecting on. It takes a lot of digging to get to the jewels.

Step 7.Set your monologue aside for at least a day, preferably longer. When you go back to it, cut out words that blur the main issue. Make your monologue as short as possible to convey what you want to say.

Stage Fright Strategies

Visualization strategies that can be used anytime

 Concentrate on how good you are.

 Pretend you are just chatting with a group of friends.

 Close your eyes and imagine the audience listening, laughing, and

applauding.

 Remember happy moments from your past.

 Think about your love for and desire to help the audience.

 Picture the audience in their underwear.

Strategies in advance of program

 Be extremely well prepared.

 Join or start a Toastmasters club for extra practice

 Get individual or group presentation skills coaching.

 Listen to music.

 Read a poem.

 Anticipate hard and easy questions.

 Organize.

 Absolutely memorize your opening statement so you can recite it on autopilot if you have to.

 Practice, practice, practice. Especially practice bits so you can spit out a few minutes of your program no matter how nervous you are.

 Get in shape. I don't know why it helps stage fright, but it does.

Strategies just before the program

Remember Stage fright usually goes away after you start. The tricky time is before you start.

 Be in the room at least an hour early if possible to triple check everything. You can also schmooze with participants arriving early.

 Notice and think about things around you.

 Concentrate on searching for current and immediate things that are

happening at the event that you can mention during your talk (especially in the opening).

 Get into conversation with people near you. Be very intent on what they are saying.

 Yawn to relax your throat.

 Doodle.

 Draw sketches of a new car you would like to have.

 Look at your notes.

 Put pictures of your kids/grandkids, dog, etc., in your notes.

 Build a cushion of time in the day so you are not rushed but not too much time. You don't want to have extra time to worry.

 If your legs are trembling, lean on a table, sit down, or shift your legs.

 Take a quick walk.

 Take quick drinks of tepid water.

 Double check your A/V equipment.

 Don't drink alcohol or coffee or tea with caffeine.

 Concentrate on your ideas.

 Hide notes around the stage area so you know you have a backup if you happen to draw a blank.

 Concentrate on your audience.

 Listen to music.

 Read a poem.

 Do isometrics that tighten and release muscles.

 Shake hands and smile with attendees before the program.

 Say something to someone to make sure your voice is ready to go.

The best monologues are stories. What is a typical day for Rita? Tell a story, as Rita, about a day from school when she was a teenager. Tell a story about how she met her husband, what their first date was, or how she knew she was going to marry him. Make sure there is a beginning, middle and an end. Good monologues keep us interested and keep moving. If you keep the mantra 'this happened to me' and just write it, you can edit it later and make it even better.