Michael R. Jackson: The Craft
Michael R Jackson - photo by Joey Stocks
Michael R Jackson. Photo by Joey Stocks for The Dramatist.

Once you have an idea, how do you proceed? Do you take notes? Do you outline? Do you plunge right in?

Depending on the scope of the idea, I might write a scene, find a song moment (or part of a song moment) to write. I might take notes or outline if I think it will help me organize my thoughts for the scene or song.

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Michael R. Jackson
Michael R. Jackson

is an American playwright, composer, and lyricist. He is originally from Detroit, MI, and holds a BFA in Playwriting and an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Among many awards, his musical A Strange Loop won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 2022 Tony for Best Musical.