Hello fellow writers. Can you relate to this? A while ago I had my peer writer's group critique my play manuscript. We meet every Monday night at a back table in a local restaurant, and over dinner, review two submissions. The six other people in the group are writing novels and have no experience with playwrighting, but, sports that they are, agreed to give it a shot. Well, considering they are rookies, I thought they were pretty good. They pointed out character and plot weaknesses and red-penciled dialogue that didn't work.

   Soon after, my play, a prison drama based on my experiences teaching in prison, got picked up for production by a local non-profit anti-crime agency. Wow! I was excited!! I began to think the script should be seen by a professional group for proper editing, so yesterday I had my conference with a playwright from a well-known NY based writing school. Okay. I'll bet you're thinking my peer group did just as well or better than the pro. Uh-uh. As it turned out, they scored a bull's eye on whatever they noticed. However, that was only half the picture. The playwright showed me that there was no dramatic arc in the development of the two main characters -- a common mistake of beginning playwrights. He told me how to fix it, and pointed out other weaknesses. All in all, to follow his suggestions will mean revising 60% of my play!! Sounds formidable, but the lesson learned: sometimes you have to go to a professional -- if you want a professional product. Guess I'll be strapped to my desk for the next several months.