Writing the Absurd, Doubting Your Talent, and Recognizing Gifts and Weaknesses - Playwright's Spotlight with James Merolla

Send us Fan MailPlaywright James Merolla streamed onto Playwright's Spotlight. We had an engaging and honest conversation about his background as a director and a theatre reviewer and how that eventually led to becoming a playwright. We discuss his struggles with rejection and doubting your talent and being a late-starting and older playwright and eventual successes. We also talk about the lack of feedback in rejection, knowing what festivals your work is appropriate for, recognizing gifts and weaknesses, and the possibility of self-producing and success in smaller markets. James has a big voice and is an  intimidating force whose energy never lets down. Enjoy.James Merolla is a playwright, director, theatrical reviewer, and journalist. Plays include Ball of String, Veil, Lady Well, Night, Mare, Pubs & Publicans, Jane Austen Ruptured My Spleen, and a Noir-styled one-act featuring the characters of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and the 100-acre woods. Comic. His play ‘Poetry on the Menu’ was selected as a radio play to be aired in November with Open Door Playhouse in Los Angeles. It was also a finalist in the OWL Lab contest in New Bedford, Mass. and “Jane Austen Ruptured My Spleen,” was given an honorarium and June staged reading at the LAVA Center in Greenfield, Mass. He is an English and American Literature major from Harvard University.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/aCY_kKPvhNwLinks to resources mentioned in this episode - LAVA Center - https://thelavacenter.orgSherman Players - https://shermanplayers.org/Playwright's Bill of Rights - https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rightsNew Play Exchange - newplayexchange.orgWebsites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods                  - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods       - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show