The Playlet Challenge

In a foolish attempt to challenge myself creatively, I'm embarking on a challenge to turn 52 ideas into 52 different creations that I call "Playlets."

JUNE UPDATE: I thought that I could take 1 idea off my list each week and turn it into reality. However, after just a few weeks, I've realized that's too much to ask of myself at this time. I've created this challenge and will be revisiting it at another time. 
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1 item. 1 world. 1 page.

Over the past, I don't know, forevers, I've been taking notes on creative ideas that have come up from daily conversations with people. Funny moments, memorable characters, interesting concepts, intriguing titles, and more. I've been compiling and categorizing them in a notebook on my phone, and I chose 52 extra special ones that I want to explore further.

​Mae Jamison once said,

I like to think of ideas as potential energy. They're really wonderful, but nothing will happen until we risk putting them into action.

I'm going to expand the characters, the titles, the gags, and the concepts into simple 500-word scripts, 1-3 minute videos, 1-3 minute songs, or sketched drawings. I'll share them on this website, YouTube, Instagram, and/or Facebook. So you're bound to see them eventually.

Of course, there will be hiccups, but I really want to challenge myself to continue to create! Who knows what will happen!? I certainly don't! To keep me in check, here's the list of all 52 challenge items, and you're welcome to try it with me. Here goes!

1. Say Farewell to the Past
2. Sing about Odysseus’ Dead Sailors
3. Create a character named Grandma Mime-uh
4. Write a story about an intern who works only on commas
5. Draw a picture of a man wearing boxing gloves and roller skating shirtless in downtown
6. Write a monologue about a child who was named after both parents (Samantha and Samuel)
7. Write a film treatment about a girl with stage fright who dreams of being in a play
8. Draw a picture of Mayor Maynotbewearingpants
9. Sing about the four types of romantic relationships you know best
10. Write a poem about what makes you an emotional specialist
11. Write a screenplay in an office where the IT guy is a cardboard cutout
12. Conduct yoga exercises in a place they don’t belong
13. Record your father-in-law’s favorite pizza story
14. Sing an improvised opera duet with nonsense lyrics to the tune of Rossini’s Semiramide
15. Write the first scene of a play called “I Can’t Write My Own Story”
16. Write a poem about how time does not always equal love
17. Ask 50 friends for a one-liner and compile them into an absurd scene
18. Write a short story about a church mall where you can shop for your religion
19. Argue about purpose with an artist and a businessperson; compile your findings
20. Write a play about the loss of color
21. Make a video of an awkward party interaction where you crawl underneath a conversation
22. Write a short story about the Privacy Bar being lowered so people expect loss of privacy
23. Make a video of a fight scene about to happen when one party breaks into a sword dance
24. Put one of your previous playlets through Google Translate; reform into a new story
25. Explain how hair helps absorb strength. More hair = more strength.
26. Write down all the steps it takes to read a book. Give them to someone, and watch them try
27. Write about your perspective on race
28. Sing hymns about superheroes
29. Make a video about the Lord of the Hula Hoop
30. Create a character who has Too Many Pockets
31. Have an Epiphany because of Cashews
32. Write a screenplay called “A Donut Affair”
33. Make a video about an unusual delivery
34. Write the first scene of a play called “Waiting for Google”
35. Write a poem called “Learning to be Mediocre”
36. Gather with friends and create a holiday show called “A Midwinter Night’s Spectacular”
37. Sing about “Me, You, and the Group”
38. At a double date, order Manhattan’s and try to drink the stir sticks as straws
39. Dance to “One” using finger dancers with golden feet painted on the nails
40. Write the treatment for a film about a tornado in Tracy, MN in 1968
41. Compile the possible gags that could happen at a clown’s funeral
42. Write a scene about a soldier’s son imagining what war is like without dialogue
43. Make a video about The Boredom Gap; fighting a battle against using a cell phone.
44. Write a passionate love letter, and have someone read it emotionlessly
45. Write the final scene of a movie where the entire film was just a guy having deja vu
46. Ask kids why they like their favorite color
47. Write a scene about two clowns hiding from snipers
48. Make a video about how a man’s life is nearly perfect; except for his hair
49. Write a scene about a 911 operator
50. Draw a picture of a fast-moving sloth named Krissy
51. Write a children’s story about shadows being real
52. Explain how children are grown by planting adult hair in the ground and feet come up first​

Click here for Playlet #1!