Why would a freelance writer spend her vacation studying playwriting?

The obvious answer is because I’m also a playwright.

Another answer:  playwrights know all about catching the reader’s interest, telling the story clearly, and keeping the reader wondering what happens next.
 
In our world of the short attention span, writers need to grab and hold an audience with every tool we can find. 
The Playwrights’ Intensive at the Metropolitan Theatre Ensemble taught me how to discover those tools.  So I’m mining the world of playwriting in order to write better brochures, fund-raising materials, marketing materials, and video scripts.  Thanks to Karen Paisley and Stuart Spencer for an amazing experience!

(If you go to the Playwrights Intensive link, you'll see a photo of me being Dead Mother.  Blue t-neck, white pants, closed eyes.)

Then I went to the Southampton Writers Conference,where Laura Maria Censabella showed me how to catch and hold the attention of an audience.  And  Jacquelyn Reingold, who writes for theatre, television, and film, taught me about the incredibly detailed structure that TV writers use.

Think about it.  TV writers have to grab you over and over again, to keep you coming back after every commercial.  After all, you can change the channel any time.  Or go get a snack.  You can even just turn the tube off.
 
It’s the same with your direct mail letter, your marketing brochure, or your website. The reader can toss it away or surf to the next site.  The writer’s job is to keep them reading. 

Did you?