When children write plays, their wishes, fears, and secrets face an audience. An audience is not a do-gooder making nice. It is not an authority figure with a grudge against one's race or class. When it laughs at the jokes or applauds, it can be trusted. It is saying this play--and by extension its author--fits into the world on its own terms. In effect, each young playwright declares, "This is who I am. I count." The audience, in its turn, validates that assessment. This article introduces playmaking, an engaging and dynamic method of playwriting for young people. It consists of five parts: (1) exploring the subconscious; (2) developing characters; (3) choosing the setting; (4) writing the play; and (5) performing the plays. The five parts of playmaking are discussed.