In order to develop a guide for teaching a course on playwriting, a study reviewed related literature and conducted a survey of information and opinions from practicing playwrights. Members of the Playwrights' Union of Canada, 145 playwrights, completed a survey of ten open-ended questions describing the processes of the playwright's art, suggesting how this art can be introduced to drama students at the senior high school level, and indicating how playwriting can be related to a broad curriculum of dramatic education. Questions included: (1) What is your chief motivation for writing a play? (2) How should the student pick characters for a play? (3) What is the value of rewriting part or all of a play? and (4) Is there a set of principles that can be recommended to a teacher who is about to teach a course or unit on the processes of the playwright's art? Responses to the questions were analyzed qualitatively, and were presented along with implications for the school program, as well as guidelines for an ideal playwriting course. (Copies of the survey questionnaire, researcher's cover letter, Playwrights' Union cover letter, reminder letter, a biographical sketch of the researcher, and 43 references are appended.) (MM)