The frame work was constructed, the plot was elaborated, the characters were ready for his use.
He wrote a play of something with which he was thoroughly familiar---college life.

The author or play-maker of ability who writes of that with which he is familiar stands a good chance of making a success.

Young and inexperienced writers love to write of those things with which they are unfamiliar, and they wonder why it is that they fail.
They go too far away from home for their subject.
At first Frank's play was not a success.

The moment he discovered this he set himself down to find out why it was not a success.

He did not look at it as the author, but as a critical manager to whom it had been offered might have done.
He found the weak spots.