  Drama
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Drama is:
#1 - The Greek word for "action."
#2 - A real situtation or succession of events having the dramatic progression or emotional content of a play.
I'll be continuing last month's theme regarding character development in drama writing. It's time for part three - your character's background and motivation. |
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To recap our working scenerio: We've outlined a coming of age story in war torn Iraq. Private Stephanie "Stevie" Franklin is our protagonist, a go-getter. Her friend, Private Adam Banning, is a likable but unreliable friend. Staff Sergeant Jose Siliva is the sergeant in charge who is loathed.
2nd working scenerio: My story, "The Wolf's Torment." A werewolf haunts the royal family of Moldavia. Prince Mihai Sigmaringen is the protagonist.
Back story and motivation
Characters need to be able to tap into emotoin to drive a story and emotion comes from two places: the character's back story and the motivation.
Remember your protagonist is a product of their back story. The back story is necessary to understand the character they are right now. It's important to have a sense of the character's past because then you can determine how much to incorporate into your current story.
How to weave back story into your current story
#1 - THE BRIEF DETAIL: This is the easiest way. By inserting a brief detail, it doesn't interupt the story momentum.
Example: Stephanie cared about the army, her father was in Vietnam, so she was determined to do her best just like he did.
#2 - THE INSERTED PARAGRAPH: This is a little more involved and tends to interupt the momentum of the current story. If you need to use this techinque keep it to one or two paragraphs so the reader doesn't feel like they've been taken out of the current story.
#3 - THE FLASHBACK: A flashback gives the reader a scene from the past with the full dramatic effect. To use it, you, the writer, have to earn it. How do you earn it? By firmly anchoring the reader in the current story. NEVER use a flashback as an opening or a first scene. Watch your transition. A flashback could be used a dream sequence that transitions nicely from the current story, to the past, to the current story again. Remember: the character must have a narrative reason to tell the reader about this past incident.
#4 THE EXPOSITORY LUMP: How do you do this? Just stop the story cold and tell the reader the back story. There are major drawbacks to this. You lose the story's momentum, and it just might be hard to get it back. If you do this, you need to make it very interesing. If it's interesting, the reader just might stick with it.
Motivation
Motivation in a character sense means a character wants something. The "want" drives the character to do what they do. In my story, "The Wolf's Torment," Mihai wants to modernize Moldavia. that's the overwhelming driving force of his actions.
In our war story, what motivates Private Franklin? Why does she want to be in the army? What does she hope to accomplish? Is she poor? Is she in the army because she got an enlistment bonus and the army G.I. bill? Is that her motivation? Or is she following her father's footsteps? See how back story can give your character the motivation they need? 
 Next: Part 4, Complicated Characters
Source for this newsletter: "Characters, Emotions, and Viewpoint," by Nancy Kress, published by: F&W Publications, 2005.
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This week's picks focus on characterization.
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Editor's note: Taken from submissions to the drama newsletter
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Here's some comments from my Drama newsletter last month, that focused on introducing your characters.
Starr Phenix 
I am so enjoying your articles on characterization! Names are so important, and (for me) it is SO much fun picking them out! I rarely give anyone a 'shallow' name. The names of my characters always show something about them, even if it is only apparent to me.
Steph: It is fun to pick out names! I have the same mantra when it comes to picking names - I always try to have the name show a little something.
drifter46
I love naming characters. I think the name, if paid attention to, is a great way to give the reader some clue about that character whether it's background or just a tip off as to personality. About your characters now. Stephanie, or Stevie, would be somewhat of a Tomboy. In high school she was a jock and hung around the guys a lot. She may have been a loner as well since she's called Stevie and not Steph or Stephanie. Joining the Army also adds to that concept.
Adam on the other hand would have been more intellectual. The name Adam doesn't lend itself to the physical. Joining the Army for him was to prove a point or gain some confidence. And he's the opposite of Stephanie as far as outlook.
Now Jose is a "lifer". Not only because of his rank but his ethnic background would give a stereotype for that cultural. It's not correct but it does lend itself to that.
So already there's conflict between the characters and nothing has been said yet.
Steph: Perfect! I have to agree. See what we've gathered from our characters and we haven't written a word yet.
likenion
Well that was more than interesting. There is a whole philosophy behind characters. I have so much to learn. Great newsletter and thanks for all the helpful info.
Steph: Thanks for hanging out in the Drama newsletter.
SHERRI GIBSON 
Another great and informative newsletter, Steph. Research is essential in all writing genres.
Steph: Ditto, Sherri. It's the only way to really make the story feel authentic.
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StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. She received an Honorable Mention in the 75th Writer's Digest Annual Writing Contest in genre fiction for her short story, "The Music Box." Her novel, "The Wolf's Torment" recieved a 4 Star review from CLARION/ForeWord Magazine.
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Drama: September 05, 2007 Issue [#1927]
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