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Drama: July 29, 2020 Issue [#10297]




 This week: Face Your Emotions
  Edited by: NaNoKit Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

It's not always easy to allow yourself to feel. However, it is essential.

This week's Drama Newsletter, then, is all about facing your emotions.

NaNoKit Author Icon


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

I feel that I have to be honest with you: I am not that good at writing drama. In fact, I try to avoid it. For years now, I have even gone out of my way to avoid content of a dramatic nature, be it in the form of a movie, a novel, or a TV series. Drama confronts me with the reality of human nature, with its beauty and its darkness, with all the pain, and fear, and love, and passion that are part of daily life. And sometimes I can’t bring myself to deal with that.

Why, then, do I write for this newsletter? I wasn't always this way. And I believe that it is time for a change. As a reader, it’s good to try out different genres. As a writer it’s important to experiment. As a person, it’s interesting to analyse why I shy away from drama. To say that I don’t want to read a book or watch a movie just because I think it will make me cry is simply not a good enough reason. I can always invest in a box of tissues. So, what is it about drama that’s so daunting?

I remember reading The Green Mile by Stephen King. Though King tends to write horror novels, I think The Green Mile crosses over into the drama genre. I spent the entire final chapter in tears and I am not ashamed to admit it. The Chamber by John Grisham had a similar effect on me. And don’t get me started on movies – from E.T. to Forrest Gump to The Lion King, I soon turn into a crying wreck. I’m the only person I know who thought Happy Feet was utterly depressing.

I tend to avoid movies with animal characters because whoever makes these decisions seems to think they're excellent fodder for whatever shock factor they have in mind. I won’t go anywhere near Marley and Me. I still remember watching Ben; for several hours afterwards I felt distraught.

I think it’s fair to say that I’m a wuss. That’s why there came a point when I decided that to maintain some dignity I should stick with nice, easy, happy, funny movies and novels - it’s safer that way. I wouldn’t embarrass myself in company and wouldn’t have to explain why, when all I’m doing is reading a book, my face is scrunched up and my eyes are puffy.

The thing is that when you avoid drama, you are, in a way, avoiding an important aspect of life. Drama is about emotion, from true joy to deep, utter despair. Drama taps into reality, and reality isn’t always cute and cuddly. It isn’t always happy and bouncy. To try and deny this might work for some, but not when you want to be a writer. Writers have to understand these things if they’re ever going to create believable characters. Readers need to be able to relate.

To be a writer you have to be able to tackle topics and issues that you might not be entirely comfortable with. In fact, if something does make you uncomfortable, it helps to gain an understanding of why this is so, because then you can draw from the experience. The more you learn, the more you grow, the more you analyse the world around you and the world within, the better the writer you can become.

Good drama writers understand this. They know exactly how to trigger emotions and pull on the heartstrings. That’s what makes their work effective. If their story leads to a shrug of the shoulders, and leaves readers cold, they’ll soon be without an audience.

I realise that the majority of the movies and books I mentioned are not actually classed as your typical drama story. They only contain aspects of the genre, but then again, a blend of genres is quite common. I guess I haven’t merely been avoiding drama, but anything that I suspected of potentially triggering certain feelings.

You can’t escape emotion, no matter how hard you try. And why should tears be embarrassing anyway? If drama mirrors life, and life consists of laughter and tears, darkness and hope, bring it on.

Drama writers, I salute you.

NaNoKit Author Icon



Editor's Picks

Some contests to inspire you:

FORUM
No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less.
#2079495 by Cackling QPdoll Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by Sophurky Author IconMail Icon


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This item number is not valid.
#2162300 by Not Available.


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Daily Poem Open in new Window. (13+)
A Week of Poetic Craziness
#2133562 by JayNaNoOhNo Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
NOVEMBER: Comedy... Thanksgiving with the Family
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The PET NEWS CONTEST Open in new Window. (E)
Open September 1 - September 30, 2024
#1986337 by GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2227015 by Not Available.


FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


And don't forget:

 
SURVEY
Rhythms & Writing: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Use the music provided to inspire your writing!
#2002964 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! *Smile*

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Drama Newsletter Team



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