  Drama
This week: Edited by: StephBee  
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#1 - Drama is the Greek word for "action."
#2 - A real life situtation or succession of events having the dramatic progression or emotional content typical of a play.
In my newsletter last month, I presented a broad overview of Shakespeare. His writings addressed such themes like betrayal, lust, power, and ambition, which are popular even in today's drama.
That said, what is a "theme," and how does it fit into drama writing? Let's take a look. |
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What's your story about? What can the reader take with them after reading your story? That, in a nutshell, is the theme. To get the feel of "theme" take your favorite Shakespearean play and ask yourself, "What's it about?"
My favorite play is "Romeo and Juliet." What's it about? Love. (In a broad perspective.) Going a tad bit deeper, its about the tragedy of love - a theme that resonates with us today as it did in Shakespeare's time.
You can apply theme to any work of fiction. What's the theme of "The DaVinci Code?" Is there more than more theme? What did you, as a reader, take with you after you read "The Historian?"
Theme is the statement your work will convey.
Themes can end on a positive or negative note. Going back to "Romeo and Juliet," the theme ended on a negative note, with the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It could have easily ended on a positive note, with Romeo and Juliet sneaking away to live out their lives together and in love. Both endings would be appropriate to the theme. Theme gives your work guidance, but it doesn't dictate.
Some tips to keep in mind:
 While theme is the adhesive of your plot, it shouldn't overpower the storyline. Don't overclarify and don't force it. Theme comes naturally.
While novels can have more than one theme, its best that short stories have one distinct theme.
 Here's my challenge to you:
Write a short story no more than 2,000 words with a distinct theme lacing the story together. You can pick one of the themes mentioned, or you can work with one of your own. Submit it to the Drama newsletter or send me an email with a bitem link to the story. The deadline for submissions will be 15 MAY. Good, solid stories that use theme will be featured in the June Drama newsletter by me. Exceptional stories I will award.
Themes you can use: love, greed, ambition, betrayal, faith, losing or gaining one's humanity.
Research materials used for this topic: "Plot & Structure," by James Scott Bell, F&W Publications, 2004 and "Writing Fiction," by Gotham Writers' workshop faculty, edited by Alexander Steele Bloomsbury, 2003 |
This week's picks focus on "theme."
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Editor's note: the theme here is "a higher love."
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#1242330 by Not Available. |
Editor's note: the theme here is "how one deals with the consquences of their actions."
Editor's note: the broad theme here is "love."
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Editor's note: the theme here is "being alone."
Editor's note: the theme here is "making up for one's regrets."
Editor's note: the theme here is "faith and facing hardships."
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Great personal catastrophe is sometimes the perfect fodder for watching faith move...
#1212522 by Teresa  |
Editor's note: the theme here is "faith." |
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Here are your comments from my last newsletter about Shakespeare:
likenion
Hey, great newsletter. The Shakespeare facts were really interesting, but I really would like to start the topic on integreting the Shakespeare formula with a simple short story. Since this is drama I'd been wondering whether there could be a topic on emotions and making them more believable.
Editor's comment: I'm glad you found the facts interesting. I will definately work in a newsletter that deals with making emotions realistic.
⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites 
My favorite Shakespearean play is The Taming of the Shrew because it's so funny! Although I can't quite see the end happening in today's world...
Did you see "Kiss Me, Kate," with Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson? It was released in 1953, but it is a wonderful modern take on "The Taming of the Shrew."
dizzyduck
I really know few Shakespeare plays, and have only heard of and read the ones they highlight in school and in pop culture. So I'm not as well-versed in the Bard's stuff as I could or would like to be. But I'd have to say that my definite favorite so far is Much Ado About Nothing. I rather prefer Shakespeare's comedies to his tragedies and dramas, and Much Ado is definitely funny when you really listen to it.
Then, of course, there's the movie that Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline did several years ago. One of my favorite movie adaptations.
If you could discuss one of Shakespeare's dramas (since the other genres wouldn't fit in this newsletter ), I think I'd enjoy that.
All the best,
dizzy
Great suggestion. I can do a more indepth look at one of Shakespeare's plays. I'd love feedback on this. All suggestions welcomed!
Fyn 
Great newsletter! I love anything Shakespeare so I really enjoyed this one! I think King Lear is a play I enjoy the most. There are 137 references to sight/seeing/blindness in the play. Shakespeare had quite the knack for playing with words, twisting and turning them to get every last possible meaning from them.
I agree! He was a master with the English language. I love his word play.
scribbler
My favourite W.S. play? That would HAVE to be Macbeth. It is so interesting and full of magic and betrayal and...wonderful characters. Lady Macbeth is my favourite character of any story that I've ever read.
I enjoyed the MacBeth as well. I love the witches in that play.
Feedback is much appreciated. I'd love to hear your thoughts on "theme" and how you, as a writer, work it into your writing.
StephBee Works for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher in her day job. Her hobbies include writing, watching "Dancing With The Stars," and playing with her children.
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Drama: April 18, 2007 Issue [#1655]
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