  Drama
This week: Edited by: StephBee  
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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
DRAMA IS:
#1 - The Greek word for "action."
#2 - A real life situtation or succession of events having the dramatic progression of a play.
Scenes are where your story is told. From chapters to shorts, the scene is the building block of the story. Today, we'll take a look at intent, tension, and patterns. |
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A scene is like a brick in the wall. It gives support to the wall as a whole, but varies in size, shape, and texture. The point of any scene in your story should be be that the scene contributes to the story in a meaningful way so the story is solid.
Scenes have the following purposes:
Move the story through action
Have the characters react, thus building characterization
Set up imporant scenes
add "spice."
ACTION SCENES
An action scene involves the main character trying to achieve their objective or overcome obstacles. Basically, this type of scene is trying to make something happen.
You, the writer, must provide an obstacle to an objective. An example of an obstacle is nature. For example: your lead character needs to go to White Island, but the storm is preventing him or her going over the bridge.
Action scenes have 3 outcomes:
Well,
Not so well
and Terrible.
Remember, trouble keeps the lead character going. You can allow for a break and have a happy ending, but get the lead back into the thick of things as soon as you can.
REACTION SCENES
This is where the lead character(s) are reacting. To what? Emotions. This scene allows for character building. Begin the scne by introducing emotion, having the character react, and then make a decision.
For example: A woman walks into her apartment and finds it ransacked. She's: horrified, scared, worried, anxious, she wants to call someone, or she wants to call no one. Ultimately, she makes a decision and calls the police. (or doesn't)
SET UP SCENES
This type of scene is used to set up other aspects of a story and should blend action and reaction elements. For example, say a pivitol scene in your story is your lead character finding a map. You might want to show the action of the map being hidden. You can also show the hider's pleasure of hiding the map.
SPICE SCENES
Spice adds flavor. It doesn't necessarily advance the plot though, but it gives contrast. For example: A mobster has been given hit and told to make it extra violent to send a message. Show him going through the motion of a regular, ordinary day just like normal people before making the hit.
TENSION
Tension in scenes is caused by conflict. For example, the rockin' and rollin' car chase, or by the inner turmoil of a character's emotions. Creating tension is easy. Keep the main character from his or her goal. Play up his or her worries, anxieties, or fears.
PATTERNS
I can't do this enough justice in this newsletter, so I'm going to take an in depth look at it in my next newsletter. There are three pattern types. The opening description (so as to set the scene), having the characters take the stage, and then heaping on the conflict. In my next newsletter I'll look at each pattern and show how they are presented in manuscript writing verus the script/play format.
Reference for this newsletter: Revision and Self Editing, by James Scott Bell, 2008, F&W Publications.
THE POLISH FILM FESTIVAL
A film festival is an extended presentation of films in a single locality, usually with a "general" theme. A lot of movies are premiered at film festivals. Most film festivals offer rewards for the movies presented at them. This newsletter takes a look at the Polish Film Festival.
Surprisingly, the Polish Film Festival takes place in Chicago, a city that has a large Polish enthic background.
 It was established in 1989.
 It's intent is to attract film and documentaries with a Polish flavor.
It's usually held during two weeks in November. This year it will be held between 6-22 November, and it usually attracts 35,000 viewers.
The NY TIMES called it one of the top five important European film festivals in North America.
It gives out two awards: the "Golden Teeth" award and the "Wings" award. The Golden Teeth is for the most interesting film. The Wings award is for lifetime achievement in film outside of Poland. In 2007, Alan Starski, an Oscar winning art director who worked on "Schindler's List," and "The Piano" won the Wings award.
THE HOT DRAMA POLL
Question for this newsletter: What's your weakest element in Writing?
#1 - Descriptions
#2 - Middles
In the future, I'll host a newsletter dedicated to Descriptions in Drama Writing.
Question for the next newsletter: The Drama Masks are Tragedy and Comedy. Which do you prefer? Why?
Here's some feedback on the HOT DRAMA POLL:
Starr* Rathburn 
I had trouble deciding between Descriptions and Setting. I'm glad to see I'm in the majority, at least. So I'm not alone!
Cordially,
Starr* R
sarahreed
I come from a theatrical background, having grown up in the theatre and obtained a B.A. in Theatre Arts. Congrats! Having written a few plays, I think has skewed my writing style. Though I've been working on it, my strengths still remain dialogue and characters. My biggest weakness is description because, according to what I learned form the theatre, that's what you do at the beginning of the script. I agree, script writing doesn't leave a lot for description. That's something for an art director to bring to the play. You write out a short bio for each character and a basic setting description. Everything from that point forward is dialogue and basic action descriptions. So as I turn to writing stories, I find it increasingly difficult not to lump all the description into one paragraph at the beginning and move forward with dialogue and action. Ah, those are scene patterns which I'll talk about next NL!
I would agree with the other weakness that most people have picked so far - middles. That's my next weakness and continual nemesis. While I sometimes have problems with beginning a story, I almost always know how I want to end it - I just don't know how to get there. Hopefully, the newsletter can help.
In Your Dirtiest Pants
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out when more people vote. But I definitely have to say remembering to include the physical actions of the characters is definitely my weakness!
I'll be coming back to see this again in the future. I'm curious to know about everyone else now. haha.
I'll plan an upcoming newsletter on what the poll identified as weak areas.
FEATURED PRODUCT REVIEW
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Here are some Drama Stories from around the site:
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#1446148 by Not Available. |
Good emotional conflict can be found in the waves.
There's comedy in coffee.
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#1593383 by Not Available. |
Good emotional conflict that leads to a decision. A nice "reaction" piece.
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#1593753 by Not Available. |
Good emotional turmoil.
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#1592138 by Not Available. |
A good set up scene.
SOME DRAMA ACTIVITES
|  | Drama Forum (13+)
For those of us drama queens and kings, a forum to swap writing ideas and post questions
#1394242 by Joy  |
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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's some feedback from the 19 AUG 09 Newsletter:
An apple a day.... 
Congratulations on being published! You always have an informative, helpful and interesting newsletter. Thanks for explaining the "signpost". A terrific beginning is no good without it. Best wishes.....Connie
Thanks Connie. I'm glad you enjoy the newsletters. 
Jaye P. Marshall 
Hi, Steph. Very good newsletter. I think that I usually have more trouble keeping the action going and interest level up during the middle of a story than at any other time.
Thanks, Jaye! I agree - middles aren't easy. It's easy to lose focus. I think the use of a "signpost" helps.
Drama Rocks!
StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her children's book, "The Giving Meadow" will be published by 4RV Publishing in the spring of 2010.
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Drama: September 16, 2009 Issue [#3250]
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