 Drama: March 24, 2010 Issue [#3627] |
  Drama
This week: Edited by: Adriana Noir  
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| Hi there! I'm Adriana Noir , and I will be your editor this week. Ever wonder what the most frequent tip for success is? Well, in this issue, you will find out. |
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What really makes a compelling drama? Sure, we love drama for the strong emotion it evokes, for the challenges and struggles confronted within the pages we read, or the scenes we watch unfold on the screen before us. But the simple matter is, the situations only play a small part of this. Writers spend countless hours researching, reading, all looking for ways to hone our craft. Lately, I’ve purchased several books on how to write and excel in numerous genres. Here, I’ll key you all in on one simple secret, and let you save some hard earned cash and valuable time in the process. 
From horror, to drama, there is one staple essential to having a good story: the characters.
Believe it or not, every creative writing book, every bit of advice out there from editors and agent blogs, all advise one thing: create characters people will care about.
“But, Adriana,” you may say, “that sounds so simple. How can that REALLY be the key?”
It is simple, but only if the writer keeps a few things in mind. In order to create a character your audience can truly care about, you, yourself, have to know this character inside and out. You have to see the world through their eyes and unveil it in the same way. Their emotions must become yours and flow through your fingertips. Show your reader all the little quirks, nuances, habits, rituals, and flaws that make us not only human, but unique individuals. If you can breathe life into them, they will become as real to the reader as they are to you in your head.
Writing is more than just grammar, spelling, dynamics, and style. It’s driven by emotion, be it joy, sorrow, anger, or fear. People can only feel those emotions if they care, and they can only care if the characters are ones that feel real to them. This is where a lot of writing and stories fall flat.
“But I’ve heard this all before. What are some real tips that work?”
The best tip I’ve encountered is to treat the process of getting to know your character like you would a real person. Ask questions in your head, everything from what they like to eat, to hopes, dreams, aspirations, favorite music, movie, colors, etc. Not all of these things will be essential to your story. You certainly won’t use them all, but they are handy details to know. Slipping in little details here and there will certainly add more dimensions that will make your cast more believable.
Another thing to remember is credibility. Yes, we all react differently to certain situations and pressures in life, but even the most eccentric character will still react to disaster with somewhat believable actions. For example, if your house is on fire, now is not the time to pick up the phone and order a pizza. Expecting your readers to suspend belief is fine; shattering all shreds of it, not so much.
Characters are the meat and bones of any story. These are the things we will remember the most. They are what make us laugh or cry. They are our link to the other side where we long to escape to in those few free moments we manage to call ours. Breathe as much life into them as you can, build off the experiences, emotions, and drives you yourself have felt, and the rest, my friends, is gravy.
~Best wishes and happy writing!~ 
Adriana Noir
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|  | The Birthing Place (E)
It isn't the journey but what we are docked to.
2nd Place: March's Short Shots Contest.
#1534314 by Fyn  |
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StephBee  Adriana, thanks so much for defining Literary Fiction. It helps a lot.
My pleasure! Thank you for reading and leaving feedback. It always makes my day!
faithjourney Aw, forget the awards. I'm a commercial writer. There, I said it! I'm a plot junkie and I want people to read my work to escape from reality and find an exciting new place. I don't care if my words are pretty as long as the story is captivating.
Thanks for addressing this important distinction in this newsletter! Well done!
Sherri, thanks so much for reading and leaving feedback! I find I walk a very thin line, and not intentionally. I like finding unique ways to word things, but often find this process hindering and time consuming. In other words, that quest for brilliance often leaves me too drained to manage completion. Sometimes it really is a matter of knowing your goals, just so you can attain them!
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