 Drama: May 19, 2010 Issue [#3734] |
  Drama
This week: Building Off the "F" Word Edited by: Adriana Noir  
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| Ahh, the ties that bind! Hi there, I’m Adriana Noir , and this week’s edition will be about the wonderful “F” word: family. |
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When it comes to blood relationships, there is an old saying that goes: “You can’t choose your family, but you can always choose your friends.” As writers, we are much more fortunate.
One very strong drama comes to mind upon hearing that statement: Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper”. This is a tough, emotional drama centers around one family as they struggle with a devastating illness. Kate has lived with APL, a rare form of leukemia, since she was a toddler. Her parents become desperate when neither they, nor their son, Jesse, are found to be a compatible match. In a moment of bleakness, they decide to conceive another child, one genetically engineered in a test tube to be compatible with Kate. Anna is born, and from the moment she comes into the world, she’s used to keep her sister alive through various phases of remission and relapse. From umbilical cord blood to full-blown transfusions and bone marrow transplants, Anna is the sole link keeping her sister alive.
Jesse lacks the attention he needs, as his parents are busy fighting to keep their child alive; the mom gives up her career; the parental marriage cracks under the strain; and Anna questions her reasons for being alive. It’s a real drama, based on an ordinary family under strenuous circumstances.
The book and movie differ vastly, but I will say they at least managed to maintain one powerful aspect. When Anna refuses to give her sister one of her kidneys and sues her parents for medical emancipation, the audience endures an emotional ordeal. Why would she make this decision? What effect does that have on her relationship with her family? Is she selfish, or is there a deeper truth to her reason? These are things I dare not ruin, lest you have not yet seen or read, but the journey is one well-worth taking.
It’s about family. It’s about “real” people reacting with very real emotion. They are not perfect, but they try to do the best they can, given the cards they’ve been given. That is what makes it powerful. You cannot help but wonder how you would react if you were in their shoes. I can only hope I never have to find out.
This is, perhaps, the strongest connection we can make with a reader. It all ties into character, sure, but more-so, it’s founded in truth. We all have the “crazy” family member. We all know someone cold and distant. In every circle, there are things people wish they had done differently, secrets or hurts hidden, promises made, and sometimes bounds broken. Some children resent their parents; some parents begrudge their children. Siblings fight . . . and yes, some of us love each other so much, we would, at any given second, for any reason, make the ultimate sacrifice.
This is family. All of the heartache, and every second of the joy. The next time you struggle to come up with a good drama, remember the relationships you share. Perhaps build off of the ones you don’t. All of your deepest wishes and fears serve as powerful inspiration. Life shouldn’t be measured by moments of perfection, but rather the imperfect moments we share together . . . flaws and all.
~Best wishes and happy writing!~ 
Adriana Noir
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| | The Game (ASR)
Two best friends in 1978 Alaska discover the world can be a very scary place
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Joy  : Thanks for pointing out the importance of the "real" in writing drama, Adriana. Fiction or nonfiction has to ring true to the reader for the story to succeed. I have felt shortchanged so many times after finishing a story or a book because it didn't feel real.
My pleasure, Joy!  I couldn’t agree more, and it’s always a huge disappointment.
robert.atwood: I enjoyed your comments on real life as drama and drama helping you out of writing slumps. Indeed life imitates art or in this case art imitates life. I too had my struggles after Nanowrimo, my honeydo list had gone on very much neglected, my children begged me to take them to the park...in otherwords life happened and writing took a back seat...one thing that got me through was taking notes on my ideas on 3x6 index cards and storing them away in my idea box for later use. I may not have time to write about them now...but the idea gets captured and stored for later. I find it a great way to help me out of those dreaded slumps when life's necessities get in the way. You have done a great job with this and I look forward to your next issue.
Robert Thomas Atwood
 Thank you so very much! I love the index card idea. I carry a small notebook with me whenever I’m leaving the house for long, just in case. And as for NaNo… *laughs* Yes, I think my family and friends rejoiced as hard as I did when I finally finished!
Coolhand : Spot on, Adriana. The unexpected provides all the fodder, and drama, we need, if we see it with a writers' eye. Your insightful observations are what makes you a great writer.
Thank you!  That’s very kind of you to say!
Jeff  : Great newsletter this week, Adriana! Never underestimate the power of the unexpected... in both life and fiction. Sometimes it's for the best, and sometimes it's not, but unexpected - at the very least - is almost always interesting.
Thanks! How very true that is! But, if everything were predictable, nothing would be interesting. It’s the unexpected moments that often bring the most beauty and joy.
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