 Drama: June 04, 2014 Issue [#6359] |
  Drama
This week: Why Fantasy and Drama Go Hand in Hand Edited by: NaNoKit  
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Fantasy and drama go hand in hand. After all, if a quest is too easy, it's not worth undertaking.
This week's Drama Newsletter contains dragons. Don't say I didn't warn you!
kittiara |
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Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (though not that far for my American readers), a gaming team played out a story that would become a fantasy novel. It is somewhat noticeable that this is the way the story was constructed – it's a bit clumsy in places and nobody would call it the best novel ever written, but it is an enjoyable read.
The later novels in the trilogy, and the Dragonlance Legends trilogy that followed are of better quality, as the writers had a lot more freedom and, by then, experience, but Dragons of Autumn Twilight, written in 1984 by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman does have its charm, and it is, of course, the book that began it all and brought to life some enduring and much beloved characters.
Fantasy is not often associated with drama, but it should be. Heroes setting off on an adventure are going to face plenty of obstacles, otherwise it wouldn't be much of an adventure. The Lord of the Rings is a good example of this – nobody would say that poor Frodo had an easy time of it. The fate of an entire world rested in his hand, or, rather, hung around his neck for a lot of the story.
So it is with the Dragonlance Chronicles. Tanis Half-Elven is half elf, half human, and does not feel that he belongs in either world. The Majere brothers, Raistlin and Caramon have a complex relationship that will place all that they know and care for at risk. The friendship between the grumpy dwarf Flint and the curious, free spirited kender Tasslehoff provides light relief, but also some of the most touching moments in the tale. And then there's the romance – Laurana's naive pursuit, Tika's struggle, the unrequited passion Tanis has for the dangerous Kit, and the enduring love beween Riverwind and Goldmoon. And these are just the tip of the iceberg.
A fantasy story is not just about the magic, and the swords, and the dragons, though you can't go far wrong employing any of them, or even all three. As with any good tale, it's all about the people in it – those characters we come to know, care about or despise. They will develop, for better or worse, and they cannot do so without love, loss, fear, hope, hate, danger, tragedy and joy. A good fantasy writer, then, has to be a good drama writer as well.
If you are a drama writer who has never explored the fantasy genre, why not give it a try? There is a lot of fun to be had in fantasy. If you have not done so yet, I do recommend reading a fantasy novel or two before you set off on your quest – research is key in any genre. It does not mean that you have to stick to a set formula – the only limits are those of our own imagination – but it might inspire you. I would always recommend The Lord of the Rings, if you have not read it before. In the spirit of this newsletter, I would also recommend the Dragonlance Chronicles and the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, the latter being my favourite in the series. For those with a strong stomach and a good memory, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin offers an original approach, and if you enjoy a slightly lighter touch (but no less well-written), Terry Pratchett's Discworld series might do it for you.
There are many more, of course. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series classes as fantasy. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials and The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis have long been favourites amongst readers of all ages. Even Stephen King, best known as a horror writer, has tiptoed into fantasy with his The Dark Tower series. In short – there's something for everyone.
Writing fantasy can appear daunting – a lot of novels are set in a different world. How do you design a whole new world? It's not as difficult as you might think, because most fantasy worlds are quite recognisable, with woods and mountains and rolling hills. You can have a lot of fun drawing a map of yours to help guide your story.
Fantasy can take place on this world as well, though. Just give it a twist. Be creative. Anything is possible. If your characters have depth, and the reader can relate to them, you are halfway there. As a drama writer, that is your strength. You know how to engage your audience, how to make them feel, and that will hook them.
It's always interesting to explore new territory, if not in a project the size of a novel, at least in a short story. You never know where it might lead...
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The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Jeff  - So sorry for your loss, Kittiara.  It's never easy losing a loved one (I lost my grandfather a couple years ago), but I'm glad you were able to dedicate this newsletter to his memory.
Thank you. I am sorry for the loss of your grandfather as well.
~~~
Nixie🦊  - Kittiara, this Newsletter eloquently expressed all you were trying to convey. Your loss is experienced in every word. I often find shooting off and email or jotting a blog entry returns me to my unique self. I'm not trying to accomplish anything other than communication. When our brains disengage, the writing flows, as demonstrated by you.
Your grandfather's story is beautifully wrought. However, more than that, I cannot say because my dad passed away on 2014 February 10th and the grief is beyond expression. Should I fully engage in your emotions, this moment would be washed away by tears.
I don't know how to reconcile the event. I hope you do find a way.
I am very sorry for your loss, Nixie, and I can well understand how difficult it is  . It takes time, I suppose. I have to sit an exam on Wednesday and have not been able to do my revision, because my mind is still too occupied with it all, and when my thoughts aren't occupied by the loss, I just feel numb.
With time, though, I hope it gets better. For both of us.
~~~
Elle - on hiatus  - So sorry to hear about your grandfather, but I'm glad you put the family feuds aside and established contact and a connection with him. We had a similar (VERY similar) situation with my husband's biological father. One more feud that won't survive another generation. Good for you. What you did took courage.
Thank you, Elle!
~~~
Lynda Miller  - You wrote a profound newsletter this week. I am so glad you met your grandfather. The hardest thing I have ever had to do is use a directive and to not let anyone save my mom. I will never forget it. I had to have two witnesses while I sign off on her. To this day I wonder if I did the right thing. My mom was so tired of living with her oxygen and had gone into pneumonia numerous times. We talked about the DNR and I knew her wishes. It took awhile for her to let go but as I said, I hope did the right thing.
Lynda with a Y
Thank you, Lynda. I am very glad that I met him as well.
I cannot even begin to imagine what you went through, faced with that situation. But I think that you did the right thing. Those were her wishes. My grandfather's wife faced the same decision with my grandfather, who had made the same choice. It is horrible to have to do, but you did what was best .
~~~
speidoman  - So sorry for your loss. I hope your memories of him are joyous and you get the opportunity to work through this. I think you are lucky to have met him and that you got to know him and know him well.
God bless you and keep you.
Thank you. I do feel lucky that I had him in my life and got to meet him in person. Those are memories I will definitely treasure!
~~~
blkkatwriting  - This newsletter could not have come at a better time. Today is Mother's Day and on the 9th. of this month, we lost the last of our aunts and uncles. What set this death apart is that this aunt was our mother's twin sister. Our mother died 50 years ago.I have been trying to write about this loss, which feels like losing our mother again, since the 9th. Reading this newsletter will help me to stop stalling and start writing. Thank You.
I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that you can let it all out through your writing. It helped me a little bit and with time, I hope that the pain will ease off for both of us, and for the others who wrote in who have experienced a loss .
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team
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