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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/6900-All-Writing-Needs-Drama.html
For Authors: April 01, 2015 Issue [#6900]

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For Authors


 This week: All Writing Needs Drama
  Edited by: Vivian Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

         Drama should be included in almost all writing. Without drama, words lack a certain ... uh, flavor, a lack of intensity.

Sig by Spinny, gifted by Lexie





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Letter from the editor

Drama in Writing


         One of the synonyms for drama found in a thesaurus is tragedy; another is comedy. Most of the equivalent words portrayed the theater or movies, including theatrics. However, according to the dictionary, drama means a composition intended to portray life or character or to tell a story involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue. The dictionary adds that drama involves intense conflict of forces. Interesting ... drama must mean any writing that includes conflicts, emotions, action, and dialogue – as long as they are intense, deeply felt.

         In writing, though, comedy and drama reside on the opposite ends of the spectrum. As one person so elegantly compared the two: Comedy hits us in the head, often to fade quickly over time; while drama hits us in the gut or the heart and stays there. (http://femmesfatales.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/hit_me.html)

         Does that mean that drama can’t be found in comedy or that comedy can’t be found in drama? Not at all. The best writings have a touch of both, even if the majority of the genre of the work is one or the other.

         Let’s look at how to weave drama into a story, a poem, or a novel.

Conflict: Any plot includes conflict. In a drama the conflict is intense, not minor, not easily overcome or endured. The battle or clash is deeply felt not only by the character but also by the reader.

Emotion: The feelings or sentiment developed in drama is passionate, resulting in a lasting effect.

Action: Action can be mental, physical, or both, preferably both. Something has to happen in order to have a conflict, a plot. Otherwise the writing becomes a description rather than a drama.

Dialogue: Dialogue means conversation, talking. Even if the writing has but one character, dialogue can be used as the character talks to himself, whether aloud or mentally. Dialogue helps show the emotion and conflict necessary for drama. In poetry, the dialogue is often the thoughts of the poet as written into the poem. At times, though, actually dialogue may be present.

         All these components need to be used with other necessary ingredients and intensity to have a completed story, poem, or novel. When all the parts are interwoven, and they are powerful enough to “hit” the reader in the gut or heart, the result leaves a lasting impression – a dramatic work.

         Someone asked for me to include items from my port as an example of what I discuss in newsletters. I therefore offer the following for this issue:

Poetry:
 Samaritan Revisited Open in new Window. [ASR]
A Biblical Story retold
by Vivian Author Icon


Short Story:
 Island Storm, revised Open in new Window. [13+]
Storms on Guam take different guises
by Vivian Author Icon


         I don't have any of my novels in my port, so I can't share any of them. However, several have been published and are available through bookstores and online stores.


Editor's Picks

Writing from W. Com


Poetry:

 You Touched My Life Open in new Window. [ASR]
Sadness upon the death of a friend.
by StephBee Author Icon

 Petals Open in new Window. [13+]
A woman views scenes of the Holocaust from her windowsill with her daisies a last hope.
by Bridget Shinagawa Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 
Image Protector
Poetry in Formal Attire Open in new Window. [E]
A place to put poetry in classical forms like sonnets, paradelles etc.
by Joy Author Icon


Stories:

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Words from Readers


Nwriter Author IconMail Icon
Hi Vivian,
My problem is that I have too many ideas coursing through my head.I lack the focus to pick one and start writing.
Regards,
Nita

          A suggestion, write down your ideas. Pick one from the list and begin writing. That's one way to pick an idea.


epa Author IconMail Icon
I like the name Viv.One day me too also injured by anticutter in my left hand side finger.It was serious.21 days needed to join because it cut in half.A male doctor as I call him "doctor babu"duing the time of my suffer.he sew it like a shoe sewing.Any way after anibiotic I recover.Recently I got hurt right side hand's side finger to rearrange the flower tub in the staircase.Now my typing speed is slow for that case.

         Injuries play havoc with writing. I'm sorry you're having so many problems. Hopefully you will heal and be able to do better.


benjwriter14
Sometimes I think we can "what if..." ourselves to death... and our project with it. Sometimes we do it to procrastinate or due to fear of failure. Great Newsletter.

         We can overdo most things. However, "What if ..." gives us a start.


Quick-Quill Author IconMail Icon
VIV I'm constantly asking the question WHAT IF. My next question is SO WHAT? I want to make sure that everything is connected and has a purpose in the story. I don't want people to say that to my story.

         "So what?" is a good follow up question.


monty31802}
That last what if is one that frightens us all I believe.

         My last "what if" is scary for any writer, I believe: What if I can't write any more?


ironlaw
I used to think "if" did nothing but stir up drama and controversy. Then I realized what a creative tool "if" is in regards to writing. I love using if in character sketching most of all *Laugh*
Thanks for this reminder of why I like "if"
Luna

         I'm glad my reminder helped.



Thank you for joining me again. If you have a topic you would like me to cover, please let me know.

I love black cats, so ledger created me a sig with one



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