  Drama
This week: Edited by: Elisa: Snowman Stik  
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| Have you ever asked yourself "What if...?" Who hasn't? Such a natural question is a great way to come up with a start for a dramatic work if you're in neutral. What-if scenarios open the door to a multitude of possibilities with characters, conflicts and even settings. See why sometimes asking "What if...?" can be a good thing. |
| ASIN: B07P4NVL51 |
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I admit I'm guilty of asking "What if...?" on a regular basis. Still, if you ever need an idea for a dramatic writing, what-if questions can be a good launching point. With drama, though, the key to using what-if as a prompt is restraint. Too many what-ifs can send the writing in several directions.
After reading many what-if stories, I've found there are three types.
 Different outcome- This type speculates on different results of a contest, quest or struggle.These example questions are raised in this type of what-if story.
 "What if the Seahawks had won the Super Bowl?"
"What if the Apollo 13 mission had made it to the moon?"
"What if Danny Kass got the gold in the men's half-pipe final?"
Inversion- This type is when the opposite situation of the conflict is explored. These example questions would be explored in this type of what-if story.
"What if our biggest problem was a plague of lovesick people all over the world?"
"What if our economy was weak before the bursting of the technology bubble?"
"What if soccer, not American football, was the most popular sport in the United States?"
Detail Changes- Here one detail has been changed, but the change has enough weight to change the conflict in the work. These example questions would be seen in this type of what-if story.
"What if I had created my Writing.com account in January instead of February?"
"What if John F. Kennedy was born and raised in Connecticut?"
"What if I started college in the summer semester instead of the fall semester?"
All of these 'what-if' types are fertile grounds for exploring different facets of a past or existing situation, not to mention having dynamic dramatic potential. I'm most fond of detail changes myself, as it's fascinating to see how much can change in a story when one particular facet is changed. However, all of these 'what-if' scenarios give us writers the opportunity to reapproach certain characters, settings, conflicts and even tones. Even if constantly asking that question about your life isn't always favored, go right ahead and use it for your next piece. It just might reinvigorate your imagination! 
Until next time,
** Image ID #1066103 Unavailable **
(sig by me  ) |
Check out these pieces which use one or more of the various types of 'what-if' scenarios discussed in this week's newletter. Sometimes the changes are blunt and straightforward while others are more understated. Enjoy!
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#1035096 by Not Available. |
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#1002814 by Not Available. |
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A few words about the previous newsletter...
I didn't hear too much from you this time.  However, I'll be glad to share what comments I did receive.
From dmack  : Hello Elisa, This is another great newsletter. Thank you for featuring "Invalid Item" in it. W.D. Wilcox also featured it in the Horror Newsletter. I'm thrill with the attention. I've been working hard to improve my writing and Writing.Com has been a great help.
I've just finished a story I've been working on since June. It's longer than my usual stories. If you have the time I'd love to know what you think of it."Invalid Item" .
I'm glad you enjoyed the newsletter, Dmack! Yeah, having one piece featured in multiple newsletters in the same week is quite an accomplishment, and I hope it has helped you (not to mention make you feel giddy about your work getting sitewide attention). Glad to hear the site has helped you improve your writing, and hopefully you'll see many more pieces featured in future newsletters!
From essence of thought : Hello Elisa,
Very nice newsletter. The history of the reader much interfere in his mood while reading any literary work. It is true also that an unbelievable incident will distract the reader and make him out of mood. While unbelievable events spice up an unrealistic fiction, it weakens drama. Looking forward for your "What if.." coming newsletter!
You made a very good point about the reader and mood, Essence. I'm so glad you brought it up. Indeed, the reader's past experience will affect a reader's mood, especially when it comes to judging what is realistic and what is just not possible. And I agree; unbelievable events weaken drama. I have to run like the wind from the writing if that's the case.
*read**read**read*
For the next newsletter, I'm going to be taking a look at dialogue and would like your thoughts on the subject. How much can a reader handle? What kinds of challenges do you face when writing dialogue? What kinds of dialogue work (or don't work) in drama? Since I love to write dialogie, I'd love to hear what others have to say about it (as I suspect I'm in a minority when it comes to this facet of writing).
And if you happen to miss or misplace a newsletter, feel free to stop by "The Drama Box" [13+]!
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Drama: February 15, 2006 Issue [#884]
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