  Drama
This week: Edited by: Elisa: Snowman Stik  
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drama- (adj.) a state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces (from Merriam-Webster Online)
Defining drama as a genre is easy. Or is it? |
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In the course of my brief writing career, I have encountered various types of drama. In fact, I've probably encountered more subgenres of drama than I've seen varieties of jeans at the Gap! In all seriousness, though, there are so many different types of dramatic writings because there's such a diverse crop of dramatic situations in real life. The question is, though, what makes a piece dramatic at all.
Despite the different subgenres of drama (crime drama, psychological drama, et cetera), there are universal components of a written work that categorize it as dramatic. What are these components? Let's take a look at a few of them.
 Conflict: While all pieces involve conflict to some degree, drama is conflict-driven. When a reader selects a dramatic work to read, he or she expects a solid conflict that must be resolved by the work's end. Readers also expect the conflict to be the driving force of the work. A weak and/or underdeveloped conflict can undermine even the most detailed and intriguing characters.
Exploring origins and motivations: Part of the detailing of conflict involves exploring its origins. As well, discovering the motivations of the characters involved in the conflict is present and used to develop the work. Some subgenres have a greater deal of potential in this area than others, but all types of drama will exhibit this trait to some degree.
Tone: Obviously the tone will change a bit among the subgenres, but the tone stays serious most of the time and is generally straightforward throughout the piece. Sometimes the tones are fairly formal within drama pieces, but formality isn't necessary. The serious tone is intended to keep the focus on the conflict moving the story forward.
By seeing some common characteristics of drama, understanding the scope of the drama genre may be a little less overwhelming. So the next time you're wondering if your writing is truly dramatic, you can try looking for these concepts in your pieces and bolstering them.
Until next time,
(sig courtesy of panthera) |
Now for a sampling of the many varieties of drama: crime, psychology and more. See if you can find any of the concepts I dicussed as you read these works.
| | Possession (18+)
In an asylum for the criminally insane, a young orderly discovers true possession...
#1028269 by W.D.Wilcox  |
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This item number is not valid.
#1004109 by Not Available. |
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This item number is not valid.
#965213 by Not Available. |
|  | Ants (18+)
A short simple story just like life.
#860831 by Enlil  |
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For the next newsletter, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on conflict development. Is there a certain type of conflict you favor? A type you find particularly difficult to develop? What kinds of conflict do you enjoy to read? All comments on conflict are welcome!
And if you happen to miss or misplace a newsletter, feel free to stop by "The Drama Box" [13+]!
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Drama: November 16, 2005 Issue [#718]
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