Drama is the key ingredient to
all stories.
Drama is wanting something
you don’t have (or have and don’t want).
The harder the journey, the
obstructions, the opposition, the greater the drama.
If people tell you your story
isn’t dramatic enough, it probably means things are either too easy for the
character, or what they are in pursuit of doesn’t seem worth the effort.
An easy way to make things more
dramatic is to raise the stakes. More to lose, more drama. Harder to get, more
drama. Better opposition, better drama.
However...
If you raise the stakes to
extreme levels, or even levels that don’t seem appropriate, you will overshoot
drama and land in melodrama. That is, where people make a big fuss over nothing.
But melodrama is still preferable
to no drama.
You need three things for good
drama: interesting problem, interesting solution (or attempted solution), interesting consequences.
An interesting problem is one
that does not have an obvious fix.
An interesting solution is
unexpected and specific to the character providing it. Not how anyone
would deal with it. How this particular person would deal with it.
Interesting consequences should occur whether the character succeeds or fails.
Even after you fulfil all these criteria it is important to remember that the first thing you think of probably isn't the best you can come up with.
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29 comments:
Drama is around every corner or is it just in my family--oh and at work?
Love this very informative post.
Teresa
Raise the stakes: I remember that from my screenwriting classes, which absolutely relevant to fiction writing, too.
@teresa-putting it on the page is the part where drama can get a bit flattened.
@susan-absolutely.
"...the first thing you think of probably isn't the best you can come up with"
Too, too painfully true.
I like your take on "interesting consequences" - that's an interesting way to keep the reader engaged.
@KjM-a big problem with stories is that it doesn't really matter if the MC succeeds or not, they're just acting on a whim. It's important to them but no one else. That's often true of real life, but in fiction you have to bring the reader with you.
The drama is in providing the main characters with a seemingly impossible situation without it appearing to be highly improbable!
@Paula-especially if the book is part of a series and something equally improbably happened last time too.
Hi Moody - good to meet you finally I've seen you around the Blogosphere .. excellent succinct post on Drama .. I have lots of that and create my own too at times for some laughs ..
Cheers Hilary
Conflict is essential, even if the MC is only struggling against their own nature, conscience or their view of how things ought to be.
Lovely, lovely blog today! Thanks for stopping by my blog and becoming a new follower. I have returned the favor! Be sure and tell all your writer/author friends to check out my letter F for a chance to get some FREE book promotion for their works...;0)
Good luck with the challenge!
Donna Martin
www.donasdays. blogspot.com
Drama is a natural part of life so it should be a natural part of writing too. If you are anything like me, or have family members like mine, we have more than our fair share of drama and most days there is some sort of drama or a crisis in the offing!!
Great post, I look forward to reading more of your work in the coming months.
Best wishes, Pam
You should have posted a picture of Snooki and the Jersey Shore crew for this post.
Keep making it painful for the protag. :)
I have dramatic lit, Shakespeare, and my family to thank for my melodramatic stories. ;) Not sure if that's totally accurate, but I do tend to forget about the whole "solution" part of the problem.... Great post, putting thoughts in my mind :)
Already way too much drama in my life LOL no need to make any of it up!
Another great post. No drama = boring. Got it.
Drama is good in writing. In real life, however, I think less is more :)
@elaine-drama comes in all sizes.
@Donna-good luck to you too.
@pam-thanks and good luck to you too.
@michael-faked drama doesn't count.
@Tracy-cruel but true.
@June-cheers.
@Claire-good to have a well to dip your bucket into.
@Fairview-good.
@June-ain't that the truth.
When I was in college, I burst into the cafe where we all hung out and declared emphatically to all who were there, "Eight words. Don't create more drama than is absolutely necessary." I then stalked out.
True story.
@OK-I believe you.
Oh it's a fine line between drama and melodrama alright, one that I find very hard to walk.
Tegan Wilson
Great post! There is a fine line between drama and melodrama. Sometimes I cross that line and I have to drag myself back!
Great post. You explained drama in a simple and easy to understand way. Thanks.
Great post...and so relevant! :)
DL @ Cruising Altitude 2.0
Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
Great post! Contrary to popular belief, drama is sought after.
@tegan-I think that's quite a common issue.
@buffy-dragged back kick and screaming hysterically?
@jessica-thanks.
@DL-cheers.
@Kevin-I think so too.
@Hilary Melton-Butcher (sorry took so long to reply to your comment, Blogger stuck it in Spam for no reason)- thanks, now following your blog so hope to see more of you.
Bang on post! It's a very fine line to walk - staying on the line of drama and not veering off to too little drama or especially jumping into melodrama. Well done, Mooderino!
Come on sometimes drama is a good option after all