Writing Drama Into Your Fiction
By kristen overman
editor and writing teacher.
II'm sure you must be eager to learn about writing drama into your fiction—but first, let’s clarify that “drama” means conflict, not simply hangry Real Housewives throwing drinks at one another. When I’m coaching my editorial clients, I help writers focus on interiority, which includes characters' thoughts, feelings, inner struggles, and reactions.
Emotions are an important factor when it comes to writing drama and conflict, as a character’s feelings lead readers to experience the same. For instance, when Chris starts to feel anxious about something, the reader feels the tension, too, if the writer’s insight into Chris’s experience is well-done. Or if Amy is excited for something, the audience should (ideally) be anticipating the event as well.
Writing Drama for Maximum Tension
I've been thinking lately about the role of anticipation in conflict and writing drama. I think tension is best built up gradually (unless you are writing a genre like horror or some mystery, which hinges on a sudden reveal … even though gradual tension is at play there, too).
For example, if someone is searching a house for a murderer (which can create an unbearable sense of dread), it's even more agonizing when the first few searches of the closets (with accompanying crescendos) leave the character empty-handed. Then they go peeking into the attic, and the writing drama only becomes more intense until they get to the final door. By this point, I'm usually on the edge of my seat with my eyes half-closed and rocking slightly!
It isn't quite as exciting when they open the first door and find the killer right away—though it's still effective and shocking—but then you lose the ability of writing drama to include writing suspense and tension. It's quite analogous to relationship advice columns that suggest that foreplay should start long before you reach the bedroom! When you’re writing drama, plant the seeds of conflict in a story early and nurture them throughout a plot, long before climax.
Tension and anticipation go hand in hand when writing drama. (Read this article for further exploration into story tension. The same principles apply when it comes to emotions, too. Setting up a gradual build-up of emotion that will either pay off or be subverted or thwarted later on will help get readers invested in a character's internal experience.
Creating Anxiety When You’re Writing Drama
If your character is fearful or anxious about an event that is significant to the plot, you don’t want to turn it into a cliché by only giving readers that knowledge at the very last minute. Instead, it is more effective in writing drama to gradually increase the tension. Not just saying “I’m nervous” but “If X doesn’t happen, then I fear Y could happen" or "I don't know what I'll do if I don't get the desired outcome.” By establishing the story stakes of whether or not something will happen, you will get the most emotional juice out of your character’s situation.
An Illustration of Writing Drama
I'm scared of flying, so I usually feel apprehension when I board a plane. Flying makes me edgy during the flight itself, sure, but my anxiety starts much earlier than that. A traveler has to check in, board the plane, and wait for takeoff—each step of the process usually ratchets up the fear and anticipation I feel. If I were to go through all of the checkpoints of the travel experience and deepen the tension at every step, this might become overbearing, if done in too much detail, but it could also give readers an immersive experience full of conflict.
Whenever I book a plane ticket, I can’t help but feel a wave of excitement and dread. Weeks before the trip, I begin to entertain thoughts of canceling it altogether, worrying about leaving my dogs or kids behind. As I’m packing my toiletries in the TSA-approved bag, I think “Should I write a living will?” At the airport, my pulse quickens, and I feel a knot of dread in my stomach. Thankfully, once the double bell goes off signaling we’ve reached 10,000 feet, the tension begins to ebb away. (A nap helps.)
When you’re writing drama, it's important to build up some emotion and anticipation before the plot point—not just wait for the plot point to generate emotion. If a certain character, Eileen, is angry with her best friend for blowing her off and then going out with more popular people. She feels betrayed and like she’s about to be replaced. The sick and anxious feeling in her stomach implies that maybe the switch has already happened. (Though watch out for overuse of writing body language and physical cliches.)
What will Eileen do? You can almost feel her anger and her self-pity. Maybe she’s overreacting—perhaps the photos are old. Then self-doubt creeps in. Is she overreacting? Perhaps, when Eileen explodes at her best friend, showing her the photos on her phone, this is merely the climax of a story that’s been happening inside of Eileen since she felt slighted. What I hope more writers understand is this: when you’re creating a scene that involves strong emotions, don’t devote your entire time to the scene itself. Writers need to recognize that writing drama means establishing the groundwork long before a powerful climax.
elevate your writing
Are you ready to take your story to the next level? Kristen Overman is here to help you! She's an experienced editor with expertise in middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, adult fiction, and memoir. She can work with you to develop your plot, characters, and narrative voice, as well as assist in the brainstorming and outlining stages of your project.
