Yahoo Image Search
Maybe it’s because drama has a slightly different meaning these days, but I find it a difficult subject to discuss. Randomly ask a friend what they think of drama with no context and they’ll talk about the real life stuff. You know, the stress and headaches of being a living being that interacts with other living beings. There are days I wonder if the majority of people have no recollection that drama can also be a genre or at least part of a story. It’s a fairly broad category too since it could be considered more tool than stand alone genre. We tend to have it be second such as historical drama, cop drama, romantic drama, science fiction drama, comedic drama, etc. Makes it pretty hard to talk about since it’s so widespread.
Personally, I think drama is one of the best ways to evolve a character. These are your conflicts that range from personal to global because there are things at stake. People aren’t involved in drama when they are living a quiet life and that goes for the literary tool as well. So, you need it to push a story forward and get your characters to change. Most times this relates to relationships, which is that different from real life. The people we interact with cause us to change either through getting along or opposition forcing us to reevaluate our own views. This should be the same for our characters if we want them to be more relatable. I’ll go more into this on Wednesday with a 7 Tips post.
So, what do people think of drama in fiction? Is it possible to avoid it or is this the crux of conflict?
Legends of Windemere 
As you mentioned, drama is important to character development. I don’t think you can have a compelling story without drama. “Sam went to the store, bought eggs, then drove back home” is not as interesting as “Sam went to the store, looked around, then stole some eggs, and drove home.” While some drama might seem contrived, drama that originates because a character is a certain way is not contrived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great points. It does get funny when people get fed up with drama then complain about other stuff being boring. Drama really does keep things interesting for good and bad.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t help thinking of Game of Thrones, which seems drama incarnate.
Looking at the lighter tone of some of the latest offerings–Thor Ragnarok and Justice League–I wonder if people are reacting more to the desire for more humor and characters who don’t seem as dour as, say, classic Batman. Life has so much drama these days as we can see in the news. So I wonder if people are wanting a break from some of the drama. I’m not sure. But drama is what drives me to read a book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
GoT would be taking it to the extreme. Seems there’s always a big twist.
There is a limit to comedy though. It’s the polar opposite of drama in ways. I’ve seen a lot of shows and movies that don’t really hit that balance. Not that you need it because you can go to the extreme for certain genres. Poor Batman and being seen as dour. Is it the classic though? West, Keaton, Kilmer, and the animated one had humor. Bale seemed to be the first moody one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would be nice to have less drama in real life, but I think it’s essential in a story. You don’t have to have loads of it all the time, but without some drama, the story will be so dull it will only ever be read by insomniacs seeking something to help them drift off to dreamland.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree. I’m wondering if people that dislike drama are picking at certain events (death, heartache, etc.) and use the word as an umbrella term.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s certainly possible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A story couldn’t exist without drama. I don’t want to read a story about two people walking down s sidewalk unless: they’re being followed, talking about the drama in their lives, etc… a story, even comedies, require some type of drama.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s interesting that comedy does require some drama, but drama can exist without comedy. I wonder if that’s the nature of the two schools or simply how our society has evolved to view fiction.
LikeLiked by 2 people
By classic, I was thinking of Frank Miller. I love Batman: Year One though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He definitely went very dark, but that seems to be what Frank Miller enjoys. I’ve liked his Batman, but I’ll admit that I always preferred the more common one with a slight sense of humor. That one came off as much human and relatable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with the commenter that said, no drama = no story. Staying home and watching the Olympics wouldn’t exactly make for a best seller. Add a home invasion, a few gallons of blood, and a passive homeowner with a secret and dark history and you may well be on your way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What about watching the Olympics and waiting for a pizza to get delivered before the tandem luge?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds like a great evening, but not much commercial opportunity for a book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bet Dominos and Pizza Hut would love it. 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine a story that does not have an element of drama. I’m all for it as a vehicle to involve the reader more.
LikeLike
I’ve been trying to think of one too. Keep coming up blank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
I think drama is pretty much a part of life, so it has to be part of a story or the story just won’t feel real. But I also think there can be too much drama (in life and in a story). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. Going over the top with drama may seem like a good idea at the time, but I don’t see it working that often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If there was no drama at all, it would be a boring story. But of course, every reader has their own tolerance for drama. Too much can seem like wallowing. I do think that readers are pretty good at picking material that fits their taste as far as drama goes.
LikeLike
Probably. I have seen many people demonstrate a shrunken tolerance in recent years. So the drama in one’s life might affect that limit. A more stressed society could equal less drama reading, which explains a few conversations I’ve had over the last year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💜 this! My latest post is actually about drama. There is so much more out to do besides indulge in drama all the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Though it does seem to be a common entity in all genres.
LikeLiked by 1 person