350 / Types of Writing
-^ a description of the stage setting,
-^ a division of the play into acts and scenes,
-^ speeches, identified by character name,
-^ stage directions, to suggest characters’ movements and changes in scenery and/
or location.
In addition to these, we also expect the script to contain the essential dramatic ele-
ments. The following elements appear in good dramatic productions:
-^ characters who, in the course of their dialogue and interaction, tell the
audience everything it needs to know,
-^ clearly developed characters, including at least one protagonist and antagonist
[see protagonist and antagonist in the Glossary],
-^ believable behavior and dialogue,
-^ motivation to account for behavior and attitudes,
- believable^ conflict^ [see^ conflict^ in the Glossary],
-^ ample action,
-^ good plot or story line,
-^ rising action, crisis, climax, and falling action [see each of these entries in the
Glossary],
-^ a theme [see theme in the Glossary].
PRoCESS
To develop a drama script, you meld a number of writing skills. In one respect, you
are writing a kind of short story, filled with action but lacking narration. In another
respect, you are mapping character’s actions within the confines of the stage. In still
another, you are writing dialogue [see Chapter 22, Dialogue] and following the tech-
niques of that creative art form. Along with these go concise descriptions of setting,
staging, and direction. This complicated combination of writing skills requires atten-
tion to detail. The following process will help you develop the total script.
STEP 1: Prewriting—Determining the Message
Before you can write a drama script, you must decide what message, or theme, you
hope to convey. [See theme, as it relates to literature, in the Glossary.] Think about
what matters to you. If this is your first attempt at writing a drama, avoid dealing
with world-impact messages. Instead, deal with something closer to home. Put your
message in a single sentence.