Lecture Notes: The Complexity of Character and Drama in Writing

Introduction to Character and Drama

• Character complexity is essential in storytelling.
• Challenge characters by putting them in difficult situations.
  • Person against themselves, person against person.
  • Explore the drama of choices forced by circumstances.

Key Concepts in Crafting Stories

• Voice drives character; character drives drama.
• Importance of alive writing - using examples from Richard Powers' "The Overstory."
• Different kinds of stories:
  • People against people
  • People against themselves
  • People against the environment (man vs. nature)

Understanding Character

• Human brains evolved to understand motivations of others.
• Characters in literature reflect our own lives.
• Example: Characters in "Playground" are alter egos exploring the author's personal past.
• Drama arises from character interactions and the unresolved issues from youth.

Stanislavski Method and Characterization

• Use of the Stanislavski method for character development.
• Characters as "onions" - traits, mannerisms, core inner values.
• Push characters to make tough choices between core values, e.g., honesty vs. fidelity.

Levels of Drama

• Interior drama: Man vs. self.
• Sociological/political drama: Man vs. man.
• Environmental/metaphysical drama: Man vs. nature/elements.
• Historical context of these dramas in literature, with a focus on man vs. nature being less common in modern times.

Writing the Non-human World

• Insights from Richard Powers' work "The Overstory."
• Empathy for trees and the interconnectedness of the natural world.
• Importance of balancing scientific understanding with animistic perspectives.

Effective Use of Language

• The role of rhythm, pacing, and language in writing.
• Influence of diction, register, syntax on sentence construction.
• Examples: Descriptive writing and the use of unexpected word choices.

Drama and Form in Storytelling

• Tension as a key element in structuring a story.
• Four-part tension graph: Hook, exposition, rising action, climax, denouement.
• Interplay of tension with character and plot development.

Writing Dialogue

• Dialogue in fiction is stylized and efficient compared to real speech.
• Importance of hearing dialogue aloud.
• Examples of authors with notable dialogue styles.

Reflections on Writing and Process

• Emotional impact and empathy through storytelling.
• Crafting sentences and editing for desired effects.
• The iterative nature of writing and the importance of revisions.

Solitude and Writing

• Balance between creative solitude and engagement with the world.
• The role of different mediums (writing tools) in the writing process.

Conclusion

• Embrace the complexity and iterative nature of writing.
• Solitude and interaction with the world are key to nurturing creativity.
• Continuous learning and adaptation in the writing journey.