Importance of Dramatic Elements

When writing a novel, the first aspect that comes to mind for most people is the plot. The events that happen. Usually, there is an idea and maybe a twist at the end. And as important a plot is to the novel, it is neither the first element nor the most important to consider.

For me, it is most important to first think through the Dramatic Elements. They are the foundation of the book. When put together, they cover everything that needs to come together to tell a compelling story. If one or more are missing or lacking, the story will not reach its potential.

As I see it, there are seven aspects to the Dramatic Elements: two Ts and five Ws. (Yes, the same five Ws of news reporting but in a slightly different context.) Here’s how they all fit together.

Theme

Also called the Message of the story, this is what readers should be thinking about by the end and long after they close the book. Themes are broad ideas and can include just about anything. Family responsibilities, power in relationships, roles in society, or meaning between friends.

Themes in stories help us think about the world around us and how we act as humans. Whether on a broad, societal scale (like the importance of a free press) or a very personal scale (what my father means to me), themes give the story their emotional basis.

The Theme is the message conveyed to readers.

Tone

Closely related to Theme, the Tone is how that message is conveyed, and I don’t mean through the events of the story. The Tone is about the type of story. The mood. The focus.

For example, should the message be delivered via humor, satire, drama, or clinically? A noir tone can convey no-nonsense drama, while a gothic tone might be darker. A religious tone could be hopeful, while a mythical tone might be more fantastical.

Tone is closely related to genre, i.e. romances will likely have a romantic tone. But, like genres, Tones can be blended into something new. Fish out of water stories can have a tone of wonder, while hard science fiction could have an intellectual tone.

Use whatever works for the story, but be clear that the Tone is considered when writing so that it is consistent throughout. Understanding the Tone will help identify scenes or characters that don’t quite fit and either need to be modified or removed.

A unique Tone can also set the story apart to agents.

Why

The Whys of the story look at the reasons for telling the story. For example, Why is the story important? Why should it be told? Readers don’t want a rehash of something that’s already out there, so why is this story different?

Similarly, Why are you (the author) the person to tell this story? Why are you an expert with this particular Theme, e.g. why do you know about the core relationship, or the governmental role, or the area of scientific study, or the development of an aptitude?

For example, if the story is about a chess prodigy dealing with the stress of competitions at a young age, is that something with which you (the author) are familiar? If not, why are you writing that story? If your background is in youth sports that you didn’t enjoy, maybe a story exists more in your area of expertise or experience. It doesn’t have to, but understanding Why the story needs to be told and why you need to tell it will help with the overall quality of the story.

What

Ah, finally. The plot. The ‘A’ story. The events and experiences that the characters endure. What unfolds. And even what surprises pop up along the way. The What is the sequence of events that lead from the inciting incident through the midpoint to the climax. The What provides the framework within which the characters act. A mission to complete or a mystery to solve.

What happens is often one of the easiest things to answer about a story.

Who

Also called the ‘B’ story. Who is telling the story, and Who is acting in the story? Often, particularly with the popularity of Deep POVs, these are often aligned into the protagonist, i.e. the main character. The protagonist is the character that the readers follow, and often, the story is told from their perspective.

They are the one who will experience the What to eventually convey the Theme. The main character will learn something by the end of the story, and that new perspective is often what the author wants the readers to think about long after putting the book away.

It is important to understand Who that character is. Beyond the basic demographics, i.e. what they look like, what makes them the person they are? Where did they grow up and what was it like? Was it rough and dangerous or safe and loving? What are their childhood traumas—what do they fear and what do they love?

Character development and richness is an incredibly important aspect of story development. The plot may get the headlines for being interesting, but it is the relatability, the depth, the humanity of a character that truly makes a lasting impression.

When/Where

The two main aspects of world-building—and creating the setting of the story—the When addresses the timeframe of the story while the Where address the location.

Is the set in the future? The past? In contemporary times? Does it take place over an afternoon or a lifetime? The When provides context to the reader of how characters act and what they know.

Is it set on Earth, in Michigan, on the street corner, or on a moon of Saturn? Is it set in a prison, on a starship, in a palace, or in a monster’s lair? Is it set in a fantastical land or on the south side of the tracks?

For example, a story set in the dark ages in Rome quickly lets the reader know that, on a broad context, people live in fear of religious zealotry and retribution and that science (or anything not understood or attributed to God) is dangerous. People were close-minded and paranoid.

The When and Where help establish the framework of the story.

Bonus (the How)

Though When and Where cover most aspects of world-building, for certain stories it might also be helpful to understand How everything works. How does the magical system operate? How do politics and religion influence society? How is the economy structured and how do they mate? How do people advance in the society and how do others fall through the cracks? Even on a smaller scale, how does the critical propulsion system work so we understand just how fragile it is?

Even if only rarely referenced during a story, the How can add a lot of depth, detail and nuance to a story.

Conclusion

There are many aspects of a story to consider that need to be seamlessly woven together. All are critical and need to be understood.

A story that doesn’t consider one or more of these areas, the Theme, the Tone, the Why, the What, the Who, the When and Where, and even the How, might be missing something that truly immerses the reader into the story. That makes the story believable, enjoyable, and unforgettable.

In other words, the Dramatic Elements are what makes the story a success.