• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

peneloperedmont.com

Penelope Redmont writes fun traditional historical romance, romantic mysteries, and other fiction

  • Home
  • Books
    • The Eardleys of Gostwicke Hall
    • Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy
  • Blog
  • About

January 8, 2017 By penny Leave a Comment

Writing Fiction: 5 Ways To Add Drama (And Please Readers)

Writing Fiction: 5 Ways To Add Drama (And Please Readers)

You’re writing fiction. You’re an entertainer, so your primary task when you write is to be entertaining. It’s a constant challenge.

I’ve got a yellow sticky pasted to my screen which says: DRAMA. It’s easy to forget to create drama and make your fiction entertaining because there are so many things to remember when you’re writing a story.

You need to add drama to every scene, and to your narration too.

Most importantly…

When you’re writing fiction, be hard on your characters

You love your characters. You want them to be happy. That’s a fatal mistake. The happier your characters, the less drama.

I love this post, A Letter from David Mamet to the Writers of The Unit:

SO: WE, THE WRITERS, MUST ASK OURSELVES OF EVERY SCENE THESE THREE QUESTIONS.

1) WHO WANTS WHAT?
2) WHAT HAPPENS IF HER DON’T GET IT?
3) WHY NOW?

When you’re writing fiction, everyone wants something, and everyone has to FIGHT to get it.

Let’s look at some tips for adding drama to your fiction. Your readers will love it.

1. Give each of your primary characters a secret

You’ve got secrets, haven’t you? Everyone has. Most of our secrets are trivial, but we nevertheless wouldn’t like to see them revealed on Twitter.

Secrets can be major. What if your main character gets fired, and is too scared to tell her young family because they’re dependent on her income? So she “goes to work” every day. What happens on payday?

Trivial secrets abound. You tell your best friend you can’t go wedding dress shopping with her because you have to take your grandmother to the doctor. Then another friend sees you at the movies, and you worry that your best friend will find out.

So give each of your characters a secret.

2. Remember that family ties can strangle you

Families provide endless opportunities for drama. Family members are closest to you, so they know everything about you. They know how to hurt you.

Think about your own family. Do large family gatherings lead to arguments? Why?

Make things difficult for your main characters by giving them family ties which give opportunities for drama via jealousy, manipulation, competitiveness — even fear.

3. Horrible characters are drama gold

You’re writing a novel or short story, so you get to spend a lot of time with your characters. We all want to be around nice people. Why would you make some of your characters horrible?

One reason: to create drama.

Let’s say that your female lead in your romance falls in love with a man who’s divorced, and has three children. The kids are demons from hell. Brainstorm ways in which the demon kids can demolish the romance in this new relationship.

4. Avoid melodrama: strip emotion from tragedy

Basically, melodrama is overdone emotion. You know someone who’s a drama queen — every tiny hiccup in her life is a disaster.

As a rule of thumb: the bigger the emotional event, the less emotion your characters show. This adds drama, and avoids melodrama.

Imagine that your female lead has returned to work a week after her husband was killed in an accident. Which would create more drama:

  • She spends the day breaking into loud sobs?
  • She shows no avert emotion, but throws herself into her work?

5. Amp up the emotion: everyone feels something, all the time

How do you feel now? You’re feeling something, aren’t you? Your characters FEEL too. This is what’s meant by show, don’t tell — your characters experience events and the concurrent emotions in real time.

Avoid labeling emotion: she was angry. Instead, show her driving too fast, or slamming doors.

Be wary of emphasizing the physical sensations of emotion too: her heart pounded, her knees felt weak, she released a sigh…

Instead, show her actions, accompanied by her thoughts: she closed the door carefully. She had no intention of slamming it. Who did he think he was? Promoted two days, and now he was telling her how to do her job?

By the way, when you’re showing emotion, you can amp up the weather too. What’s more dramatic:

  • A child is home alone, and watching TV. It’s a calm, pleasant summer’s night; or
  • Same child, alone, but it’s stormy. The power’s out, and rain and wind lash the house.

Obviously, the second option.

Writing fiction is more fun for you when you focus on drama

Add some drama to your fiction today. You’ll have more fun writing it, and your readers will love it.

The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall
The Lady And The Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement

The Lady And The Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 1
Genre: Regency Romance
Tag: regency

Melisande Eardley has a temper, and that temper gets the better of her.

More info →
Various Retailers
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 2
Genre: Regency Romance
Tags: Recommended Books, regency

Her sister Catherine believes that Elaine's hair tells you everything that you need to know about her. It's flame-red. When Sir Oliver Destry trifles with Elaine, she decides on revenge. Elaine soon discovers the truth of the old saying that if you want to make the gods laugh, just tell them your plans.

More info →
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Man Of Fortune: A Wicked Secret

The Lady And The Man Of Fortune: A Wicked Secret

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 3
Genre: Regency Romance
Tag: romance

Although he's a prize on the Marriage Mart, wealthy and twice-widowed Lord Delmere thinks that nothing could ever tempt him to marry again. Until he meets the lovely Lady Kingston.

More info →
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Military Man: Conquer My Heart

The Lady And The Military Man: Conquer My Heart

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 4
Genre: Regency Romance
Tags: regency, romance

What happens when two people who won't consider marriage can't live without each other?

More info →
Various Retailers
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Adventurer: Win My Heart

The Lady And The Adventurer: Win My Heart

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 5
Genre: Regency Romance
Tag: regency

Henry (Henrietta) Eardley makes a huge mistake. Then she makes it worse. She's never known a man like Lord Devernwood, and he's never met a woman like her.

More info →
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Various Retailers
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Devil: If You Knew Me

The Lady And The Devil: If You Knew Me

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 6
Genre: Regency Romance
Tag: regency romance

When Cerise and her sister are in danger, she relies on herself. There's no one else. Then she meets Lord Grayhurst.

 

 

More info →
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Lady Julia’s Destiny: A Love To Treasure

Lady Julia’s Destiny: A Love To Treasure

eBook: $4.99
Author: Penelope Redmont
Series: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 7
Genre: Regency Romance
Tag: regency romance

Julia doesn't know whether to be amused or angry when Lord Lyneham decides to find her a husband. He and Julia's cousin take charge of Julia's fortunes. Suddenly, Julia's an heiress and her life changes.

More info →
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Various Book Retailers
Buy from Amazon Kindle

You May Also Like

  • Writing Fiction: A Quick Beginners’ TipWriting Fiction: A Quick Beginners’ Tip
  • Writing A Book: 3 Ways To Get Started And Keep GoingWriting A Book: 3 Ways To Get Started And Keep Going
  • Write A Book: 3 Tips To Help You To Start TodayWrite A Book: 3 Tips To Help You To Start Today
  • Writing Fiction: 5 Ways To Rescue A Novel Gone WrongWriting Fiction: 5 Ways To Rescue A Novel Gone Wrong

Filed Under: Writing Tools & Techniques Tagged With: authors, how to write, writing strategies

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

Primary Sidebar

Latest

Love And The Unexpected Duchess

Love And The Unexpected Duchess
  • A dangerous spy...
    Is Felicity Marchant truly a lady, or is she an adventuress?
More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Apple Books
Various Retailers
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Love And The Unexpected Duchess
Buy now!

The Lady And The Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement

The Lady And The Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement

Melisande Eardley has a temper, and that temper gets the better of her.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Various Retailers
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Rake: A Scandalous Arrangement
Buy now!

Lady Julia’s Destiny: A Love To Treasure

Lady Julia’s Destiny: A Love To Treasure

Julia doesn't know whether to be amused or angry when Lord Lyneham decides to find her a husband. He and Julia's cousin take charge of Julia's fortunes. Suddenly, Julia's an heiress and her life changes.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Various Book Retailers
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Lady Julia’s Destiny: A Love To Treasure
Buy now!

The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

Her sister Catherine believes that Elaine's hair tells you everything that you need to know about her. It's flame-red. When Sir Oliver Destry trifles with Elaine, she decides on revenge. Elaine soon discovers the truth of the old saying that if you want to make the gods laugh, just tell them your plans.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season
Buy now!

Time Travel Regency Romance

Tara’s Enchantment – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 1

Tara’s Enchantment – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 1

A Regency time travel romance... What if you could escape across time, and find your soulmate?

Pure evil dispatches gorgeous Tara Ballantine across the centuries, to Regency England. Tara lands on Adam Jervoise, Earl of Hillingworth -- literally -- as he's riding through a bluebell wood.

Hillingworth is handsome, rich, and kind. He's also set to propose to an heiress.

When Tara realizes that she's falling in love with the earl, she fights the feeling.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Tara’s Enchantment – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 1
Buy now!

Molly’s Magic – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 2

Molly’s Magic – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 2

At 24, not only is Molly Ballantine stunning, she has two sisters she loves, and a wonderful career. Then her eldest sister Tara vanishes, and her life disintegrates.

Molly's life is about to become even more chaotic. She wakes up in a brothel with a man who's too good-looking for her peace of mind.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Molly’s Magic – Regency Time Travel Romance, Book 2
Buy now!

Footer

Don’t Miss

Set Goals For 2021: Plan To Achieve Your Dreams

Set Goals For 2021: Plan To Achieve Your Dreams

NaNoWriMo: How Important Is Setting In Your Novel?

Write Fiction Readers Love: 3 Tips To Convey Emotions

Write Fiction Readers Love: 3 Tips To Convey Emotions

Writing a Novel: Begin It With A Bullet Or A Sunrise?

Writing a Novel: Begin It With A Bullet Or A Sunrise?

Archives

Sign up for the latest news & releases!

Pinterest

Tag Cloud

apps author authors blogging book marketing books bullet journal collection creativity England fiction fiction writing getting things done historical history hot romance how to write ideas journal kindle marketing motivation mysteries novel novella novels passion plotting fiction productivity promotion reading regency regency romance romance self-publishing series short story social media time management time travel write a novel writer's block writing process writing strategies writing tips

Books from Penelope Redmont

Escape Across Time: Tara, Molly, & Priscilla (Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy)

Escape Across Time: Tara, Molly, & Priscilla (Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy)

Love time travel romances and the Regency era?

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Various Retailers
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Escape Across Time: Tara, Molly, & Priscilla (Time Travel Regency Romance Trilogy)
Buy now!

The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season

Her sister Catherine believes that Elaine's hair tells you everything that you need to know about her. It's flame-red. When Sir Oliver Destry trifles with Elaine, she decides on revenge. Elaine soon discovers the truth of the old saying that if you want to make the gods laugh, just tell them your plans.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Lady And The Duke: A Dangerous Season
Buy now!

The Major’s Gift: A Sweet Regency Romance Novella

The Major’s Gift: A Sweet Regency Romance Novella

In 1816 England, pretty Eleanor Devayne teaches young ladies at Miss Merryford's Academy. Although Ellie's job scandalizes her family, Ellie is happy, because she's supporting her small sister.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Major’s Gift: A Sweet Regency Romance Novella
Buy now!

Lady Saville’s Lover, A Regency Romance

Lady Saville’s Lover, A Regency Romance

She's gorgeous, but hot-tempered, and Scottish heiress Bess Fleming takes the ton by storm. She's refused six proposals of marriage -- will Lord Darius make number seven?

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Apple Books
Various retailers
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Lady Saville’s Lover, A Regency Romance
Buy now!

His One True Passion: Everlasting Regency Romance Series

His One True Passion: Everlasting Regency Romance Series

The relationship between scandalous Lady Hedworth and Major Lord Cambwell has teased and annoyed the gossiping mamas of the ton for years.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Scribd
Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook
Buy from Apple Books
Buy from Kobo
Buy from Amazon Kindle
His One True Passion: Everlasting Regency Romance Series
Buy now!

Join us on Facebook

Join us on Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Penelope Redmont