6.3: Drama Exercises

Exercise 1: Hypothetical Dialogue.

Write hypothetical dialogue you’d like to have with someone you do not like right now. Be authentic. Be upset and angry.

Exercise 2: But Why?\(^{32}\)

To beef up your skills at creating dialogue AND characters, write a script where you keep asking your characters why. Here's an example:

“Why are you grumpy?”

“I have a hangover.”

“Why do you have a hangover?”

“My friend was in a bad accident, and I thought he might die?”

“Why did you think he might die?”

“His girlfriend lied to me about how serious the accident was.”

“Why did she lie about that?”

“She's jealous of our relationship.”

“Why?”

“I think she's insecure and has trust issues.”

Exercise 3: “The Hammer and the Hatchet”\(^{33}\)

A stranger walks into the general store and buys a hammer, a hatchet, some rope, and an apple. You are working at the register. Write the conversation you have with him.

Exercise 4: Presidential.\(^{34}\)

Write a presidential speech about why your country needs more ice cream.

Exercise 5: Classmates.

Write dialogue using statements classmates have written in previous exercise posts.

\(^{32}\)But why [blog.reedsy.com]

\(^{33}\)The hammer and the hatchet [blog.reedsy.com]

\(^{34}\)Presidential [blog.reedsy.com]

“I think new writers are too worried that it has all been said before. Sure, it has, but not by you.”

---Asha Dornfest