As a genre, tragedy screenwriting needs special handling because the writer must be emotionally involved to get the best results. A tragic script has been defined as an art form that brings pleasure to the audience through the representation of the characters’ suffering. It may sound quite paradoxical, but the beauty of a tragic story lies in the struggle and downfall of one or more of the main characters. Extreme pain resulting from a series of calamities, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unavoidable circumstances has a magical effect on the audience.
Tragedy screenwriting has long been viewed with a degree of deference because of the skill required to do a good job. The tragic element has to be so realistic that viewers of the movie, TV series, or play begin to identify with the person in pain. In this way, the script is likely to gain more recognition from the writer, the director, and the viewers. When people engage with artists, their senses are engrossed to the point that they can start to cry silently for them. This is exactly what good tragedy screenwriting is all about: seizing the minds and hearts of the audience.
While not simple, writing drama screenplays is not a Herculean task either. A few hints and you’ll be an expert in tragic literary outpourings.
* Equip yourself by reading a lot of heartbreaking scripts and start getting used to writing about disastrous situations. The more you read, the more comfortable you’ll become with tragedies. Use your time well to build a believable plot and each action should have logical implications.
* Make careful planning on all aspects of the tragic story. Any event that does not fit into the climactic catastrophe will not suffice.
* Take your time to write. Tentative periods help you think of new ways to represent the lurking misfortune. Go through it several times until you have polished the script to your satisfaction. Your hard work will surely be richly rewarded.
Have others evaluate your work. Tragedy scriptwriting has a smooth flow so the opinion of others can go a long way. Have your final script read by honest people and not by those who are likely to only give you positive feedback. Instead, encourage constructive criticism from those with proven experience in the field of screenwriting.
