Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Drama Sketches

Do you love to share timeless truths in a memorable way? Can you write realistic dialogue that defines characters, advances plot and portrays common human experiences? When we use these God-given writing gifts to craft short, one-act theatrical pieces we can capture an audience and speak to hearts. But where do we find resources for creating such sketches?

Patti Souder, author of Each for the other...both for God : life sketches of Doug & Natalie Roe (Montrose Broadcasting Corp., 1978) and co-author with Jana Carman of People Like Us: Dialogues in Two Voices Featuring Men and Women of the Bible (Lillenas, 1997; drama) offered several sources during her talk at the Susquehanna Valley Writers Worship earlier this month. Her suggestions included these great ideas:

  • Contemporary characters
  • Historical figures
  • Historical values, blind spots or problems
  • Stories in the public domain
  • Stories from classics or the Internet that are not copyrighted
  • Copyrighted stories for which we have secured permission to adapt
  • Humorous or tear-jerking contemporary situations
  • Poetry
  • Scripture
  • Music
  • Artwork


Our goal as writers is to enable others to experience the great benefit we’ve found in knowing Christ and being guided by His Word. The psalmist said, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (19:7). Sketches are one of the many ways to pass along God’s truth to people hungering for encouragement and help.

Blessings on your writing!
Pam Williams
©2011 Pamela D. Williams

3 comments:

  1. Pam, Thank you for sharing this! I started writing a short skit the other day about a princess who was adopted (by God). I plan to tie it with a song that the kids did in a church play a few years ago "I am adopted", a song the kids already know. :0)

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  2. Thanks for sharing this! I have had the opportunity to write two scripts for the kids at our church - one a very short sketch about lightsabers, and how the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword (even a lightsaber).

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  3. "Our goal as writers is to enable others to experience the great benefit we’ve found in knowing Christ and being guided by His Word." Totally agree. I've not tried to write any sketches, although I did organise a few as a youth leader in my local church.

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