A Session on Script Writing

Sandra Saji Kallarackal 22PYEN49 (Member of Writers' Association), Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous

If you see me with a book and pen lost so entirely in the world in a Once Upon a Time, I urge you not to blame me for my state. Since 9th January 2025, the "I" in my being as a 'writer' has largely been possessed by Dr. David Wesley from Madras Christian College, Tamil Nadu (so blame him). He took one session in script writing that somehow managed to remove any apprehension that future narrators of the human tale had possessed. He cast a spell, "There is no such thing as writer's block," thus, a part of me healed. This workshop was organized by the Writers' Association of our College.

Like any unconventional teacher, Mr. Wesley first stepped down from the stage. He met his comrades' eyes and forwent the artificial loudness of a mic. In the first seven seconds of his class, the people woke up.

Very few people in the world possess the talent to narrate history in a way that captures its beauty, profundity, and ugliness, as it deserves to be told. The members of the writers' association were fortunate to have Mr. Wesley, who excelled in this art

No, on that Wednesday, history was not merely told. Parts of it were even acted out. Teaching and narrating became an action, and learning became tangible.

Mr Wesley was a kind guide. He led us on a journey with care. He started with Greek tragedies, eastern theatre, and mythologies. We met several playwrights, starting, naturally, with Aristotle. We stopped at Shakespeare and endearingly with Ibsen and his famous play, "A Doll's House."

If you ask me what I learned (and I beg you, please do, I want to tell you), I'd flaunt my newfound knowledge, which I obtained from Mr. Wesley. My new knowledge includes understanding what makes a tragedy and a comedy. I learned that most dramas and mythologies originate from oral traditions, not from creation. Also, Aristotle claimed that "drama is a superior art form."

After all these technicalities, Mr. Wesley was kind enough (the aforementioned kind guide exists throughout the session) to narrate a story, 'A Doll's House' by Ibsen. Truthfully, I was there in the story because Mr. Wesley has an incredibly effective tool where he acts out the scenes. He became theatre to educate us on script writing.

After my beautiful rant, you asked me, with the same patience, what else I learned that I can practically apply. I would tell you that drama should depict real life—an imitation, extension, etc. Stories should reveal themselves slowly rather than shoving down vast amounts of information and keeping people "hooked" is a real phenomenon.

"Imagination is an action," he said.

He made us do it, made us imagine. By sending us out, asking us to observe, and then creating, Dr. David Wesley made us scriptwriters. Conversations bloomed on paper. He critiqued them with a tenderness that seemed uncharacteristic of his energetic persona. It may have seemed uncharacteristic to me because I had not eavesdropped (yes, this was the activity) on honest conversations in a long time and had forgotten that people exist in complexity.

Like all good things, the session ended, too. I repeatedly asked Dr Santhosh Kumar whether Dr David Wesley would return for a sequel, and promises were made. I hope those promises are kept because Dr David Wesley, by being himself, has had a lifelong impact on many people. Manifestation may not be accurate, but I hope a sequel to this session will exist. It made me something more, more of a writer.