How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development- PDF

Chapter Thirteen: The Value of Editing 199
Editing Exercise
The following script needs substantial editing before it is ready for broadcast.
Read and consider carefully the changes you would make to strengthen it.
The right hand column contains some starting questions. Also, consider the
following points:
1. There is not enough action in the episode. Using only the characters and
situations currently included, how could the action be increased
2. The drama has only one plot. Which two characters in this episode (one
who appears, and one who is mentioned by name only) could have
separate sub-plots of their own What type of plot might be devised for
each of these characters that would heighten the excitement of the
drama Where in this episode could you insert a scene from each of these
new sub-plots How could you use one of the sub-plots to introduce an
unexpected change in the story line
3. How can you strengthen the episode to establish the identity of each of
the characters more quickly
4. Try re-writing at least one scene in the episode to stress a dominant
emotion that will attract empathy and interest from the audience
5. This episode suggests that the major character of the drama is Sseka, a
man who has twenty-two children by the time he is thirty-five. What
problem does having Sseka as the major character create for the message
6. Consider the structure of the story into which the message is blended.
Does the story seem intriguing and exciting on its own, or does it exist
merely to relay the message How could you strengthen the story in
future episodes
In the interests of space, the name Nsubuga has been shortened to Nsub in
the script.
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