Writing a whole, real book

Not sure I'm in a position to advise, because I still haven't finished one, but I'd say they're very different things. If you want to do internal lives, it has to be a novel; if it's one-on-one relationships, then drama; protagonist-in-society might be more screenplay; that kind of thing.

If your instinct says 'play', write it like that.

that's actually quite helpful. thanks IK