Much depends on one’s location and what resources are available. It is true,
however, that drama is hard to learn from books. One can get the basic
theories, but experience cements them into the brain. The best bet is to live
in a city which has a thriving artistic community or a college/university with
an active theater program.
Taking college courses, such as an acting class, is a fine idea, and it can
be great fun, but it does cost money. If one can’t afford classes, smaller
towns sometimes have thriving little theater companies. Working with a
community theater company is good, and backstage is just fine. (One often
learns more behind the scenes than on the stage.)
If one lives on a mountain top or in the middle of a desert, libraries, the
Internet, bookstores, television, and, nowadays, outfits like Netflix can bring
instruction into the home. For example, one can get a PBS series such as Screenwriters
and Their Craft or videos such as Finding Richard. The best home
study materials, such as Finding Richard, focus on the actual work of
drama, showing performers, directors and producers in action.