Stage to Page: How Being an Actor Makes Me a Better Writer – Part 1

Fun fact: I went to theatre school!

Or at least, I earned my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Drama at a university here in Canada. Sometimes, I wish I’d gotten an English degree instead, as that would definitely align more with my current pursuits.

But the truth is, I wouldn’t trade those years in the belly of the fine arts tower where the drama classrooms/stages were located. Going to class was sort of like descending into the dungeon at Hogwarts for potions class with Snape. We had to walk down about a billion stairs, over grimy carpet that was probably laid sometime in the late Middle Ages, past old couches that may or may not have mice living inside the cushions, and through the heavy doors that led to the large, windowless rehearsal space.

While I didn’t love being stuck in what felt like the literal butthole of the university campus, it’s funny how I look back on that space with such affection. The reason, of course, is the rich community that existed between the students. I remember waiting together in the lobby during auditions; sitting in a cluster on that gross, old carpet while we took a break from rehearsal; wandering around the hallways searching for random places to perform our directing class projects. There were so many incredibly, creative people who boosted me up, made me laugh, and helped to brighten some very difficult seasons.

When you take an acting class, you learn some pretty fabulous life skills. For one, you are building your confidence and communication skills. For another, you are learning empathy and understanding for those around you. Theatre is, at its core, a study of human nature: how do different people act? Why do they act that way? How could we or should we respond to those around us?

Writing is similar. If you are a fiction writer, then your characters are at the heart of any good story you wish to tell. When I think of the plot-heavy books I’ve read in the past, it was still the characters that kept me invested. I needed to care about someone – better, to relate to someone – on the page. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when a character does or thinks something that makes you think: That’s me! I’ve experienced that, too!

There are many things I learned from my time in theatre school that help me to write characters more authentically. Here are two to get us started:

1. Stay Present

Acting could actually be renamed reacting. It is ESSENTIAL to be completely present in a scene. This means you’re not stuck in your head, thinking about your next line or wondering if the person backstage is going to miss their entrance this time. It means you are in the moment, listening, listening, listening to the other actors on the stage. If you are truly paying attention, then the idea is that you will react naturally to their words or actions. You don’t have to “put on” an angry face or a sad face. You don’t have to pretend to be choked with emotion because the emotion will slip in for real. 

So how does this help us as writers? I submit that if we can learn to be present with our own work, we will be able to tell the story much more authentically. It starts with being in our own bodies – feeling our breath, tuning in to the sensations around us. I had one director tell me once that if I ever found myself distracted onstage during a scene, I should just touch my hand against my costume. She told me that the tactile sensation would help snap me back to the present moment and allow me to focus. If you need help being present when you show up to write, it could be as simple as touching something and thinking about the sensation against your fingertips: the smooth countertop, the hot coffee mug, the soft blanket (or cat).

Once you’re feeling present in your body, try to tune in to what your emotional instincts are saying as you write. Are there any parts of your scene that just feel…off? That make you uncomfortable even though there is nothing objectively wrong with them? Focus in on those parts! Chances are, even if the writing is solid, the story is not following the path it is meant to in that moment. What do you need to change in order to make the story completely authentic? How can you be more honest with the character’s journeys?

2. Know Your Character’s Objectives

Objectives are at the heart of good acting. An objective is simply what your character wants in every moment.

This concept is fascinating to me because it is true to life. Everyone has an objective at every moment. Sit back right now and think: what do I want right now? Whatever you want will motivate a) the actions you take and/or b) the way in which you take those actions. For instance, my objective is often simply: I want to write. But I can’t always be writing – sometimes I have to go to work. In those moments, my actions may not reflect my objective; however, the way I act/talk at work often reflects – in subtle ways – that I don’t really want to be there.

At work, my objective may change moment-to-moment. I want to help this kid understand the lesson. I want to make my students laugh. I want to finish marking this assignment so I can go home and eat chocolate.

When preparing for a show, actors are asked to find their character’s super-objective (what their character wants overall in the story – what they are working towards the whole time), as well as the mini-objectives from scene to scene. This informs everything: how their character moves, how they speak, the nuances of their body language, the subtext being communicated by their tone of voice, etc.

Writers can do this, too! Ask yourself when you go to write a scene: what does my character want right now? How are they trying to get it? Is something keeping them from getting that thing?

This will help to inform dialogue and description!

More thoughts on acting/writing connections to come!