(Blogger thinks I spell theatre wrong. I'd stick my tongue out, but I don't think blogger would care.)
Back in my college days, I learned a little acting trick to help bring out emotions. When I first started writing, I realized it worked just as well to bring out emotional responses in characters. It's so simple you're probably already doing it, but I'm going to pass it along anyway.
Grab your favorite pillow and lie down on the floor, Ask yourself what emotional response you're trying to trigger. Let's go with shyness because it's not one we usually think about. Go ahead and walk yourself through the situation you remember, Then figure out what part of your body is feeling the emotional response. It could be your heart, hands, face, stomach... I feel a lot of my emotions in my stomach. The feelings are random for everyone, but when you can place that emotion with a part of your body it's easier to bring back and when you're feeling it, you can more easily show, rather than tell, your readers how your characters feel it.
Nice tip! Thanks Nisa!
ReplyDeleteI spell theatre the correct THEATRICAL way as well! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea. I may try that right now. I'm having trouble making myself sit down and write and this may be part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteHi Nisa -
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and commenting.
Wow! I like this exercise a lot. I'm going to link to this post at a future date. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Nisa .. just come over from Susan's blog .. I agree with you re using acting concepts as ways of expressing ourselves in writing. I'm not an author .. but can totally understand this - I did a short acting course earlier this year and have a 'playright friend' I met who have their own theatre company (yes English too!) .. and I've seen how they work as a twosome - writing and putting on plays.
ReplyDeleteA lot can be learnt from the different disciplines ... so interesting .. thanks for highlighting for us - cheers Hilary
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