Young Writers Society

When I am writing a novel, I always find it helpful for some of my mates to come around and help me act the parts out.

This doesn't make me mad, I have to explain to them, it just helps we to know how the characters are speaking, because otherwise, how are we meant to know?

Facial expressions are another helpful thing, as is body language and movements.

And, of course, it helps to have a few bars of chocolate for the actors, so that they'll want to come again...

Am I just being really stupid or do others find it helpful too?

RR*

It sounds like a good idea though I've never tried it before. I know I usualy end up mimicing my characters when I write, but not the other way round. I'll have to kidnap L and try it out.

Doesn't everyone pretend to be their characters once in a while?!

RR*

I've never tried this. I can't ask anyone to help 'act out' my characters as only few people know I write and my kid siblings aren't interested. I'll have to do it myself (my characters usually want to be left alone *pokes Monessa*).

If it helps you I think you should go on, even if the idea shoulds crazy.

Yep, it's a pretty mad idea, but it seems to work for me.

But, then again, many people say that I am mad, and I don't think Mr. Bubbles want's to disagree.

RR*

P.S. Mr. Bubbles is my alter-ego.

This would never have worked before, but now that I'm attending a college whose main draw is its drama program, I'm going to have to give it a try!

I have never tried acting....but what I do do is read the story out loud--the spoken lines as well as the narrated. This, I think, has nearly the same affect as acting the story out and it allows me to find the parts where I'm missing something or something doesn't make sense.

That's a really good idea, but I don't know anyone who wouldn't either mock everything I've written or be too embarrassed to do me any good.

I usually run the stuff through my head; I see it all like a movie, music, close-ups, overhead shots, and all. Sometimes I read things out loud, but often I can't find a place to do it where people can't hear me.

If it works for you, though, it sounds like a great idea.

I'm in agreement with Write me and Areida, thats the type of thing I ususally do. I would never ever ask my friends to help me act out one of my stories. I'd die of embarrassment!

LOL. I don't think it would work with the subject matters I have.

But oh well!

Don't worry; you're in good company. Lorca, one of my most favorite writers, did this too. He often would have parties where they performed his plays, and he was loved for it.

Nice tip!

I go to a drama school and they once asked me to write a play for them. I acted it out with my friends and then I started doing it with my stories as well.

RR*

Interesting that this would come up.

Before I was ever a writer, I was a roleplayer. Roleplaying actually comes before writing for me. Not acting. I'm not one for audiences. But stangely enough, my stories are more accurately told through roleplaying. Roleplaying is on my mind 88% of the time really. I've become very much engulfed in the practice.

So I can totally see how acting out the part would be beneficial for the writing craft, though I tend to keep the two seperate. Seperate stories, seperate art forms. Because they move at different speeds.

I can't say you're not crazy for it though. I have my own doubts about myself.

As always,

Miss POKE

I think of it being an interesting way to find the true meaning of my story.

It may be craziness, but hey, if craziness is going to get your book to the bestsellers list, I figured it's worth it.

RR*

I know I pretend to be my character all the time. My favorite story I'm writing is called The Black Bandit and when I wrote it, I had the best time ever. I could FEEL their sorrow, joy, or pain. It was really weird.