The page is your stage
I spend a couple of hours a day surfing the internet looking for articles, opportunities, and information about the book and publishing industry. I find articles about marketing, promotions, events, etc. That’s great to know and I love learning, but I can’t help but wonder why there aren’t more articles about the real reason we write for the public.
Industry organizations focus on style, technique, and skill. Those things are crucial to what we do and our potential for success, but I recently discovered that there is something dramatically missing from what aspiring authors are taught. It’s about entertainment. That’s right, you heard me. We write books to entertain readers. Did you forget that? Our goal should be to make readers feel something…laugh, cry, tremble with eerie anticipation.
I’ve read a number of books lately that, while technically sound, weren’t remotely entertaining. The overall performances of the authors were stale and one-dimensional.
Look at it from the angle of someone watching a movie. We go to the movies or rent DVDs because we love the multidimensional aspects of film. We wince at the sound of a punch breaking bone. We sigh in anticipation together with lovers about to embrace passionately. We escaped into action during that time.
It should be the same with books. Readers pick up novels looking for something different, a diversion. Why isn’t it as important to writers as it used to be?
The next time you sit down to write, consider this: You are a group of actors. You are the writer, the director and the actors. Place yourself in this environment and use the skills and demands of each role to increase the impact and presentation of your work.
As a writer, make sure your words are skillfully presented. Hone your grammatical and technical skills to perfection and you’ll eliminate the possibility of distraction.
As a director, consider each and every action and ensure the appropriate level of reaction. Take great care to ensure that everything happens for a reason and be the hand that guides your actors through their performances.
As actors, and this is the most important thing, immerse yourself in the role of each character. Be the character while you write. Play the scenes over and over in your mind, rehearsing them until you are living them. Then, and only then, will you present your audience with a stellar, Oscar-worthy performance.
One thing you should always remember is that you are writing for the reader. They are your audience and if you want them to offer you their loyalty and money in future performances, you should always cater to them. Because, without readers, you have no job as an author.
