Acting and Writing

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to act in a play.

The school hired a new drama guy and he wanted to start the program with something big and splashy, so he chose everybody's favorite: A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was perfect for a Hawaiian college, with its playful nature and lush setting.

Naturally, I wanted to be Puck. I got Demetrius instead.

Which was fun. Even if it wasn't my favorite part, it was a major role and I got to work with an awesome group of folks.

So why does this matter to the Rumba?

Believe it or not, acting and writing have a lot in common. One of the most important things in theater is to think about what the character would have said if someone else weren't talking. In many instances, you have to have a "fake" line prepared in your mind that you're about to say before another character cuts you off.

It helps you understand your character better and makes dialogues more believable. Nothing shuts down suspension of disbelief like awkward silences. It also creates a fun scenario where the actor who is supposed to speak must shout over the other actor, making things much more dramatic.

Writing first person narratives is a bit like acting. You jump into a character's shoes and try to imagine the world from their point of view. The story becomes a mental play as you consider how the main character will react to situations, what they will say and think and feel.


My advice to is to take part in a play sometime. You'll get lessons you weren't even looking for.