My nine-year-old was in a production of Beauty and the Beast this summer. I’ve never been more proud of my once-stage-shy-girl standing in front of strangers, singing with all her might and blossoming in the limelight. Afterward, I wondered what we writers can glean from theatrical productions and how story is delivered from the stage to a live audience. Although our readers are not sitting in front of us, we want them to feel as though the story were unfolding, in real time, before their eyes.

Actors must ensure every line is delivered clearly so everyone is kept in rapt attention throughout the play. This means no mumbling, no turning backs to the audience, and no forgetting of lines. How does this translate to writing? Ask yourself, is my plot clear? Do I hook my audience early on and hold their attention in every scene? Does each line of dialog move the story forward?

Just between you and me, I’ve put down a few books lately when I could not distinguish the plot early on, or that meandered into numerous scenes that did not further the story. Hook your audience with clear, concise writing, and keep modern short attention spans in mind.

Theater is also dependent on the use of dynamic body language. Good actors are always aware of where their body is in space and must use their faces and limbs to express depth of emotion. No one wants to watch someone woodenly deliver lines without broad movements and relevant gestures.

Writers too must make sure that body language is easily visualized and is indicative of each character’s emotional state. My kids have become quite accustomed to Mom gesturing widely, making strange faces or acting out scenes in the kitchen because body language must be realistic and relevant to plot and character development.

And what is a good production without the right amount of makeup to highlight the actor’s features and expressions? Vibrant costumes that depict the correct time period and add to characterization? Detailed backdrops that give a good sense of time and place? Writers must ensure that the reader can visualize the story in their mind and yet must also strive to not over-do description, highlighting only pertinent details, otherwise readers will get mired in distractions that clutter the stage of their imaginations.

Finally, actors bring their own emotions to the stage. Tapping into their own experiences of being sad, happy, in love, or angry ensures the audience will be ushered into a meaningful, emotional experience. We writers too must dig into the garden of our own buried emotions. We must not be afraid to poke into those places that hurt, or express those that give us deep joy.

Like actors, writers are most effective when we ditch the stage-fright to write with abandon and then invite readers to immerse themselves in an exhilarating, sensory-laden, and emotional story.

~*~

There is nothing Connilyn Cossette likes better than digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus. Her debut novel, Counted With the Stars: Out from Egypt Series, recently released through Bethany House Publishers. Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.