Creative Writing Tip - Watch a Movie

On Tuesday evening, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi of The Bookshelf Muse hosted a webinar focusing on how to show character emotion by using non-verbal communication.  It was well worth my time. While much of what they covered I had learned in my creative writing class, refreshers are always appreciated.   One thing they advised really caught my attention.  It was to watch a movie - taking notes on how the actors react in emotional scenes.   Does the actor/actress lean in? Where are their hands? What are they doing with their lower body?  Are they tense?  Relaxed?  

Actors have the ability to bring the written word to life.  I think about Nicholas Sparks' THE NOTEBOOK.  I enjoyed the book.  But the movie...what can I say?  I've watched it countless times and still cry.  The scenes between Gena Rowlands and  James Garner are so moving - both beautiful and heartbreaking.  It's like having permission to witness someone's most intimate moments.

And that's the great thing about watching a movie, you are free to watch for as long as you like and  - unlike people watching - you can press rewind.  You can focus on the little details without having to worry about a real life someone thinking you are a creeper.

-DS McKnight

Reading improves writing skills

As writers, we sometimes get so caught up in the task of writing we forget to read.  Reading is an easy way to improve writing skills.  Reading doesn't have to be limited to books; news articles and short stories are great options.  The important thing is to pay attention to sentence structure and paragraph development.

A novel is more than a story.  It is an example of the skills the writer has acquired.  When reading, we should consider the various elements of the book:   how the author maintains the mood of the story, how the plot moves, and whether we feel a connection to the characters.

By paying attention to the work of others, we can improve our own writing skills.