Stanislavski vs. Saturday Night Live

Feb

2007

Filed in: blog

Ah, Marti, your insights are remarkable! (Folks, see the comment below, if you haven’t checked it out.)

For some reason, your ADD vs NonADD ways of working got me to thinking about acting. In college, I studied the Stanislavski Method, but didn’t quite take to it. For a while, I thought I was just a bad actor. Truth is, I’m not good at sustaining intense drama over a two-hour period – my inner nature is a touch too whimsical and unfocused – nothing spoils a good Tennessee Williams moment like a fit of giggling.

On the other hand, I have a friend who is SO method that he can take days, sometimes weeks to get OUT of chararcter (which plays the devil with his relationships, I can tell you – serial killers aren’t a lot of fun to live with and a run of Hamlet can be downright annoying).

I was very good, however, at sketch comedy and old musicals. I have a broad style of delivery and a loud voice (I can be a serious belter), neither of which are good talents for subtle performances.

So, Marti, I’m thinking our respective working styles may be akin to…you are Shakespearean; I am Saturday Night Live.

Both have their pros and cons (and George Burns and Laurence Olivier are both beloved!). I think it’s a matter of using those talents God gave us to recognize how we best work; adapting those intrinsic parts of our personality into a working style that is valuable – and productive!

There’s the rub! The productivity!

After I posted last night, I followed some of my own advice and made myself “write-through” the stall. Discipline over talent. And it worked. I have most of today off, and I’m plunging toward the end of my chapter…although I had to take a break to check the blog, and get on the treadmill, and feed Rachel…

Next weekend is a writers retreat for the local RWA group. A weekend at a local national park – woods, workshops, and downtime for writing, plus an agent or two. My personal deadline is to get CLUES mostly finished by the end of it. We’ll see if my discipline and stubbornness can override my tendency toward easy distraction.

I think I’ll post progress here; see what happens.

1 Comment

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On February 19th, 2007 at 2:08 pm, Marti said:

It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed aloud at a blog (or even checked yours during the day, when I’m –YES–supposed to be writing!)–but I just did.

I am SO a “method” writer, not by training but by (as you know by now that I would say) Design.

And don’t even talk to either my husband or my writing partner about how I am to live/work with during the ins-and-outs of “voice.” Please! You might guess that they both operate more on the ADD scale. (Daffy Duck meets . . . Ophelia?)

It’s all very fascinating, but our roads end (and begin) at the same place: disciplining ourselves for the task ahead. Regardless of our individual bent, for us, writing is not just an issue of vocation but of obedience. Right, my ADD friend?

BTW, to have done all your resume indicates, you must conquer those tendencies well. I remain in awe. Press on!