Creative Writers and Actors can learn a lot from one another.
These 2 skills integrate amazingly and can improve one another in many different ways.
Here are 15 quick lessons I learned in 12+ years of stage acting and 17+ working as a copywriter, ghostwriter and creative writer.
1: Empathy and Understanding.
Writing characters with depth requires understanding their motivations, fears, and desires. This translates directly to embodying a character on stage.
This is especially powerful when writing speeches to motivate people during events and webinars.
2: Observation and Detail.
Writers are keen observers of human behavior. This skill helps actors notice subtle nuances to bring characters to life.
Viceversa acting teaches you to interact with imaginary objects and situation, immersing yourself into your visualization.
3: The Power of Words.
Crafting dialogue as a writer strengthens an actor’s appreciation for the rhythm and subtext of language.
Acting out dialogues is a great school on how to write them in an effective way.
4: Unlocking Imagination.
Writing exercises can free your mind and lead to more creative choices in character development.
Acting makes you imagination more immediate and vivid.
5: Self-Reflection and Growth.
Journaling or freewriting can help actors explore their own emotions and experiences, enriching their performances.
Over time, this create a compound effect, giving you an amazing flexibility.
6: Storytelling Mastery.
Understanding narrative structure as a writer can help actors make bolder choices in their scene work.
Also, it helps you understand the underlying strucutre of the plot and make character growth more relatable.
7: Discipline and Practice.
Both writing and acting require dedication and consistent effort to improve.
Training discipline in one area helps you become more disciplined in other areas as well.
8: Overcoming Fear.
Facing the blank page or the stage can be daunting, but both build confidence and resilience.
Every time you face a small or big fear you are creating a thicker, mightier skin.
9: Finding Your Voice.
Writing helps you discover your unique style, which can translate into a more authentic stage presence.
Viceversa, experiencing different characters helps you understand what you can write and create more easily and what is more unnatural for you.
10: Collaboration and Feedback.
Sharing your writing and receiving critiques prepares actors for the collaborative nature of theatre.
The same applies to creative writing… but of course, writers tend to be more reserved about their writing, which is a big drawback for your skill development.
11: Marketing and Self-Promotion.
Writing skills are essential for crafting compelling bios, resumes, and online content.
Acting teaches you to read in a more belivable and involving way.
12: Exploring New Mediums.
Writing can open doors to playwriting, screenwriting, or even creating your own solo performance pieces.
Acting to video, podcasting and improvised storytelling through games like Tabletop RPGS.
13: Lifelong Learning.
Both writing and acting are journeys of continuous learning and growth.
And they are so vast, that you can always find new ways to challenge yourself.
14: Building Confidence.
The act of creation, whether through writing or performing, empowers you to express yourself fearlessly.
The first publication is always the harders… but it gets easier over time.
15: Connecting with Others.
Sharing your work, whether it’s a written story or a stage performance, can forge meaningful connections with your audience.
It’s also great for understanding what you audience likes about you, giving you a precise direction to develop a personal brand.