Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors PDF
Preview Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors
Cover Photos by WEN WEN and Alesandro14 Author Name Logo by DogEared Design Author Photo by Angela Hunt Getting Into Character, Edition 2 Copyright © 2015 Brandilyn Collins All rights reserved Challow Press 212 W. Ironwood Dr., Suite D #316 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 PRAISE FOR NOVELS BY BRANDILYN COLLINS “By far one of the best books I’ve read this year.” --RT Book Reviews 4 ½ stars Top Pick, Cast a Road Before Me “Excellent novel … beautifully written … well developed characters.” --Publishers Weekly, Color the Sidewalk for Me “Strong writing … the characters are interesting, and Collins pens some worthy descriptions.” --Publishers Weekly, Capture the Wind for Me “Heart-pounding suspense … exciting, highly original plot.” --RT Book Reviews, Sidetracked “A nail-biting thrill ride from start to finish.” --RT Book Reviews, Dark Justice "Collins has written another taut, compelling tale of psychological suspense that weaves a twisty plot with threads of faith." --Library Journal Starred Review, Double Blind “Moves along briskly … the popular novelist’s talent continues to flower.” --Publishers Weekly, Gone to Ground “A taut, heartbreaking thriller … Collins is a fine writer who knows to both horrify readers and keep them turning pages.” --Publishers Weekly, Over the Edge “Solidly constructed … a strong and immediately likeable protagonist … one of the Top 10 Inspirational Novels of 2010.” --Booklist, Deceit “A hefty dose of action and suspense. Superb conclusion.” --RT Book Reviews, Exposure “Intense … engaging … whiplash-inducing plot twists.” --Thrill Writer, Dark Pursuit “A harrowing hostage drama.” --Library Journal, Amber Morn “One of the Best Books of 2007 … Top Christian suspense of the year.” --Library Journal Starred Review, Crimson Eve “A chilling mystery … not one to be read alone at night.” --RT BOOKclub, Coral Moon “A sympathetic heroine … effective flashbacks … Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale.” --Library Journal, Violet Dawn “A master storyteller … Collins deftly finesses the accelerator on this knuckle-chomping ride.” --RT BOOKclub, Web of Lies “Finely crafted … vivid … another masterpiece that keeps the reader utterly engrossed.” --RT BOOKclub, Dread Champion “Chilling … a confusing, twisting trail that keeps pages turning.” --Publishers Weekly, Eyes of Elisha BOOKS BY BRANDILYN COLLINS Southern Contemporary Bradleyville Series Cast a Road Before Me Color the Sidewalk for Me Capture the Wind for Me Dearing Family Series That Dog Won’t Hunt Pitchin’ a Fit Suspense Stand Alone Novels Sidetracked Dark Justice Gone to Ground Over the Edge Deceit Exposure Dark Pursuit Rayne Tour YA Series (co-written with Amberly Collins) Always Watching Last Breath Final Touch Kanner Lake Series Violet Dawn Coral Moon Crimson Eve Amber Morn Hidden Faces Series Brink of Death Stain of Guilt Dead of Night Web of Lies Chelsea Adams Series Eyes of Elisha Dread Champion Non-Fiction Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors Table of Contents Introduction: Why Should A Novelist Care About Method Acting? Secret #1: Personalizing Secret #2: Action Objectives Secret #3: Subtexting Secret #4: Coloring Passions Secret #5: Inner Rhythm Secret #6: Restraint And Control Secret #7: Emotion Memory Appendix Author’s Note INTRODUCTION Why Should a Novelist Care about Method Acting? [The artist’s] job is not to present merely the external life of his character. He must fit his own human qualities to the life of this other person, and pour into it all of his own soul. The fundamental aim of our art is the creation of this inner life of a human spirit, and its expression in an artistic form. —Constantin Stanislavsky, An Actor Prepares The “Secrets” or characterization techniques in this book can open a whole new world of thinking for you as a novelist. I’ve adapted these techniques from the “System” or “Method” of acting attributed to the great Russian actor and director Constantin Stanislavsky (1863–1938). When I started my career in fiction I automatically used these adaptations from Method Acting in my writing. I soon saw from reader feedback that the techniques were working. Readers would comment how they didn’t just read the scenes I wrote, they felt them. To this day that’s the highest praise I can receive from a reader. But when I would mention these techniques to my colleagues, many of whom had been published far longer than I, they gave me blank looks. I came to realize that my understanding of Method Acting wasn’t standard knowledge to most novelists. Why should it be? My first major in college had been theater. Without those studies I wouldn’t have been aware of the various Method Acting concepts myself, much less having discovered how to tweak them for my own use as a novelist. I also began to realize the “Secrets” I’d come up with needed to be written to help other writers. Since then I’ve taught these Secrets countless times at writers conferences—and have seen
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