Yes, and...

In my last post, I wrote about how I was learning to write fiction, but I neglected to mention one of the most useful experiences I had: Improv Theater. Many of you know it from the popular TV show, "Whose Line is it Anyway." It's a lesser-known fact that I studied it for a few years at Stevie Ray's Improv Company, and it's invaluable.

You may be asking yourself, "How does improvisational theater translate to writing?" Oh, so many ways! There are a number of "rules" to improv. They're the foundation upon which good scenes are built. Rules are meant to be broken, but they have provided me with a great starting point. 

Make Actional Choices- a theater scene with two talking heads is boring and unrealistic. But a scene where two people are doing something and making actional choices has potential. Perhaps a couple is raking leaves or flying a kite or fly fishing or whatever, a good story has action.

Relationships- He's not just Joe, he's Joe, my bunkmate from boot camp. That relationship gives Joe depth and character. 

Details- we're not just sitting somewhere, we're on a bench in Central Park in the fall, with dozens of kids playing in the leaves. "A park" is relatively boring. Central Park creates opportunities.

Trust- trust yourself (and your scene mates) is both important and difficult. As a new writer, trusting yourself and your skills is nearly impossible...but it's the only way you can write.

Now, put all that together for creating a scene. "A stiff breeze blew across Central Park, sending a shower of leaves down off the trees. All around me, kids were running around trying to catch them before they fell or piling them up to jump in. I had done those same things. I think every kid has.

The sound of someone marching steadily toward me broke my spell. The crunch, crunch, crunch told me without looking that Joe had arrived. 'Sorry I'm late,' he said before I could turn around. 'I couldn't find a place to park.' I looked at my watch, which said 11:55. 

"I turned, laughing. He wasn't late, he just wasn't as early as he normally was. 'Joe!' I said. We embraced like we hadn't seen each other in years, which we hadn't. He's reenlisted after his first hitch, but I'd had enough. I wanted to get on with my life." 

See? Action, relationships, details... all working together to set up a world of opportunities. All the things I learned those many years ago now influence my writing in the best ways possible. 

Most important of all, though, is simply being open to anything. In improv, it's the use of the words "yes, and" which means you say yes to an idea, then add your information to it, thus building the scene. In writing, it means you're open to the words "what if?" As in, "what if a guy on an island found a briefcase handcuffed to an arm?" From there, you add information, build on it, and pray that it makes some sense.

I don't study or perform anymore, but improv impacted me in ways I never imagined. I'd like to thank Samantha Pereira, Matthew Gilman, and Mark Bergren, for all of their "work." 

Me (in the green shirt and khakis) at Improv in the Park. I'm sure I was about to be great!