Writing Tip: Silence is Golden

Our world is busy and noisy. Chances are pretty good that you are reading this somewhere that could be described by one of these words. Just in case you aren't, let's try an experiment. Turn on some music, or a video. Let it play for a full minute and then suddenly turn it off. There is a moment soon after the sound is gone that we suddenly become aware that the noise has stopped. This is an immediate and involuntary reaction of the brain meant for survival. What was normal has suddenly changed - it's time to stop and pay attention for our own safety.

This kind of silence is a powerful tool. I use it during lectures or discussions when I feel a class, or an audience, is starting to drift from attention. Silence is also a tool I teach to young actors as a way to capture audience attention and to build detail.

When directing a scene, or especially a monologue, I encourage actors to begin with movement only. They can use movement to establish the space and help the audience to see where they are, who they are, and what they are doing. By the time the actor speaks, the audience has a million questions and are ready to listen for the answers.

The same trick can be used in playwriting, too. Try beginning a scene with stage directions that will lead an actor through some action before they speak. This is different from the busy, noisy world where the audience came from and gives them time to get caught up and to anticipate the words that they need to hear to understand the story.

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