Method Writing is the writing version of Method Acting. According to Arc Studio Method Writing is “A writer or author who uses a writing technique in which he/she identifies emotionally with a character in the story and assumes that character’s persona in the telling.” The best way for you to write an authentic character is if you know them well.
For those who have worked in theatre or on screen – no matter what job you took – you would have come across Method Acting. Method Acting can come in various forms, and depending on the actor and their needs, they will incorporate different methods at different times. An actor can recall experiences to connect with their role; or they can physically place themselves in similar situations so they may experience what their character will ultimately feel.
Here are some examples of famous method actors:
One of the most iconic examples of Method Acting is Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954), where his small, unscripted gestures made his performance feel incredibly real. Other legendary Method actors include:
- Robert De Niro (Raging Bull): Gained 60 pounds and trained as a real boxer.
- Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot): Stayed in a wheelchair for months to portray a man with cerebral palsy.
- Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland): Immersed himself so deeply in his role as Idi Amin that he struggled to shake off the character afterward.
- Charlize Theron (Monster): Physically transformed herself to become serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
Method writing does something similar by trying to get into the character’s head. Have a look at this example from author Thomas W Hodgkinson:
“I wrote the bulk of my new novel, Memoirs of a Stalker, whilst lying flat on my back in one of the cupboards in my home. There wasn’t even room for a laptop, so I had to write it on my mobile phone,” he says.
“I was trying to get into the mindset of my main character, who breaks into his ex-girlfriend’s house and lives there for months without her knowing. He spends a lot of time lurking in shadows, behind doors, and crouched in cupboards.”
A little warning about mental health
If you follow any news on actors, you will notice that sometimes their method acting went too far and they could not disengage from the persona of their character. Heath Ledger is one such example. After the role as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), Ledger suffered from severe insomnia. He seemed to spiral downwards after that until his death in 2008.
Three negatives of method writing are burnout, damage to your mental well-being and bad writing. If you are writing a particularly nasty character, or the topics in your story are heavy, take breaks and always keep your mental health in check.
Prompts
To start your journey into method writing, try these prompts:
- Family trees, maps, and history books:
- Try to get a genealogy going here.
- Draw maps of the places they go to, their home, and their bedrooms.
- What goes on with the locals on a day-to-day basis?
- How did society evolve? How did the youth handle the changes? How did the older generation handle the changes? Or has it been the same for decades?
- Where did the characters grow up?
- Where do they live now?
- Which family members are around them?
- Who did they grow up with?
- The Meeting:
- Ask your character to sit down in a comfortable setting. Did they pick a cafe, restaurant, park, etc.?
- Are they friendly towards you or hostile?
- Are they nervous or outgoing?
- Describe your first impression of them.
- The Interview:
- Ask the simple questions first, like what is their favourite food?
- Ask the hard questions, like why are they where they are?
- Are they really in love with so-and-so?
- What do they think of their co-stars? Friends? Family? Partners in crime?
- What are their career options after the adventure?
- What do they consider a good time and why?
- What do they hate and why?
- What’s bothering them these days?
- What do they need help with?
- What are their life goals?
- What are their dreams and wishes?
- How do they see themselves decades from now?
- Scenarios:
- How would your character react if you were someone from another dimension or time?
- How would they react if they found a lost child?
- How would they react if they saw a meteorite?
- Think of other strange scenarios that could garner a reaction from them.
- The Silent Observer:
- Sit in the character’s ‘natural habitat’ and watch them go about their day-to-day life.
- Do they socialise or are they loners?
- How frustrated are they when they need to clean their home?
- What are their hobbies?
- How do they get food?
- Who do they spend time with?
- Enter their mind and see what they are thinking about right now.
Homework:
Go through the prompts and try to create a more rounded image of your characters.
NEXT:
Please look forward to the next post: 1-11 Removing Writer’s Block
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