Got Writer’s Block? Go to the Theater!

This piece originally appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter. It speaks to the writer’s fascination with theater and how attending performances can inspire their writing. The author notes that theatergoers feel a sense of being confronted by a work outside of the usual zeitgeist. Going to the theater seems to help writers break out of their usual creative patterns and make new connections.

One key insight is that theater provides a ready-made narrative structure – plot, character, dialogue, setting – in a condensed form. This allows writers to absorb and consider another’s fully realized ideas in a short time. The author also appreciates the raw reactions of the audience, which provide an honest gauge of what works in a story.

More than anything, the writer believes the key is to approach theater with a student mindset - staying open and curious, rather than trying to become an expert. This open curiosity carries over to the writer's own work, helping them ask more interesting questions and approach their craft with greater freedom and fearless creativity.

The author makes a point that while personal preferences dictate what they read, when it comes to theater, they are willing to see just about anything - from avant-garde to comedies. Their theatergoing spanned the spectrum this year from visceral pieces like Victory Over the Sun and Tanz, to a comedy about race called Race: The Movie: The Play. Even a one-person clown show called The Passion of Mr. Cardboard left an impression.

The piece concludes by noting that if one's location doesn't have a robust local theater scene, it's not a barrier - the key is to find something else you love that isn't writing to study, and then bring that new perspective back to your own work. The author specifically cites theater as an example of the idea that everything, including writing, can be viewed as a form of performance.