Last night, 6 close friends came over to my place to listen to an informal reading of my one-man show. It was great to reconnect with people I hadn't seen in several months, and in some cases, years.
We all huddled in my cramped guest room, sitting on makeshift chairs as paintbrushes and dust made it clear renovations were well underway. Even the main lights weren't working forcing me to read in a dimly lit corridor as my friends listened quietly in the dark.
But none of this stopped us from having a wonderful time. In fact, it made it more memorable. I also got some very helpful feedback about tweaks I could make to improve the piece.
Later that evening, I was walking with my friend James and he asked about the complexity of the project. I told him, what I tell a lot of young actors looking to create their own work. "It's not that hard."
First, just decide that you want to do it.
Second, start chipping away each day and commit to writing 10, 15, 20 minutes a day until a first draft is complete. Consistency is key. And don't worry about the how good it is at first. The quality will catch up.
Third, get some friends together and let them hear it out loud. Not only will they come out and support you as a friend, but they'll respect and admire the effort.
A lot of artists don't get started because the task feels too daunting. I've learned if you take it bit by bit it will end up getting done sooner than you think. And hopefully, you'll have remembered to enjoy the creative process along the way.
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