What is she thinking right before she opens the door? Does it matter?
That was my inspiration for my latest Almost An Author post, which applied the acting concept of the moment before to maintaining emotional continuity as you write a novel.
What is the moment before?
When actors enter a scene, they bring with them a certain attitude and emotional state that is a result of the moment before they come on stage. If, in the previous scene, we witness a fight between Emma and her mother, when Emma arrives on stage to set the table, we expect some muttering, dark looks and slamming of silverware. If she enters humming a happy tune and acting as if nothing has happened, we will be confused—or worse, consider it a lousy performance.
We expected emotional continuity from one scene to the next, because we know that how we felt five minutes ago affects how we are behaving now.
This concept of the moment before applies to far more than a dramatic scene on stage or on a page. As this short video explains, in real life, as in acting, what happened the moment before affects what happens next. [View this post via browser to watch video.]
OK, so what happens to me one moment affects what happens next. So what?
Taking control of your moment before
If we understand that our moments before make a difference, we can pay attention to how our current moment will likely affect what is coming next. For example:
- It’s hot, the AC is broken and I’m stuck in traffic. If I’m not careful, my current grumpy outlook could sour the dinner date I’m heading to. Maybe before I head into the restaurant, I need to take a minute or two to calm down and focus on something positive.
- I’m about to take a big test. Wouldn’t it be wise to spend the moments before reminding myself that I am an intelligent, capable person, and rest in God’s peace, rather than allowing my thoughts to spiral into panic or self-defeating emotions? Studies show that what you think right before taking a test matters.
You get the idea, right? We don’t have to be passive about our moments before. We cannot always control what happens the moment before, but we can be intentional about recognizing how it affects us and doing what we can to counteract any negative affects.
So there’s my outside-the-box thinking for today. In the days ahead, I hope you will remember to consider your moment before before you walk on stage. It may make all the difference.
