Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein
The Art of Improvisation
July 13, 2023
Have you heard the one about the author who took ten years to write his first book? How about the tale of the writer who produces two to three books a year? I can’t provide the punchline for either of those questions, but I can explain the art of improvising a complete mystery in one hour.
Recently, I had the pleasure of moderating and being part of a “Let’s Make a Mystery” zoom panel, with Sharon Lynn and Sarah Smith, hosted by Sisters in Crime’s Desert Sleuths Chapter. Our charge was to explain the elements that comprise a mystery – things like characters, setting, plot, dialogue, and pacing – and then, using suggestions the audience put in the chat, create a mystery. It was a hoot!
Many settings were proposed, but we settled on a run-down ranch in a rural setting near a town of 800 people that had cows and horses and a well-tended marijuana patch. We then turned to the characters. Names, jobs, and relationships were all explored. The three of us narrowed it down to five or six characters. Next, we decided on the crime. Murder, of course.
We first thought that in 2023, a character would discover a decayed body in a box in a leaning barn but jumping two time periods and having the body in the box seemed trite. So, using the weapons suggested, we pivoted and moved the story to the 1970’s, where Hank, a former farmhand who managed to get hold of the farm via a shady marriage, was found propped up like a scarecrow near the pot he grew on the farm. He’d been killed by a pitchfork to the chest.
Sadly, the shady sheriff had only one suspect in his line of vision – Hank’s wife, Sadie. That wasn’t good enough for us. Improvising we gave every character a motive, turned one into the amateur sleuth, and came up with a plausible reveal of the killer both for Hank and the body of someone who disappeared/died years earlier (yes, we worked in the body in the box).
What we accomplished within the hour was hilarious, but it also was a good teaching tool. The audience learned the elements that go into a mystery, discovered the effectiveness of brainstorming, and saw how authors run into dead ends but must be flexible (which can be translated as “kill your darlings”) for the good of the work in progress. We ended by noting that we’d created a solid mystery, but like most writer’s first drafts, our present product wasn’t ready for submission. Although the bones were there (literally and figuratively), our mystery needed revision.
For a chance to win one print or e-book of SHOULD HAVE PLAYED POKER (U.S. only) tell me if you’ve ever done improvisation in your writing or in some other way (like comedy or charades)?
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Posted in Let's Talk, with Debra H. Goldstein • Tags: Debra H Goldstein, Let's Make a Mystery, The Art of Improvisation | 35 Comments
When I was in high school. one of our teachers took us to see some improv. I remember liking it.
For some, Linda, it takes awhile to acquire a taste for it. It took me awhile to see the complexity involved but that basic concepts are used.
No I haven’t done any
There are some tv shows that do it well, if you ever want to see them.
Before the pandemic, I attended a Writers Retreat in Kill Devil Hills that our fabulous Maggie Toussaint/Valona Jones organized. One of the evenings was a competition among the writers to devise a very short story. Teams were given a character name, location, and a type of car. It was hilarious. Would like to see the retreat return, but travel is… well, awful.
Bet it was a lot of fun…. if you could only be magically transported there.
I’m not that familiar with improv, but now that I’ve read this post, I may have to look into it closer.
It can be a lot of fun….and definitely opens up the channels of creativity.
I’ve taught in-person workshops similar to this where I give a brief setup. The participants then have to write one sentence each to describe the internal and external goals, motivations, and conflicts of the main characters. It’s always amazing how everyone’s results are so different.
Exactly… and the way minds diverge
Writing + improv is lots of fun. I’ve done it a few times, and i’s amazing what you can come up with when you brainstorm as a group. Some of it is wacky and silly, but every so often there’s a real gem in amongst the craziness. 🙂
Exactly
I did group and individual improv for contest speech in high school.
It is a wonderful skill to learn
I used action figures to plot out a scene in one of my earlier books. That’s a great way to visualize the logistics.
Never thought of that. I’ll keep it in mind.
Never done improv myself but I have enjoyed seeing it performed.
It is enjoyable.
I love group improv for brainstorming books, stories, even elements of writing. There’s usually so much creativity flying around you feel like you could write 10 books in a day! Great topic, Debra.
Thank you…. and from things I’ve seen of yours, I know you are a master at brainstorming
No, I haven’t done any improv.
always a first time 🙂
Nope
Hubby and I were clowns for several years. It was something we LOVED so much. It’s so rewarding to put a smile on someone’s face. So YES, during those years making things up as you go along was 90% of the job. We were fortunate enough to have learned from the best (Emmett Kelly Jr. who became a dear friend) and clowned from GA to AZ and AR to MI. That’s how we spent our vacations traveling with a 1/4 sized pickup truck, 18 inch motorcycle and all our gear from one gig leaving laughter and smiles behind us.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Always wondered what was behind your email address… now I know. What a wonderful story.
I have played charades in the past, but not tried writing.
There are similarities with tricking the brain.
I really enjoyed the Drew Carey improv show.
Too bad I cannot think that quickly to be any good at it.
I’m the same. My son joined an improv class and it was fascinating to watch them in action for their end of term shows.
Hahaha. I don’t think I’m very good with “off the cuff” or “in the moment” improvisational stuff (even job interviews throw me for a loop), so no improv for me! 🙃
There are times I’m great; other times, my brain freezes.
I’ve never done it but it would be fun to go see an improv show.
Agree.
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No, I have not done any improv.