dearmyblank:

To the person wanting to be an actress 

I’ve met… hundreds… thousands even… of people who act and can call themselves Actors and Actresses. My drama teacher’s over the last six years (in and out of schools) all the people preforming at local theaters and as extra’s on TV shows and Films or being background noise. 

These people all act. They all got picked. They’re not Angelina Jolie or Tom Hiddleston but they’re still valid to call themselves actors and actresses. They may never get to hollywood. They may never even want to. 

I’m assuming that’s what you’re aiming for, what most people are aiming for, what everyone else is meaning when they say “millions of people want to act, why would I be picked” (I meaning you). 

Those people get picked because they try. My school was going to make a performance of Guys and Dolls and I fretted for weeks over whether I would audition or not. Then I did, and we had to sing and read lines and just… try and I did and it was great and I got a call back.

And I wouldn’t have even gotten that far if I didn’t. Everyone says this stuff and I know if means nothing if you don’t want it too. Also, your friends aren’t helping you. 

Yes, hundreds of thousands of people want to act but there are different levels of acting. Local theaters, background positions, one line characters. Drama/Acting teachers. Acting is everywhere, on every level and you’re not exempt from it. 

Getting to Hollywood is a tough road. It’s a long road and for many it’s unattainable, sure. But that doesn’t mean you can’t act, or that it’s not worth trying or even that by not getting there and not being famous means you’re not an actress. 

As for writing, it’s the same thing. You’ll never get anywhere if you sit in a dark room and mutter your stories to yourself but anytime a light is shone at you you pull back. And don’t tell me that you’d “Leap at that light” or some other bs. Because you’re scared. You’re scared and you wouldn’t take to that light like a moth because you’d think it’d go away so you’d watch the lights flick around you and you’d avoid them. 

I’m sorry if that sounded aggressive, that was not my intent. 

But writing is not something that can be rejected by everyone. Someone will find your stuff and think “That’s for me. I want more.“ 

Someone will read your words and go "My friend/my partner/my sibling/my child/my cat would love this” and pass it on to them. 

Someone is sitting, right now, wishing they could read your words, your ideas. But they will never know that it’s your writing they’re longing for if they never get the chance to read it. 

You are not the only one with your interests, even if it seems like you might be. 

And the other thing I’ve gotten out of your writing is that the people in your life, that you’re surrounded by and with, are not the people you want to be around and surrounded by. “rejected by someone if I mention my interests”… shouldn’t your friends want to read your writing, why would they reject your interests? If you’re not in an environment where you can cultivate your ideas, your passions and your future that is an environment that you should reject. 

Never forget that you are not stuck to one thing. You can do both writing and acting. Remember that you’re allowed to change and grow, and you should never be put off by something just because the people around you are. 

- A tired voice

dialogue-prompts:

bookgeekconfessions:

1. How do you learn best?  Observation?  Participation?  Trial and error? Rumination and cogitation?  Consulting experts?  Writing?

Example to get you started – historical character named Rebecca: “Oh, I think I learn best by observation.  I’m an artist– well, I sketch a little, or a lot, I suppose– and so I’m always looking at people and places and things and trying to capture them with my pencil.

I like to imagine what people are like from the way they move and the expressions on their faces.  I try not to make judgments until I’ve studied the people, however.  So I guess I’m an observer. I’m certainly not really a participant.  Of course, I have to participate in all sorts of activities, but given my druthers, I’d sit on the sidelines and watch first, until I felt more confident.

Oh, dear, I sound like such a tentative creature.  I guess I am that, after all– except for the once, when I eloped with Tommy.  Now that time, I didn’t stop to study and observe.  I threw myself right into that situation!  And I guess I’ve never regretted it, not even when he died and left me alone.

Maybe it’s time again for me to stop studying and just jump in?

EXERCISE #2: Openness

• How open are you to new ideas and information?
• you change your mind frequently, based on what people have told you?
• Are you a traditionalist, deciding on the basis of “what’s always been”?
• If someone is arguing with you, are you more likely to change your mind or dig in your heels?
• What if the arguer is right?

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