As a writer, you have to do things sometimes that make you uncomfortable. It might be networking, public speaking, learning self-publishing, joining a writing group, or a hundred other things that seem new and exciting, yet still make you feel anxious.

The business leader and author Michael Hyatt said, “The most interesting things happen just on the other side of your comfort zone.” I think we can all agree that’s true. But how do you step outside your comfort zone when it feels… well, uncomfortable? How do you embrace the fear?

When I was in high school, I was very involved in our school plays. When you are an actor, you embrace the idea that you are becoming another person. You put on a costume and magically take on their identity.

This can also work in trying to move past your fear. The next time you must do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, try this: play a character who is brave. It sounds crazy, but it works.

Think of yourself as an actor who is bravely facing their fear. The wonderful thing about stage drama is that you can become anyone. In the blink of an eye, you can play a version of yourself that is brave. Imagine you were on a TV show doing exactly what you’re doing now, except you are playing a fearless version of yourself.

How do you speak? What would you do? What obstacles would you overcome?

It sounds crazy, but it’s true. Pretending you are a brave version of yourself is a fun and effective way to demolish fear and get on the other side of your comfort zone.

Daily Question: Think of a scary situation you’re facing right now. What does the fearless version of yourself look like, sound like, and do?

The post Play a Brave Character appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

A powerful movie, if you haven’t seen it, is Dead Poets Society from 1989. The late Robin Williams plays John Keating, an English teacher who has an unorthodox way of teaching his students. In one of his lectures, he challenges his students with this line, from Walt Whitman’s poem “O Me! O Life!”: “… the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

This is a question not just for John Keating’s students, or for Walt Whitman’s readers, but for all of us. We are all part of an eternal human drama. You have the opportunity to contribute a verse to the story. What will your verse be?

Will your verse be excellent or halfhearted?

Will your verse be true to your story or designed to conceal it?

Will your verse be long, as if you had worked on it for many years, or cut short by a lack of effort?

Will your verse be designed to serve people or serve yourself?

And, finally… will you write a verse at all?

We all get to choose what we leave the world. In a hundred years, what will people remember about your verse?

In the powerful play of life, it’s time for you to take the stage and share your verse.

The post It’s Time to Take the Stage appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

BONUS INTERVIEW

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I’m excited to bring you this conversation with one of the coolest and most interesting people I have met in a while. His name is Joe Ricci, and he is an actor, playwright, screenwriter, and director.

Joe has been an actor in stage productions such as the off-Broadway hit “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” the national tour of “Carousel,” the first national tour of “Saturday Night Fever,” and the Broadway revival of “A View from the Bridge” with Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber.

As a director, Joe’s two current projects are the rock musical Whiskeyland!, as well as a play called Squirrel Screams and Other Dating Sounds (major points for a great title). He just recently adapted Whiskeyland! into a screenplay and they are in the very early stages of developing Squirrel Screams into a TV pilot.

Joe has also written for the Hallmark channel, most notably the movie In the Key of Love, which we will talk about more in the bonus episode airing tomorrow. His other current writing projects include a rom-com musical called Third Party Ruling, as well as some new pitches for the Hallmark channel.

If you have been listening to this podcast for a while, you may remember that I interviewed Tricia Brouk last year on the show. Joe is Tricia’s husband, and it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know them both and featuring them here on the show.

In this conversation, Joe shares quite a bit about his theater background and how that turned into writing and directing. He also shares talks about the process of turning a play into a screenplay, as well as some other projects he’s working on. I also had the chance to ask him about his rituals and habits for staying focused and productive.

No matter what kind of writing you do, I know you will be inspired by Joe’s creativity and his approach to writing. I know I was!

You can connect with Joe at his website, JoeRicci.net. And if you have the Hallmark Channel, make sure and catch In the Key of Love the next time it airs. Even if you don’t regularly watch the Hallmark channel or consider yourself a rom-com kind of person, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Thanks for Listening!

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The post Writing for Television & Theater with Joe Ricci, Screenwriter appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.