This week, as part of Mental As Anything’s ‘Writers’ in Residence’ series, we spoke with writer and dramatist, Lisa Jardine, about the importance of being different, the power of spontaneity and the importance of the writer’s hand. You can read the first part of our interview with Lisa here and watch the video version of the interview here.
The Importance of Being Different
The most important thing is to be different. I think for so many of us, especially in this day and age, being different is a scary thing. We’re so used to seeing the same faces day in, day out, that when someone does something different it really attracts our attention. What is important is not that we are the same but that we are all unique and interesting. We may have very different ideas, but we can all share an interest in something.
The Power of Spontaneity
I have always been a bit of a free spirit, the kind of person who likes to do what feels right in the moment. Growing up, I was always drawing or writing or singing or acting. It was a case of ‘what do you want to do?’, not ‘this is what you have to do’. So, being in charge of my own life and choosing what I want to do has always been a source of power and confidence for me. That’s why I love working on projects where I can play with words and tell stories in a way that reflects who I am today, rather than who I was a few years ago or who I will be in the future.
The Importance Of The Writer’s Hand
I think there is a huge misconception that writing is brain work. It really isn’t. It is a highly physical activity and the more you do it, the more you realize how much muscle memory is involved in being able to write. What the brain does is take over once the initial physical movement has been established. So, if you want to improve your writing, do lots of it! Get yourself a pad and some paper and get started. You’ll find that the more you do it, the more you can do it faster and better. Plus, it’ll probably end up being a lot of fun, which is important, because for so many of us, writing is very stressful. We’ve all got our good days and our bad days, but sometimes it can be pretty terrible. For me, writing is a passion, but also a profession, so keeping that balance is very important. When you love what you do, you do it better and with more creativity. That’s what matters in the end.
More From Mental As Anything
As well as speaking with Lisa about writing, we also got the opportunity to go into more detail about some of her other projects and pieces of work. Many of these have been created with the explicit goal of inspiring others and challenging the status quo. If you or someone you know is holding back because they fear rejection or worse, ridicule, then this is the type of environment you could potentially inspire them to flourish in.
The Making of ‘The Trespasser’
‘The Trespasser’ is an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s 2003 novel, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime’. I had the honor of adapting the work for the stage and working with a fantastic team of creatives, including Nick Park (‘Kitten’ / ‘Dreamchild’ / ‘Anime Cat’ / ‘Wallace and Gromit’ / ‘Flushed’ / ‘Chicken Run’ / ‘Deadfall’ / ‘Monty Python’ / ‘Dark Knight Rises’ / ‘Shaun of the Dead’ / ‘Hotel Transylvania’) on directing the show and Michael Boulter (‘X-Men’ / ‘Batman and Robin’ / ‘Harry Potter’ / ‘Trollied’ / ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ / ‘Alien: Covenant’ / ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ / ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ / ‘The Shape of Water’ / ‘Darkest Hour’ / ‘Avengers: Infinity War’) on designing the costumes and sets. The whole process was incredibly exciting and a lot of fun, especially as I got to work with some amazing artists and creatives.
Writing in the Margins
One of the pieces of advice that kept popping up throughout our interview was to “write in the margins”. I had never really thought about writing in the margins before, but I absolutely love the idea. Sometimes, when you are writing, you reach a point where you have run out of ideas and you feel like you’re stuck. So, what do you do? You dive into your bag of tricks and pull out some old notebooks and pens. These are the things that you never really had any interest in, but when you are writing, they become your greatest allies. Sometimes, when you’re stuck, the last thing you want to do is to go back and edit what you’ve already written, so starting over completely from scratch can be a major relief. Plus, it’s always nice to have some variety in your work, so if you’ve written a detective novel, it’s nice to have a bit of a change and write about something else for a bit.
If you’re interested in writing or in the performing arts, then I’d recommend checking out the Mental As Anything website for information on courses and opportunities. They offer a wide range of creative and performing arts courses in London, so you’re sure to find something that interests you.