Method Acting and Ghostwriting

Lately, I’ve been deeply engrossed in the world of method acting.

No, I’m not planning a career switch to acting. But there’s something else:

After leaving my full-time job in October, I tried my hands at personal branding and ghostwriting. Initially, I was skeptical:

“Do people genuinely need help to tell their stories? Can someone else authentically narrate another’s story?”

I put these questions on hold for a while and dived into work. Then, something remarkable happened.

A client messaged me, saying, “Thanks for writing this story for the world. I never thought it was interesting enough to tell or to see it in this way.”

Honestly, I felt a little strange.

In my mind, I was just reproducing the story told to me in a structured manner. That’s all.

But slowly, I understood that my job is not just using ‘fancy’ words.

It is more about uncovering unique perspectives and sharing them with the world.

This happened a couple of times with another client, and then I started questioning this seriously.

These experiences led me to some eye-opening insights:

A) Many founders and senior executives have fascinating stories. They’re not unwilling to share; it’s the time investment that’s a hurdle.

B) A third person can often bring out compelling stories, especially with people who are not naturally self-reflective.

C) There’s a significant market gap: between those wanting to share authentic stories and those capable of doing so on their behalf.

I asked myself: “How can I ensure authenticity while writing for others?”

The answer was simple. By understanding them or their desired persona deeply: very, very similar to an actor preparing for a role.

That was it. I had found the next rabbit hole.

You might have heard of method acting in the context of cinema. I am trying to understand the principles and apply them to my writing.

The purpose is simple: Connect with emotions, empathize with characters, and tap into one’s truest self to tell a story.