Did you know that reading and writing can enhance our psychological well-being? For instance, through reading, we can be moved and soothed; through writing, we can take a stand. As we reflect on what needs to stay the same in our world and what needs to change, participating in the literary arts can help.
Dennis Boyne is no stranger to storytelling and understands our human need to engage in the creative process. Dennis is a former member of Improvolution in New York, the past Artistic Director of Philemon Productions in New Jersey, and previous part Owner and Creative Consultant for New Jersey Public Theater. He is a winner of both Scranton Story Slam and Lancaster Story Slam and is Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Story Slam. He has acted in, produced or directed over eighty productions and has written three plays.
Earlier this year, Dennis released his first novel, A Family’s Journey.
Dennis is familiar with the benefits of releasing inhibitions and using the arts as a tool for self-expression and transformation. He actively writes and performs to uncover his originality, to let his voice be heard, and to inspire others “to work on things we have an effect on.” Mostly, he wants others to learn “how to be kind.”
I recently sat down with my good friend, Dennis, and asked him about his purpose in writing A Family’s Journey. Dennis explained, “We live in a world of sound bytes, and it’s an absolute shame. It’s so much easier to personify the problem than to look at the problem.” Perhaps that is why there are no villains in A Family’s Journey. Dennis does, after all, identify with Will Rogers in that he never met a man he didn’t like!
Shaping the Story
Curious about Dennis’ process, I asked him to explain the structure and content of his latest work of fiction. Dennis said that when crafting the story, it was the character’s actions that determined the plot.
“The characters became real in my head,” Dennis said. “You think you are going to use characters to say words, but they wind up telling you what to say.” Dennis went on to say, “Love isn’t always words.” The characters of A Family’s Journey “perform actions that show their love.”
With the reading of A Family’s Journey and my subsequent chat with the author came a revived sense of hope. Dennis emphasized he just wants people “to dig a little deeper” and insists “there are so many tools to help you get deeper.”
I suggest that one of those tools is writing. Maybe you don’t have the ambition to write an entire novel. Most people don’t. Still, you can pick up a pencil and notebook and create poetry, song lyrics, a short story, a comic strip, a letter, or even a well-worded email. Regardless of the grade you received in English class, be brave and express your intention.
We all have an opportunity to make a contribution to society. What message do you want to give? I encourage you to explore this question and then invest your energy in conveying your message. If you need a little motivation, listen to this excerpt from A Family’s Journey, as read by the author: