The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

It’s easy to fall into the trap of talking heads. Actional offers help avoid this trap. In addition to speaking, do things. Actional offers advance the story through the things you do and often introduce props into the story world. The props serve an immediate purpose and they can also be reincorporated later in the story.

Most types of offers can be made actional. You can initiate, accept, follow, resist, build, and amplify by doing things.

Ted wipes the sweat from his forehead (actional initiation). He turns to Gary. “I can’t believe you agreed to come camping with me.” Gary shrugs a backpack off his back (actional accept) and replies, “I can’t believe it either.” Ted takes a swig from his water bottle (actional build). He offers it to Gary, who snorts, shakes his head and looks away (actional resist). Ted checks the map (actional build). “Come on. Only two more miles.” Gary groans, shoulders his backpack, and walks up the trail (actional follow).

There’s nothing wrong with verbal offers, but stories become richer when they include physical elements. Find ways to include actional offers.