The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

When players feel excessive stress while improvising dialogue, there are sounds, words, and phrases that show up with surprising regularity. They’re like little flags that indicate that the brain is running on overdrive. Here are examples of thinking language:

• uh
• umm
• I mean
• basically
• you know
• pretty much

If these are showing up in your dialogue repeatedly (and you’re not using them as a character choice) slow down and take a breath. There’s no rush. Stress doesn’t help you or the spect. Improvise dialogue from a place of ease.

If spects are using thinking language a lot, they’re probably dealing with mental overload too. Ease back your energy. Your relaxation can help them settle down. As spects become more relaxed, they’ll also become less anxious about what they’re “supposed” to say.