Five things writers can learn from silent movies

Go to Google and search, “Guy hanging from clock.” You’ve probably seen that image a thousand times — a man hanging from the minute hand of a clock, high atop a tall building.

But you probably didn’t know his name or where the image came from. That’s Harold Lloyd, one of the top three comedians of silent films, and the movie is one of his classics, “Safety Last.”

The enduring power of an iconic image is just one of the lessons today’s writers can take from the storytellers of the silent-film era. Even without sound, those old gems have a lot to say.

Here are five writing tips from silent movies:

1) It’s all about the story.

In a silent movie, both words and scenes have to pay their own freight. Think of the intertitle cards that pop up to provide a bit of dialogue or set a scene. Words have to be used sparingly.

Before writing a scene, ask yourself: Does it advance the plot or say something important about the characters? If it doesn’t do either, you can probably get along without it.

Remember what Mark Twain said: “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

2) It’s all about the visuals.

Two classics of the silent-film era — “The Great Train Robbery” and “A Trip to the Moon” — have no intertitles at all. The visuals do all the talking.

So where does that leave you as a writer, dependent entirely on words? It’s simple: Show, don’t tell.

• Include action.

• Describe the characters’ appearance and environment.

• Use their behavior — their choices — to reveal their motives.

3) They’re doing choreography!

Silent films use gestures to convey emotion. In writing, even subtle movements can say a lot. A hero reaching for the hilt of his sword can mean one thing, while a raised eyebrow or quivering lip means something quite different.

If your detective punches a crook, what kind of punch does he throw, and where does it land? When the hero and heroine kiss, we know their lips are together, but where are their hands?

Choreograph characters’ movements to tell your reader more of the story.

4) Music enhances the mood.

I know what you’re thinking. They’re silent movies. Although silent films had no spoken words, music was essential for contributing atmosphere and emotional cues. Some films even came with original scores to be performed live during the movie.

You don’t have to write a score or bring in an orchestra to influence the mood of your writing, however.

You can draw inspiration from particular songs. My story “Mystery Girl,” in which four teenagers investigate a mystery involving a silent-film star, was inspired by “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” by the Cowsills, “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” by the Monkees and “She’s a Mystery to Me” by Roy Orbison.

You can include song titles in a story to help set the scene. You might even try your hand at writing some lyrics, or you can borrow some, if they’re in the public domain. Look for songs published before 1925.

5) Go for the big image.

Whether it’s Harold Lloyd hanging from the clock in “Safety Last,” Charlie Chaplin making the dinner rolls dance in “The Gold Rush” or the house falling on Buster Keaton in “Steamboat Bill, Jr.,” an iconic image can make your story stick in the minds of readers.

Some examples from my book, “Lion Taming, Dating and Other Dangerous Endeavors,” include Marty staring down the lion in “The Safe List,” Holly’s motivational dance in “Whitefish: A Detective Story” and Sasquatch dropping black walnuts into Buddy’s hand in “A Camping Story.”

Whatever you’re writing, visualize it in your mind and use your words to paint a mental image that will remain with your readers long after they’ve turned the final page.