INTRODUCTION TO LIT HUNTING

Lit (Literature) Hunting 

This is the first step to creating an interpretation. For many students, this can be the most difficult part. Some larger schools with older programs may have a database of literature that students can choose from, but oftentimes it is up to the student to hunt down the literature they want to perform. As you gain more experience, you will understand how your choice of literature can make or break your ranking in a round. However, it's also worth keeping in mind that a good script does not automatically correlate to a good performance, and vice versa. The process of finding can take a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks. It can be difficult, especially when presented with all the different kinds of literature, movies, TV shows, books, short stories, and so on. Oftentimes, it can be confusing for novices to understand what makes a good piece of literature and where to search. Here are a few tips that will hopefully make this process easier. 

Start Hunting!

There is a huge variety of places to look for literature. Here are a few: 

• The Internet

  • The most obvious! Go to your preferred search engine and use your list of topics to help you look for potential literature.

  • What you type into the search engine matters! Here are some examples, using the first example from the list above: 

    • Movies about health care for women

    • Autobiographies about health care for women

    • Books about health care for women

    • TV shows about health care for women

    • Funny movies about women's healthcare

    • Short stories about women's healthcare 

• Library 

  • Go to your local library and ask the librarian for help! More often than not, they'll be willing to help you search for what you are looking for. Bring the list you made in the previous step and ask them if they have any books that would pertain to what you have written.

  • If you don't feel comfortable speaking to the librarian, do some research yourself before heading to the library. 

• Streaming services 

  • Go to a streaming service you may have, such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc. You could either look for something more specific (e.g., TV shows about health care for women) or scroll through the preset categories. For example, if you are interested in doing a comedic piece, but you don't know where to start, scroll through the comedy section! It's pretty straightforward, and if you don't find literature that interests you, you will get some inspiration.

  • Here's an example: 

• Discussion forums  

  • Reddit: Say what you will about the platform, but oftentimes, there are threads where people will share their favorite literature that pertains to what you are looking for. Chances are, you are not the first (And not the last) to be searching for literature regarding your desired topic. 

  • Here's an example: 

• Asking around

  • Asking friends, family, and teachers about literature that pertains to your list of topics is the most underrated way of lit hunting. Especially those who are in a different generation, they'll have an entirely different set of recommendations that could very well be useful to you. 

Keep in mind… 

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are searching for literature. Not only does the piece have to be interesting, but it should also check off some general points: 

The piece needs a deeper meaning. 

Ask yourself what the literature is trying to teach you, or what you want to teach your audience. The best performances aren't just very funny or very sad; they're trying to advocate for something to the audience. Having a strong message makes your story more compelling, both to the judge and oftentimes, to you. Don't just pick something that is solely screaming scenes (DI) or a stream of knock-knock jokes (HI). A piece that is only screaming for ten minutes can become exhausting, or a piece that is only jokes without emotional substance may feel shallow. Strong interpretation pieces usually contain contrast: humor and seriousness, tension and release, quieter moments and bigger moments. YOU like the piece you've chosen!

This sounds like a given, but it is really important! The truth is, the piece you choose may very well be the piece you use for the rest of the season. (And ideally, it should!) If you choose literature that you're only somewhat fond of, you'll be sick of it by the end of the year. Whether this is from your favorite show, book, or movie, choose something that you really like and resonate with. Don't choose something with the sole reason that you think it will do well. 

Clarity over everything!

Imagine I want to perform Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for my HI. One of my favorite scenes is the Quidditch match where Gryffindor beats Slytherin. If I try to include the entire scene and embody every character at once: flying on broomsticks, scoring goals, dodging Bludgers. The performance can quickly become confusing. Even if the piece has strong meaning or hilarious moments, none of that matters if the judge cannot follow what is happening.

This does not mean action-heavy scenes can never work in HI. It simply means that blocking, transitions, and cutting choices must make the scene crystal clear for the audience. If a scene cannot be simplified effectively, or if you cannot find staging choices that communicate it clearly, it is often better to cut the scene altogether in favor of clarity.

Cutting Potential

This, in part, rides on the clarity aspect of a piece. Interpretation pieces are heavily condensed versions of larger works. When choosing literature, think about whether the story can realistically fit into a limited amount of time while still making sense. Many novices pick literature that cannot realistically fit within time limits. Pieces with a strong central conflict and clear storyline are often easier to cut than stories with many side plots or constantly changing settings.

“Can I actually perform this?”

Some literature is amazing to read/watch, but terrible for interpretation because there might not be any dialogue, the conflict is too internal, or all the characters sound the same. Some things to ask yourself as you are looking through literature (That the answer should ideally be yes to!) are…

• Are there distinct characters?

• Is there emotional progression?

• Are there moments of conflict or tension?

• Can the audience understand the story without special effects or visuals?

• Does the piece give you opportunities to showcase range?

Some stories are beautiful on screen or on paper, but can be difficult to communicate in a performance setting. 

Audience Accessibility

Some pieces require too much prior knowledge: 

• Fantasy worlds with complicated lore

• Fandom heavy references

• Confusing timelines

• Way too many characters 

Your audience shouldn't need prior knowledge. The judge may have never seen the movie, read the book, or understood the references in your piece. Your performance should still make sense to them. If your interpretation relies too heavily on the audience already knowing the literature, important emotional moments may fall flat. 

Source legitimacy 

Make sure your literature follows your league or circuit's rules regarding prepublished material and source documentation. Usually, leagues will have their own website where they go into the specifics. If not, your safest bet is to consult the official NSDA handbook. Generally, the guidelines are similar (i.e., prepublish, proof the source exists, and cutting rules). Make sure your piece follows these rules! The worst case scenario would be if someone were to protest (challenge your piece and say it isn’t legit), your piece, the people in charge find something wrong with it, and you are disqualified. Avoid issues like this entirely by making sure you are following all the rules. 

Good luck!