Screenwriting tips for novelists
I used to ignore anything to do with screen-writing. I wasn't exactly a snob - but well, yeah, maybe I was. Scripts just seem so bare-boned! They only come alive when actors start to work their magic! Turns out, just because you don't plan to write in that format doesn't mean you can't learn a whole lot from it. Laura Pauling has an excellent post on Should writers follow screen-writing tips, with good reasons why you might, and might not. Using Save the Cat, a screen-writing book by Blake Snyder, she does a bang-up analysis of How to Train a Dragon (movie) and Princess for Hire (book). I learned a ton, and I'm waiting for my bookstore get in my order of Save the Cat. In the meantime, I had fun looking up some screen-writing stuff on the web. 10 screen-writing tips you can learn from Raiders of the Lost Ark: at least five of these tips apply to novels as well as movies. Here's one that really jumped at me: the Power of an Active Protagonist. This refers to:the hero who makes his own way, who drives the story forward instead of letting the story drive him. In the very first scene, it’s Indiana Jones who’s going after that gold idol. It’s him driving the pursuit of the Ark. It’s him who decides to seek out Marion. It’s him who digs in the alternate location in Cairo. Indiana Jones' CHOICES are what push this story forward.
(Important to note: these are tips, not rules. Some of my favorite characters are ones that have to deal with situations that are dropped on them. But even with reactive characters, it's good that they react actively. Ahem. React actively? Anyone got a less tongue-twisterish way to say that?) Another screen-writing post: the 11 laws of great storytelling. The first few of these 11 "laws" are specific to movies, but when you get down to #8 - #11 there are some things that novelists might prick up their ears and pay attention too as well, such asBe aware of theme, and keep it consistent throughout the script. Theme is a tough nut to crack. When I ask my students the theme of Die Hard, they often restate the film’s core concept (or, in Hollywood terms, the “logline”), saying something like, “It’s about a cop thwarting a group of international terrorists while saving his wife and a bunch of innocent people.” While this is true, it doesn’t quite touch on theme... Die Hard is really about a man trying to reconnect with his wife.
I think this applies to novelists because I've recently read several posts about what agents want out of a pitch. They want to hear your book's title, genre, wordcount, logline and THEME. Here's a website, TheStoryDepartment.com, that provides structure analysis of many movies including Inception, Toy Story 2, Thelma and Louise, Juno, A Beautiful Mind, The Incredibles, Jaws... the list goes on. An incrediable story-teller's resource. Alot of the analysis is based on the Hero's Journey, an analysis of the universal (maybe) structure that underlies all (maybe) stories. Just to prove how powerful this Hero's Journy thingie is, at first glance you may not see much in common between James Cameron's Avatar and Disney's Pocahantas. Then again: One last amazing resource: a series of posts called the "Hero Project" at the Cockeyed Caravan, a screen-writing blog. Look for the Hero Project in the side bar of this blog to see a list of all the posts, but it basically culminates in this amazing post, Putting It Altogether, where you get a great analysis of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and- (be careful) - maybe an analysis of your own life, too. Okay my writerly friends: on a scale of 1-10, how helpful do you think screen-writing tips are for novelists? Right now I'm at 7, but like all things with me, that's subject to whims and moods (grin). On a totally unrelated note, an update on my writing progress. Stalled. Severly stalled (not blocked... just... need to push past this awkward transition scene I'm in right now). The past week I've been having fun with this little saying: The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. I'm soooooo not a morning person. This saying provides hope for late-risers and maybe a little also for stalled writers.
My Blog List
-
Midnight Died Tonight
-
*Mother always said, "No one has the right to complain about something that
happens to everyone."*
*And everyone loses a beloved pet. It was my turn t...
11 hours ago
-
Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You
-
Angela, Becca and I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season full of
family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for
your vis...
2 days ago
-
Book Review: My Parents' Marriage by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
-
I heard Nana read aloud a passage from *My Parents' Marriage* in a writing
group I belong to, and my first thoughts were “The writing is so beautiful”
...
2 days ago
-
Inglorious Basterds (2009) movie review
-
World War II was the darkest of conflicts in human history, lasting for six
years, and it saw the most horrific acts ever committed in human his...
2 days ago
-
Video: The Easiest Way to Set Up a Satisfying Character Arc
-
Forget wrangling the old “flawed character turned good” trope - there is a
much easier way to develop a character arc that makes sense to your
readers...
5 days ago
-
Dashing December Giveaway Hop
-
Happy Monday Everyone! Today I'm excited to participate in the Dashing
December Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox. Are you ready for the holidays?
I g...
5 days ago
-
5 Edits to Strengthen Your Writing, Right Now
-
*By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy *
*Making some simple word edits can turn a flat scene into one that sings.*
Back when I was first learning how to write,...
1 week ago
-
New Release Spotlight: Amber Wardell
-
Happy release day to debut author Amber Wardell! BEYOND SELF CARE POTATO
CHIPS addresses the toxic self-care culture that tells women bubble baths
and ...
1 month ago
-
Personal Appearance and Reading
-
If you happen to be on California’s Central Coast next Saturday, October
19th, TV actress Mara Purl and Anne will be doing a presentation and
dramatic ...
2 months ago
-
IWSG & Blogging News
-
The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh.
He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing
eve...
8 months ago
-
Indefinite Hiatus
-
Dear Esteemed Reader,
After 13 years of amazing interviews with authors and publishing
professionals, guest posts and book reviews, blog posts and 212 ...
10 months ago
-
Understanding and Interpreting Classic Literature To Write Better Homework
Assignments
-
Imagine stepping into a world where each word and phrase opens doors to new
insights and perspectives. That’s the adventure classic literature offers.
It...
11 months ago
-
Virtual Launch Party for Not My Circus!
-
Greetings, friends! It's been way too long since I posted in this space.
The Winterton Deception 1:Final Word is out and doing so well. A huge
thanks to...
11 months ago
-
Adventures in YA Publishing is MOVING!!!
-
Hey, y’all!
It’s been a while. A very long while. But we’re back!
Well, kinda sorta.
Jocelyn Rish was the Interview Coordinator for Adventures in YA Pu...
1 year ago
-
Save $5K a Year + Healthcare by Eating In
-
Learn to cook--or make someone else do it. Do you have a man, a child in
upper elementary or higher, a roommate, or a good friend you see regularly?
Delega...
2 years ago
-
Baking Sourdough Bread!
-
I'm back! Now, on to baking sourdough bread. There are a lot of different
ways to do this. Different amounts of starter to use, different flours,
differ...
4 years ago
-
haiku moment
-
evergreens whisper,
peach clouds await putti in
Tiepolo sky
end of day haiku
4 years ago
-
Holiday Writing - Finding Time to Write
-
I’ve known some writers who have tons more time to write during holidays,
but the majority of writers I know have less time. Many of them just accept
the f...
4 years ago
-
All I Want for Christmas - a DV poem
-
Dedicated to Domestic Abuse Survivors I do want a lot for Christmas But
it’s not too much to ask Because I’m learning what I’m worth And that I
have innat...
5 years ago
-
#332
-
Question:
I wrote LOST IN LA as a retelling of Pretty Woman with “modern” social
issues, but I don’t know whether to focus on the characters, the fake
rel...
5 years ago
-
NanoWrimo and Eldala's sequel
-
so if you've been following my NanoWrimo writing progress on Facebook, you
may be wondering what comes next after writing 31,000 words. (if you
haven't fol...
5 years ago
-
Ever Near is here!
-
The latest installment of the Dani Deane series, Ever Near, releases today!
Four Advent candles, two teens, a Yule Ball, a grief anniversary, and a
quest f...
5 years ago
-
MMGM on Tuesday - Liesl & Po
-
*Marvelous Middle Grade Monday*
*Liesel & Po*
*by Lauren Oliver*
*Goodreads Blurb:*
Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel st...
5 years ago
-
THE POINTE
-
It's almost ready. Where is my newest book? In the hands of my trusty Beta
readers getting scanned and rescanned and then it is off to my editor. I am
thr...
5 years ago
-
Regarding Writing Residencies
-
By Jack Matthews
What if you had almost a month of undistracted writing time? With a private
studio. Physically isolated from family and fri...
5 years ago
-
Behold: the gorgeous LEGACY Cover!
-
The wait is over! The stunning cover of LEGACY has finally been
revealed!!!! (illustrated by Jason Chan—and designed by Karin Paprocki).
AND BEFORE YOU S...
5 years ago
-
YASH Spring 2019!
-
It's that time of year again!! When we all go crazy for a few days, trying
to win piles of awesome books! This year, I'm also doing my own personal
giveaw...
5 years ago
-
Valentine's Day Giveaway(s)!
-
I'm so excited to be collaborating on a Valentine's treat with a great
group of romance authors. From today through the Big V, February 14th,
there will be...
5 years ago
-
NEW KINDRILY COVERS!
-
I'm so excited to reveal the new covers for my Kindrily series!
Be sure to check out the contest at the bottom of this post to win a signed
set of paperba...
5 years ago
-
What's New Monday - October 29, 2018
-
*What I'm Reading: *
I finished *Pride *by Ibi Zoboi and came out of it with an overwhelming
desire to watch Pride and Prejudice again. Weirdly, I think I w...
6 years ago
-
Whooper Dooper Super-Author Hack to Produce More Books
-
Picked up the first book in an older Nora Roberts trilogy, *Key of Light*.
I don't read much of Robert's body of work, but I like her paranormals when
I kn...
6 years ago
-
Hello :)
-
I'm writing this post because I haven't written one in over 10 months and I
feel like I need to have something at least a tad newer. Even if I have no
clue...
6 years ago
-
A Visit with Ann Gabhart
-
Ann Gabhart is back! It's always a pleasure to have this sweet, talented
author and fellow Kentucky resident drop by the blog. Ann and I live just a
few ...
6 years ago
-
-
*Hello Friends,*
News and an updated website coming soon!
*Love,*
*Lola*
6 years ago
-
Release Day Blitz: Ten Reasons to Stay by Candace Knoebel
-
TEN REASONS TO STAY
Author: Candace Knoebel
Series: Risky Hearts Duet #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 30, 2018
About the Book:
One...
6 years ago
-
-
American Princess has a cover! I love that Alice Roosevelt's verve comes
through--I can just imagine her at a White House dinner party getting ready
to li...
6 years ago
-
Meet these billionaires for only 99¢ each!
-
I told you things were afoot, and they are! I wrote 3 books in May, and it
was intense. I'm going to California next week, and it couldn't come at a
better...
6 years ago
-
Stanley and Hazel Cover Reveal!
-
My new book is coming out with Month9Books on May 15th! This YA novel was
inspired by my love of classic film and my interest in the juxtaposition of
th...
6 years ago
-
An Interview with Elana K. Arnold, author of Bat and the Waiting Game
-
*Like many readers, I fell in love with a boy named Bat and his furry
friend Thor in Elana K. Arnold's middle grade novel A Boy Called Bat.
Today, Elana v...
6 years ago
-
No Longer Posting
-
Dear Friends,
We will no longer be posting new material
here at Author Culture.
We thank you for your kind support
and encouragement over the years.
This...
6 years ago
-
Hollywood Roommates is out now!
-
*Three sexy actors. One curvy English teacher. An impossible rule just
begging to be broken...*
When my boyfriend dumps me, I need a new place to live, f...
6 years ago
-
The storm #poetry
-
*The Storm*
It’s the moment you realize how quickly you can be crushed.
How rapidly you crumble.
Love should be warmth and light.
But this was so cruel, s...
6 years ago
-
This Blog Has Moved
-
Wonder where I've been? Setting up a new address! Stop by and say hi at www.
jackeealston.com
See you soon!
7 years ago
-
LAST CALL
-
*<3 span="">LAST CALL is now LIVE!!!*💋
*Also available in KU: myBook.to/Stevens_Lee_LASTCALL *
*#MMMromance #QuinnGrayandEmery #threelonelyhearts*
*S...
7 years ago
-
Guest Post: Samantha Mabry
-
As you have probably all noticed, we at YA Highway have been on an extended
hiatus for most of this year, and that hiatus will continue for the
foreseeable...
7 years ago
-
Countdown to 69 Million Things I Hate About You
-
The newest release from my contemporary side, Kira Archer, is coming
soon!!! It's up on Goodreads and available on Netgalley for those who'd
like to reques...
7 years ago
-
This week in books 7/14/17
-
This week! Books!
But first, a programming note. Posts will be a bit sporadic in the next few
weeks as I am headed to San Diego for the wonderment known ...
7 years ago
-
Questions I'm asking while revising UMBERTOUCHED
-
I'm editing Umbertouched right now, the sequel to Rosemarked. If the first
draft reads like a manuscript written in fifteen minute increments at 3am
while ...
7 years ago
-
Abhinav Bhat's Current Query Revised 2 - Critiqued
-
Ugh, work has been so nuts. It took me three days just to get back to this.
Sorry, Abhinav! But hey, let's get right to work, right? My feedback, as
usual,...
7 years ago
-
-
*“An Afternoon with the Author”* featuring Helen Ginger, author of
*DEADPOINT*
*Date:* Sunday, June 25, 2017
*Time:* 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
ABOUT DEADPOINT: A ...
7 years ago
-
Writing Historical Fantasy Fiction: Resources and Tips for Writers
-
The key to crafting a captivating historical fantasy is to submerge the
reader’s senses.
Writing contemporary fantasy is easier by comparison because, in s...
7 years ago
-
Spring Into Reading
-
I know I’m a bit late to the game here, but I’ve been recommending books to
my students left and right as we get into the last month of school and some
are...
7 years ago
-
Star Wars Celebration Recap!
-
I am still reeling from my glorious time at Star Wars Celebration! It was
honestly unlike any convention I've ever been to before; not just because
it was...
7 years ago
-
Query letter
-
My amazing agent shared our story on her blog. She also posted my query. I
hope this can help anyone going through the querying process!
Also, I wanted to...
7 years ago
-
In the Shadow of Doubt
-
I don't know anyone who isn't touched by the political and social turmoil
going on in the country right now. For me, the disappointment and anger at
th...
7 years ago
-
Adult Review: Mogul by Joanna Shupe
-
*Mogul by Joanna Shupe*
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Zebra
Amazon Link: HERE
Received From: Author/Netgalley (in exchange for an honest revi...
7 years ago
-
Harga dan Spesifikasi OPPO F1s Smarthphone - Rose Gold [32 GB/3 GB/5.5
Inch] + Bonus MMC 16 GB and Tempered Glass Terbaru 2017
-
Harga dan Spesifikasi OPPO F1s Smarthphone - Rose Gold [32 GB/3 GB/5.5
Inch] + Bonus MMC 16 GB and Tempered Glass Terbaru 2017 - Apakah anda
berencana ingi...
7 years ago
-
Reflections on Christmas: The Olive Press
-
We saw olive trees everywhere in Israel. They are interesting trees, with
uniquely shaped trunks. They live for hundreds and even thousands of years.
Oliv...
7 years ago
-
Terjemahan Lirik Lagu Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Lovely Man
-
I used to shoutAku dulu berteriakAcross the room to youDi seberang ruangan
untukmuAnd you'd come dancin'Dan kau akan datang menariLike a foolSeperti
orang ...
8 years ago
-
squid app
-
Polecam Waszej uwadze. Jak sięgam pamięcią do około roku 2000, to dzień
zaczynałem od załadowania głównej strony Onetu. Wiadomości naukowe, nowe
technologi...
8 years ago
-
15 Questions to Ask a Literary Agent Before You Sign (Guest Column by Chuck
Sambuchino)
-
*(This column excerpted from GET A LITERARY AGENT, from Writer’s Digest
Books.)*
Because literary agents have connections to the top editors of the world...
8 years ago
-
Writing Updates!
-
I hope everyone's enjoying the summer so far!
I've mostly been writing and working, as usual, but am looking forward to
my long Fourth of July weekend wit...
8 years ago
-
-
*FREE!Amazon KindleBarnes and Noble Nookitunes Kobo*
8 years ago
-
Two Years Later...
-
MC Howe has returned! In his absence, new stories developed amid the
resurgence of older, long-thought-abandoned projects, certain to bring
upheaval to th...
8 years ago
-
Korean Drama Review: Splash Splash Love
-
*Splash Splash Love *is a two-part 2015 Korean web drama (I watched it on
Viki). Yes, just two episodes. Totaling just under two-and-a-half hours,
it's m...
8 years ago
-
Free Side scrolling game Kroniax
-
Kroniax is a challenging skill game develop by Alexander Weinrauch. this
game is still in beta, this game is a side scroller game with main
objectives is t...
9 years ago
-
The Wrecking Ball
-
“The only wishes that will ever change you are the kind that may, at any
moment, eat you whole.”
- Janette Rallison, My Fair Godmother
Time weaves her we...
9 years ago
-
The tchotchkes of life
-
*By Gayle Carline*
*Author, horse lover, and distracted mental toddler*
When people tell me they're having a senior moment, I say I much prefer the
term "t...
9 years ago
-
New Christmas Short Story!
-
Hello! My goodness, can you believe it's October?
I've been busy completing my new novel (currently with my agent, eek!), as
well as penning a short and s...
9 years ago
-
Canon EOS Rebel T5 Info
-
Canon EOS Rebel T5 18MP EF-S Digital SLR Camera USA warranty with canon
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS [Image Stabilizer] II Zoom Lens & EF 75-300mm
f/4-5.6 III...
9 years ago
-
The Moral Question: How do you deal with negative comments about zoos?
-
Since the release of the Movie That Shall Not Be Named (MTSNBN), things
have... changed, at zoos. In fact, things are almost volatile. It's more
common for...
9 years ago
-
Earth: Population 2 is Out Today!
-
*The last guy on earth is the last person she expects. Will she give up her
dream guy to save the world?*
Juliette Lewis is going nowhere fast. Respons...
9 years ago
-
Hearts Awakening
-
[image: Hearts Awakening (Hearts Along The River #1)]Hearts Awakening by Delia
Parr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love books with people who are real. People w...
9 years ago
-
Lowongan Kerja Di Makassar
-
*Lowongan Kerja Di Makassar* - Bagi anda yang sedang mencari Lowongan
kerja yang tepat dengan keinginan anda, kami menyarankan untuk melihat
updetan terba...
9 years ago
-
Long Time, No Post
-
Hi.
Remember me?
My name's Marie and I used to write this blog, Booknapped, about all the
books and poetry and authors I love.
Then I had a baby, and I...
9 years ago
-
Conquering Our Own Mountains
-
Recently, conference keynote speaker, Regina Sirois, compared mountain
climbing to our writing careers. The points I took away from her talk
included thre...
9 years ago
-
I've Moved!
-
It's been ages, hasn't it, Blogger. We had some good times.
But I've moved! Come visit me at hannachoward.com! You can check out this
blog post to see a ha...
9 years ago
-
Teh K-Muricata Obat Herbal Ampuh
-
[image: K-Muricata]
*K-Muricata* ialah produk kesehatan berupa teh yang diramu dari dua
tanaman special yang berbeda jenisnya yaitu Daun sirsak dan tanama...
9 years ago
-
Bitch, Where You Been?
-
Hi *waves erratically* *pushes red rimmed glasses back up on nose*
Yeah, so it's been awhile.
My bad.
What happened in 2014?
- Dealt with a milka...
9 years ago
-
Adventures in Genre-Hopping: The Short Story Plunge
-
Okay. I did it. I finished a time travel story. It's short, but it's time
travel and it's mine.
My first published short story is out!
Time Killer
by Emil...
9 years ago
-
LinkedIn For Writers?? YES!!!
-
We all want to look professional to agents and editors when they search us
online and if you don't have time to keep up your blog or website, you
shoul...
9 years ago
-
The era of personal blogging has come to an end for me and it's time to say
au revoir!
-
Is this sad news? Hell no!
I have to admit, this is quite bittersweet, as I started this blog way back
in 2010 and met some of the most fabulous people th...
10 years ago
-
Almost Here: NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE
-
*In a parallel universe, the classic bad boy falls for the class science
geek. One minute Danny was running from the cops, and the next, he jolted
aw...
10 years ago
-
Moving from Blogger to Wordpress
-
Hello friends of the internet!
I've been over at my website tinkering, and have finally figured out how to
get all my bits under the same umbrella.
My blo...
10 years ago
-
See you at my NEW SITE!
-
I've got a new site at https://sherriewrites.com. Come visit me there!
10 years ago
-
Review: The Truth About Alice by Jen Mathieu (Tour Stop)
-
Out on Tuesday was an amazing, impact, beautiful book: The Truth About
Alice. It's different in so many ways, and had such a lasting impact on me.
One of...
10 years ago
-
Thursday Confessions
-
1. I have 10 minutes before the kids come home after their last day of
school and instead of showering, I'm blogging. This is a terrible, terrible
decision...
10 years ago
-
IGNITED Book Birthday
-
A Milestone, or Something So you know how one day you get this idea, this
spark of something that overwhelms you? At first, it just kind of sits
there in t...
10 years ago
-
So what is going on with me?
-
With SpongeBob playing in the background and the boys maneuvering all
around, I think I'll try to get a post officially "in the tank" here. The
day to day ...
10 years ago
-
World Cup 2014 Betting Tips
-
World Cup Ultimate Betting Idea
The upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa starts on the 11th of June and
will keep the whole wild world totally hooked on...
10 years ago
-
Book Review: Conning for Keeps (and giveaway)
-
About the Book
EBook: 110 pages
Release Date: February 3, 2014
ISBN: 978-1662664719
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
*Lovers undercover…*
*Secret Ag...
10 years ago
-
Greetings from the Flipside
-
Yesterday I received Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay's latest book,
Greetings from the Flipside. Since I tend to snail read these days, there's
no way I'l...
11 years ago
-
Liz's Lair: Encore Blog - Why Labor Day Means So Much To Me!
-
Strapped to a gurney in the back of a C-130 military transport plane on my
way from CCK Air Force base in Taichung, Taiwan to the Navy hospital in
Taipei...
11 years ago
-
Movin' to Bloglovin'
-
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Now you can follow me on Bloglovin'. Either click the link above or look to
the top of the sidebar to the right. I know I'm ...
11 years ago
-
Absolute Write June Blog Chain: BUGZ!
-
I love bugs. Simply and honestly. A frank statement from the bottom of my
heart. There is a reason for that, and I will get to it. The thing about me
is......
11 years ago
-
Co-Author the Story with your Reader
-
Australian novelist Morris West, who during his lifetime sold 60 million
books in 27 languages, once said: "[The writer] has to be the kind of
[wo]man who ...
11 years ago
-
Hiatus
-
Okay, I finally have to admit defeat, at least for a little while. My new
college career is turning out to take up more of my time than I'd
anticipated. I'...
11 years ago
-
Pub Rants Has Moved!!
-
STATUS: You'll have to check out the new location to see how I'm feeling.
*grin*
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? At the time I wrote that blog...
11 years ago
-
The Next Big Thing Blog Hop!
-
Hello all! So, I realize I've been on hiatus for a while (erm, eight
months, yikes), but I'm finally back on the the glorious Internet and have
honestly mi...
11 years ago
-
-
*SpringMingle '13 Blog Tour, Day 3.*
Every February, the Southern Breeze SCBWI Region holds their Spring
conference in Atlanta. This year, our keyno...
11 years ago
-
holy-terrors
-
12 years ago
-
-
Visit my new site:
The Nude Goose
12 years ago
-
-
I've up and moved. Am now blogging with some agency mates over at EMU's
Debuts.
12 years ago
-
Why Having a Rock Star Agent Matters
-
*The Benefits of Having a Great Agent *
I'm sure you've all heard the warning that a bad agent is worse than no
agent at all. I've read horror stories (and...
12 years ago
-
What if You Don't Love Your Characters?
-
I've had all sorts of feelings about my characters over the years. I feel
bad for them, I miss them when I'm not writing about them, I get frustrated
if th...
12 years ago
-
What I Did With My Summer Vacation
-
Hello friends! I've missed you!
How was your summer?
Mine was wonderful. I managed to break my seven year streak of
Summer-Brain-Fogginess and write like ...
12 years ago
-
Try A Personalized Perfume
-
Maybe it has been years for you have worn Armani she perfume for your daily
activities. Several young women make that perfume as their favorite one.
There...
12 years ago
-
The Blog Has Moved!
-
Oops! You must have an old link. You will be redirected to the new site
automatically.
If you are not redirected, please go here for my current blog.
If y...
12 years ago
-
YIPPPEEEEE UNRAVEL ME + DESTROY ME COVERS
-
*i told you i'd be back!*
i just flew in from Toronto a couple of hours ago, and i'm heading to ALA
tonight, so apologies for the delay! i said on twitter ...
12 years ago
-
Friends, loyal countrymen/women, Alliteratus, lend me your ears
-
You may have noticed that we haven't updated in a while. In fact, on April
2nd I said to come back in two weeks. It's, uh, been a few more weeks than
that,...
12 years ago
-
And Now For Something Completely - Not here
-
For all future posts, please go to VictoriaLeeDixon.com!
12 years ago
-
A New Trailer: SKYLARK by Meagan Spooner
-
If you've seen my tweets on SKYLARK, you already know I read it in one day
and couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards. I'll save the review for
anothe...
12 years ago
-
formspring.me
-
Ask me anything http://www.formspring.me/emsreadingroom
12 years ago
-
Thank you
-
Dear friends and fellow writers,
Today is Sunday, and the three of us are sad because we have decided to
close down The Literary Lab. The time feels right ...
12 years ago
-
We've Moved
-
Hi!
The Inkwell Blog has moved. Please visit our new blog by clicking this link.
And, when you're there, don't forget to sign up for RSS Feed or to get our...
12 years ago
-
Shifting (my book) Preview
-
So a lot of you know I've written a book. And maybe some of you don't.
Well, if you're curious about it--my book (SHIFTING)--and want to see if
you might l...
13 years ago
-
In Which I Welcome You to the Next Stop on the TATTERED Blog Tour!
-
Mood: Excited (It's not every day a girl gets to host a stop on the awesome
tour of awesome!)
*LK:* First of all, I'd like to thank Rhonda Cowsert for ho...
13 years ago
-
Happy Thanksgiving!
-
I wish all my American readers a very happy Thanksgiving weekend!!!
I've been taking a blog break recently and will continue to do so until
Monday. I see ...
13 years ago
-
SHUT HAPPENS
-
I'm not much for goodbyes, so this will be brief.
Thank you for your encouragement and support over these last few years.
I will miss you all terribly. I k...
13 years ago
-
Where to find my books
-
Interested in purchasing my books? Here's where you can find them!
*(STRUCK is the 3-book volume of the Stupid Cupid trilogy)*
Felicity Walker believes i...
13 years ago
-
Moving On To Bigger And Better!
-
I'm back again and yet I'm gone. Let me explain.
I am back to blogging, but the time has come for me to leave Blogger
behind.
I've totally redesigned my...
13 years ago
-
Cover Love!
-
A new edition of Cover Love!
We start with:
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
(US, UK, Dutch)
I really like the US cover, especially the font but the UK co...
13 years ago
-
A coward no more! (I hope.)
-
I had a marvelous time at the SCBWI conference in Los Angeles last week. I
was able to hang out with friends from Chautauqua, the Nevada SCBWI Mentor
Pro...
13 years ago
-
Last Week to Access CBC Webpage...
-
Hello friends! If you participated in this year's Creativity Boot Camp, I
wanted to let you know that this is the last week that you'll have access
to the ...
13 years ago
-
Thank you, Bill Murray. I am aware.
-
Oh, good Lord! It's happened. Again. I say again with a lot of anger
because it's what I am about to type is true to its blackened ashy core
where all dre...
13 years ago
-
Awards
-
I have been very remiss in acknowledging the wonderful awards I’ve received
during the course of the A-Z Challenge. So, I’m here tonight to make up for
it....
13 years ago
-
The Matter of Words
-
Yesterday, I finished revising a manuscript of 427 pages, 96,207 words. I
accomplished this over the course of a week, with a birthday and a wedding
throw...
13 years ago
-
Excuse the Mess
-
I'm redecorating the blog, so please look overlook any weird color schemes
or giantic pictures or basically anything strange and out of the ordinary.
I tho...
14 years ago
-
Well, where in the Blogosphere is Jon (and Tina and Heather)?!
-
Dear players,
We are not dead, although I thought I would be at one point.
We took a very long break during the summer and are now planning activities
...
14 years ago
-
TGIF!
-
You may or may not have noticed that I completely forgot to post on
Wednesday. It’s the first time I’ve missed posting since I began this blog,
and I’m thi...
14 years ago
-
When Do You Know?
-
So we've been taking a bit of a hiatus here. Summering. We've all been
summering. And holy cow, I've been WriteOnCon-ing. It's in like, 4 days and
it's goi...
14 years ago
-
I've Flown The Coop!
-
If you're looking for *Good to Begin Well, Better to End Well*, you can
find it here:
*http://amaliadillin.blogspot.com!*
Please update your links accordin...
14 years ago
-
I finally did it!
-
This is my own personal version of Natalie's Saturday Sketch, Renee's
Photoshop Friday and Kasie's Maddeningly unhelpful advice Monday. Let's
call it Stick...
15 years ago
-
Notebooks
-
I have an obsession with notebooks, even though I don't really use them. I
do almost all my writing on my computer, and I use mini-note...
15 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Save The Cat is amazing. You should see my copy... it is all beat up, because I go back to it so often.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you mentioned this. I've just got my invite/reminder for NaNo Screenwriting month for April. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look into Save the Cat.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the "second mouse."
Hope you get through the transition soon.
I think we can learn a lot from screenplays. Hey - I always use my theater background right? Now, writing one? IDK, I don't think it's my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteGosh screen-play writing - paring a scene down to dialogue and setting and plot - always handy for novel writing! It's a course I'd love to do some time this year or maybe next year! I hope so!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
I don't know enough about screen writing to put it's helpfulness on a scale of 1-10, but it makes sense that all authors can benefit from it in many ways. When I read EVERYTHING IS FINE by Ann Dee Ellis, I felt like I was reading a script, but I liked it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard so much about Save the Cat. Maybe I'll have to get it, too. I definitely think we can learn a lot from screenwriting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all those links and tips!
Reacting actively - that's perfect!!
ReplyDeleteGood writing comes in many forms. One of these days I wouldn't mind giving script writing a shot! :)
Thanks. I didn't go to all your links, but would like to when I have more time. This post was helpful to me right now because I'm sorting through my plot for the heart of my novel in order to write my logline and prepare a pitch. Christy
ReplyDeleteI think screenwriting tips are verra helpful. The bare bones without setting and descriptions leave the description of the plot exposed so you can see where it bogs down.
ReplyDeleteYou have so many golden links and tips in one entry I don't know what to do with myself.
ReplyDeleteExcept say, "Actually, I was thinking about Pocahontas/Ferngully the whole time I was watching Avatar. Even the scene with the big yellow truck destroying the mother/hexus tree? Yeah. Ferngully."
Now off to Save the Cat...
I'd give it a high score (8-9) for those who struggle with story structure and plot.
ReplyDeleteIt's the part of story writing that can definitely be taught.
Have a lovely weekend,
Lola
This is such an interesting post! I totally noticed the similarities between Avatar and Pocahontas, to the point where the unoriginal plot (big picture, not the other species thing--that was pretty original) bothered me. The visuals were amazing, but the storyline? Felt a little borrowed :) Loved the active protagonist example from Indiana Jones!
ReplyDeleteI've read Laura's posts on HTTYD as well as Alexandra Sokoloff's on story structure with examples from movies, and most recently Lydia Sharp's posts on Save the Cat. From the latter I ended up writing an outline and starting a new WIP. I've reserved Save the Cat from my library and intend to devour it and fill in the rest of my outline. So I'm like a 10 right now, full of love for the screenwriting tips.
ReplyDelete- Sophia.
One of my crit group members told the rest of us about Save the Cat last year and now all five of us have read it. For me it made so much sense (especially establishing that opening shot). I highly recommend it for novelists!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Margo! I love correlations between movies and writing. There's so much we can learn from film.
ReplyDeleteThe real reason I stopped by was to say thank you for your thoughtful comment on my 'Author Vs Author' post. I really only write those types of posts to hear what readers (like you) think. I learn so much, and I truly feel that the comments make the blog.
Hope to continue to see you around my blog,
EJ
I haven't read Save the Cat, but I do have another screenwriting book I learned from (also did breakdowns and comparisons of movies - this author really loved Napoleon Dynamite references!). Hmm, might need to go skim it again as I tackle another round of edits!
ReplyDeleteerica
I think the crux of it all is that a good screenplay and a good novel tell a story well. It is all about the storytelling. I think there are things a novel should do different from a screenplay, and vice-versa.
ReplyDeleteFor me, a novel is much more personal. I mean, usually I am reading it all by myself, right? Where as a movie is something social. You share the movie experience with others in the theatre, seeing things at the same time and all that. So there is maybe a difference of pace.
But again, the most important part of each is storytelling.
Shelley
I miss the days when movies had plot. Raiders was soo good. Nowadays movies are made from so many young adult books that have no plot. It's like there's a ton of young adult authors out there that are just writing ABOUT a character instead of what the character does. I don't understand how or why this is even interesting but in the end, I guess it really isn't because a lot of what is made into film makes money but critics agree with me and bomb the heck out of this trash with rotten tomatoes critiques.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Margo! My cousin is on a screenwriting course and we share tips galore and find each other's guidelines so helpful.
ReplyDeleteOff now to grab a copy of Save the Cat....
Great post! I'll have to look for Save the Cat, and those websites sound good too. Are you participating in Script Frenzy in April? Not sure I am, since I am knee deep in a revision when I should be at least shoulder deep.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fantastic post! Excellent links, tips and I especially love the Pocahontas/Avatar photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog :-)
Hehe, I love every part of this post!! The Pocahontas/Avatar thing is crazy, isn't it? I thought there were some similarities when I saw Avatar but this sums it up very well. Also, I LOVE your quote about early rising. Glad we are both night owls :) Do you do your writing at night as well??
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. i think screenwriting tips are just as helpful for novels as they are for movies. The end result is different but in terms of getting to the heart of what's going on in the plot and between characters i think it's equally valid.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see how screen writing and novel writing are similar. These are great tips. I need to pick up a copy of SAVE THE CAT!
ReplyDeleteI think that it's interesting what we can learn from other genres and kinds of writing. Always something to learn, isn't there? :)
ReplyDeleteLOL I think you know how I feel on this topic. I'm now reading SAVE THE CAT. Wow, that's two screenwriting books in a row. And two individuals recommended another one on my blog yesterday that I have on hold at the library. :D
ReplyDelete@Stina
ReplyDeleteWhat was the one recommended to you?
I'm at a 9, but that's after already learning a LOT about writing from novelists. I think we can learn a lot from all the arts, but screenwriting is particularly apt -more and more as time goes on, too.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I am a new follower and found you on 'show me the voice' contest. Mine is up early beings I am heading to a conference - so if you want to swing over for a warm up critique -I believe red ink is love and you won't offend me in any way.
ReplyDeleteI have never thought about screen and book writing as having such cross-over help. Thanks for th AH_HA moment.
I have also been doing some thinking about theme and symbolism - I have a post about how Hunger games uses the same symbols as Farhenheit 451. I also have a post on how we can stop writers block - called 'I write in the shower' that you might like - or at least get a good laugh at.
I very much liked reading your post and will check back again soon --- Howlynn
Also (if this hasn't already been mentioned), read 'Story' by Robert McKee. It's about screenwriting, but a good story is a good story (at least with respect to commercial success). Sometimes prose writers tend to overestimate not only their stylistic talents, but also the value of style/the way the book is written itself. In reality, it is important but even a brilliantly written novel is not going to keep the vast majority of readers turning pages (aside from a few avante guard and/or college students forced to read certain novels) when the story itself is not very good. The opposite (or inverse, or whatever) is not true, however. Take a crappily written novel that has a great, compelling story, and with the right marketing it can be very successful (I can think of some hugely successful examples here).
ReplyDeleteThe point is that as novelists, we can all learn a great deal from screenwriters (who, on average, are probably much more successful in selling their work than most of us). They are not so concerned with style or technique (after all, the public for the most part will never read their work) but must instead have kick-ass stories. Imagine a well-written novel that also has a truly great story--that is what will get you published.
Please excuse any typos as I wrote this on a mobile device.