Recently, I was teaching a workshop on premise line development. In that class I defined the terms “character,” “plot,” and “story” (as I use them; a bit differently than many). The resulting chaos this caused among the writer-students was startling. Okay, I have developed my own interpretation of these classical terms d’art, and this alone [...]
I have this love/hate relationship with research. When it’s the kind of study that involves slogging through a million pages of crap to find that one little nugget I can use, of course it’s worth it. But during the marathon swim I feel like I’m in a nightmare, cramming to deliver a paper only my [...]
In order to emotionally evolve a character, you need to be able to identify why he has chosen not to evolve prior to the moment in time your story begins.
“Who ARE professional readers?” “If someone writes a good story with terrible dialogue, would that get rejected?” “What are the biggest mistakes made by amateur writers?” YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
Joey Tuccio, founder of The Happy Writers, has a few tips on how to tweak flat dialogue.
Trying to make sense of all of the dos and don’ts of scriptwriting can be very confusing, especially when so many of them seem to be contradictory. Mastering all of the rules can often seem like an impossible task and can cause many people to become discouraged and even consider giving up. Here’s why you shouldn’t.
The best horror/suspense films offer lessons for all writers on compelling character, simmering tension, and killer endings. Whether you prefer a classic freak fest or a modern scare, Script’s editors and contributors have some recommends for your holiday.
In creating a fast-paced adventure, we often have little time to flesh out our characters, let alone take the time to sculpt out a love relationship that is supposed to profoundly affect the protagonists. I remember, as a little kid, squirming in movies when the hero and his love interest go through their bonding process. That icky moon-eyed slow stuff. Concession time!
At Passover Seder, the youngest child in attendance has the responsibility of asking pertinent questions about the holiday. Jacob Krueger suggests that, when it comes to your script, asking and answering just one question can help you avoid cliché.
