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The Ending: Your last emotional tie with the audience
The last day of the year, so I’m taking a look at the very end of a story. The story ending is the last visual the reader/audience has. Just as the beginning draws the audience into the story...
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The Middle of the Middle: Don’t sag here
The middle. The second act can drag with subplots and episodic events. You need to give the middle of the second act, also the middle of the story, a bang. Ratchet up the tension/confrontation to get...
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Puppies and other time challenges
At some time, your devotion to writing will be tested…perhaps more than once: a move, a wedding, a new child, a home disaster, the death of a loved one. Planned or unplanned these life intrusions may...
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Capturing Silence
Your script reads better if you avoid directional cues. Forget “pause” and “beat.” I know, each is listed in The Screenwriter’s Bible but paint a verbal picture instead. Film is visual. Give clues to...
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Watch your words: Visit a set and read your script aloud
Every scriptwriter should visit a set. You will learn that a great deal of work goes into bringing your story alive. You will experience long hours, actors with incredible durability, directors with...
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Structure Reigns: Combining the elements of the story
Structure Rules: Combining the elements of the story A time comes when you have built your character background and done as much research as feasible. It’s time to start writing the story. All of a...
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Two Exercises to help with Dialogue
If you read scripts by other writers, you will often find the same flaws that industry readers find. One of the shortcomings is flat dialogue. Boring dialogue is one of a script’s elements that will...
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Plot templates and devices, Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
You’ve seen them— the books, lists, articles—that enumerate plots. The betrayed lover, coming of age, the quest, the hero’s journey, etc. There’s nothing wrong with them—as tools. Any reader can tell...
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What makes a character strong?
When I say strong, I mean a character who grabs your attention during the story and is memorable afterwards. He or she may or may not have a strong “character.” Think of your five favorite films. Take...
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Write in increments: tackle parts of the whole
The outline is the key to writing your story. I am currently working on a script with a co-writer. Since we both know the outline we can plug in scenes no matter where in the story. We are building the...
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