TEN SIMPLE KEYS TO PLOT STRUCTURE. Structure is something that every agent and executive in Hollywood talks about, and that all of us teachers/authors/consultants/gurus/whatever go on and on about, to the point that it can seem complicated, intricate, mysterious and hard to master. So I want present plot structure in a way that simplifies it – that will at least give you a starting point for properly structuring your screenplay without overwhelming you with rules and details and jargon. Here are what I consider ten key elements of structure – ten ways of looking at structure that will immediately improve the emotional impact – and commercial potential – of your script. THE SINGLE RULE OF STRUCTURE I once got to work with long time television writer Doug Heyes, who used to say that there is only one rule for achieving proper plot structure: What’s happening now must be inherently more interesting than what just happened. Fiction Writing Exercises - Handouts - The Writing Center - The University of Iowa.
25 Ways To Fuck With Your Characters. As storyteller, you are god. And to be frank, you’re not a particularly nice god — at least, not if you want your story to resonate with readers. A good storyteller is a crass and callous deity who treats the characters under his watchful eye like a series of troubled butt-puppets. From this essential conflict — storyteller versus character — a story is born.
(After all, that’s what a plot truly is: a character who strives to get above all the shit the storyteller dumps on his fool head.) Put differently, as a storyteller it’s your job to be a dick. It’s your job to fuck endlessly with the characters twisting beneath your thumb. And here’s 25 ways for you to do just that. 1. Gods have avatars, mortal or semi-mortal beings that exist on earth to embody the deity’s agenda. 2. The audience and the character must know the stakes on the table — “If you don’t win this poker game, your grandmother will lose her beloved pet orangutan, Orange Julius.” 3. 4. 5. 6. This one? 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1001 Secrets of Successful Writers. (More) tips for writing well (Austin Govella at Thinking and Making) Published Wed, Jul 8, 2009 by Austin Govella.
Updated Wed, Jul 8, 2009. As an editor, I’ve noticed several recurring bad habits you heathens would do well to disabuse yourselves of immediately. Almost without exception, these bad habits instantiate themselves as a series of stock phrases and constructions that reflect a lack of focus, a lack of fully developed argument, or the kind of intellectual laziness that sets in as you slog through your first draft. These things happen, That’s ok. Editing helps you save yourselves from these offenses before your thoughts hit the world and everyone knows your dirty secrets. but you can edit yourself, and you should. Use the following checklist as a guide to tightening up both your words as well as and what you mean. 16 things to check when you edit Be vicious when you edit. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
After you edit… The finished piece should be so tight, terse, concise, and clear that it’s boring. Boring. Write like you talk. Write to Done | Unmissable articles on writing. How to Write a Book Now -- Tools for Emerging Authors. Exercises in Writing for Beginning Writers. Instructor: Jim Manis Email: jdm12@psu.edu Exercises to Generate Creativity Copyright @ 2001 The Pennsylvania State University This site is devoted to offering as many exercises (and general good advise) for creative writing students who wish to avail themselves of them.
The first rule to becoming a writer is to write REGULARLY. Keep a Journal: Many of us aren't sure what we should be writing about during that space we set up to write in every day. A journal can be physically made of anything that it is convenient for you to write in and carry around. Keep in mind that a journal is not a diary. Audience: Young writers sometimes make one of the two following mistakes: They either assume they are writing for everyone or that they are only writing for themselves. How then do you determine who you are writing for? Ready to try to some exercises? Click here to go to poetry. Click here to go to story writing.