Story Structure 101 - The Index Card Method. Lately I'm being asked to teach writing workshops. A lot. Although I've done a few 3 and 5 day workshops, and I've got a month-long online workshop coming up in February, a lot of them are basically me trying to teach screenwriting techniques to novelists in an hour. I know, it’s crazy, right? – what can you possibly teach anyone about anything in an hour? Well, I can’t teach screenwriting or anything else in an hour, but I’ve found I can teach people how to start to teach THEMSELVES screenwriting techniques in an hour. (And what I’m really teaching is story structure, and secretly I’m really teaching it to help novelists use screenwriting techniques to improve their own books, because as I’ve said about a million times, and explained here, if you’re not willing to commit to an actual career as a screen and/or TV writer, or have a source of independent financing for your movie, then it’s a waste of your time to write a script, except as a learning experience.
Write a book instead.) Parallel Structure. Summary: This handout describes and provides examples of parallel structure (similar patterns of words). Contributors:Dana Lynn DriscollLast Edited: 2013-03-22 09:01:32 Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. Words and Phrases With the -ing form (gerund) of words: Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.
With infinitive phrases: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. (Note: You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only before the first one.) Do not mix forms. Example 1 Not Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle. Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle. Example 2 Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurate ly, and in a detailed manner. Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
Example 3. Diagnostic Test for Writers -- Index. Writing Quizzes. OWL Writing Exercises.