Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling These rules were originally tweeted by Emma Coats, Pixar’s Story Artist. Number 9 on the list – When you’re stuck, make a list of what wouldn’t happen next – is a great one and can apply to writers in all genres. You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.Once upon a time there was ___. The Evil Overlord List After I captures the hero's super-weapon, I will not immediately disband my legions and relax my guard because I believe whoever holds the weapon is unstoppable. After all, the hero held the weapon and I took it from him. All bumbling conjurers, clumsy squires, no-talent bards, and cowardly thieves in the land will be preemptively executed; all annoying and/or humorously clever robots and androids will be destroyed; and it shall be declared a capital crime to be the "town drunk". The hero will certainly give up and abandon his quest if he has no handy source of comic relief. All deathtraps will have only one way in or out, with any way out leading to an even more cunning deathtrap that works faster. All guards (and other workers) will be entitled to three weeks paid vacation a year after one full year's employment, will be covered (after that same period) by comprehensive medical and dental insurance (paid by me, the Evil Overlord) for themselves and spouse/companion and all dependents.
Kurt Vonnegut explains drama I was at a Kurt Vonnegut talk in New York a few years ago. Talking about writing, life, and everything. He explained why people have such a need for drama in their life. He said, “People have been hearing fantastic stories since time began. The problem is, they think life is supposed to be like the stories. Let's look at a few examples.” He drew an empty grid on the board, like this: Time moves from left to right. He said, “Let's look at a very common story arc. It starts with her awful life with evil stepsisters, scrubbing the fireplace. “People LOVE that story! He wiped the board clean and said, “Now let's look at another popular story arc: the disaster.” It's an ordinary day in an ordinary town. But the problem is, life is really like this... Our lives drifts along with normal things happening. “But because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs! That's why people invent fights.
English 50 Exercises for Story Writers English 50 – Intro to Creative Writing: Exercises for Story Writers Basic Theory: What is a short story? As soon as someone delivers a definition, some good writer will write a story that proves the theory wrong. About the only thing we can say for sure is that short stories are short and that they are written in what we call prose. Short stories have a narrator; that is, someone tells the story; have at least one character in them; have some action occur (or perhaps fails to occur); take place somewhere; that is, there is a setting for the action; and someone either learns something or fails to learn something (theme).With these five characteristics in mind, we can create an almost endless supply of exercises to help sharpen our techniques of story telling. Narrative Voice Twenty or so years ago, voice was the "rite of passage" into a successful writing career. NOTE: It is quite common for writers in the early stages of their careers to imitate the writers they are reading or admire most.
Writing Comics With Emotional Impact Email The world of Juno is a world that is almost the world I live in, except that all of the people there speak in sarcastic banter the way a Shakespearean cast throws around iambic pentameter. Yet in the midst of an incredibly talky script, the most powerful scene in Juno has no words at all. And it needs none. The power comes from the quiet– from the contrast. The shot starts with two sets of feet sticking out at the end of Juno’s hospital bed– striped socks and grassy track shoes. No words are needed because this moment is the cumulation of everything the viewer and Juno have been through together since the film began. No words are needed between us any more than words were needed between the two of them. We all now share a common experience. Avoid Rushing or Lose the Payoff. When writing comics, and especially webcomics, we must avoid a very real temptation to rush into our most powerful scenes. But there is a problem with this strategy. Doing this in comics can feel risky. Enjoy it.
Photo Album What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? graphology Graphology is the study of handwriting, especially when employed as a means of analyzing a writer's character, personality, abilities, etc. How you write can indicate more than 5,000 different personality traits. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking diseases. size large letters You are out-going, people oriented, outspoken & love attention. small letters You are shy or withdrawn, studious, concentrated and meticulous. average You are well-adjusted and adaptable spacing between words wide spacing You enjoy your freedom and don't like to be overwhelmed or crowded narrow spacing You can't stand to be alone. slanting No Slant You don't let your emotions get the best of you. Slants to the right You are open to new experiences & enjoy meeting new people. Slants to the left You tend to keep to yourself and generally like to work behind the scenes. shape of the letters Rounded letters Open
What Makes A Satisfying Story? Email A satisfying story is a subjective concept. …a moving target. However, I believe that a satisfying story reflects the truths of humanity and provides a catharsis for the audience through the characters’ experience. We like stories with characters who face our own fears and weaknesses (especially the ones that we ourselves are afraid of facing) and ultimately prevail. We also like stories where the characters do not prevail, or survive at great cost to themselves, because that reflects the many sad realities of our collective human experience and helps us to process loss, face death, feel comforted and less alone and even heal from our own wounds… …at least a little bit. What do you think? Eddy Crosby’s following question about story & character sparked this series of blogs. The foundation of a satisfying story can be 1.)
Screenplay Structure: Three Acts & Five Points With Writer-Director Nathan Marshall Even if you're blazing your own plot path, it never hurts to have a road map to fall back on. Which is why we asked screenwriter and filmmaker Nathan Marshall to break down the mythic three-act structure. Living and working in Hollywood, Nathan's most-recent script, Nowhereland, is currently in development at Raygun Productions. You’ve heard of the one-act play. ACT I: The first act of a screenplay is usually 25–35 pages long. ACT II: It can be helpful to think of Act II as two parts – Act 2a and Act 2b. ACT III: Reality returns at the beginning of Act III when your protagonist’s false victory is immediately undone by a huge setback. Okay, you get the three acts! 1) Page 1. 2) Inciting Incident. 3) Page 17. 4) Climax. 5) THE END. But wait a minute. There is no right way to finish a script. 1) Was the inherent conflict of the inciting incident resolved?
How to become a Successful Writer: Seth Godin in Conversation Are you ready for success?Art is the unique work of a human being, work that touches another. – Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception This is part 2 of Seth Godin in conversation with Mary Jaksch, the Chief Editor of Write to Done. Seth: If you’ve accepted that the rules of the game are that you are not willing to write unless everyone likes what you write, then you’ve just announced that you’re an amateur, not a professional, and that you’re probably doomed. Whereas the professional writer says, ‘It is almost certain that most of what I write will not resonate with most people who read it, but over time, I will gain an audience who trusts me to, at the very least, be interesting.’ Mary: I suppose that’s the real advantage of the internet as opposed to the writing industry: you can always find that small group of people who will be interested in what you write. Seth: Yes, that’s exactly right. Iceland teaches an important lesson. All you need to make a living is for four thousand to adore you.
How To Satisfy Your Hero Email In my post What Makes A Satisfying Story? I presented the idea that catharsis = satisfaction. To be human is to want something – a person, a validation, a fix, an answer etc… And to want something is to face a series of challenges to that pursuit whether the want is tangible or intangible. This is not news to anyone who has given any real thought to these kinds of questions so I won’t waste any time here. But if you want to learn more, you can read “Story” by Robert McKee. McKee is brilliant and compelling and yet I disagree with him on many, many points. (If you’re just looking for a great book on story structure, Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat series is, in my opinion, the best.) In response to the question: YES. Luke Skywalker wants to be a pilot and join the rebel alliance but Obi Wan (his teacher) has different things in mind. It is important to note that the two paths are not entirely dissimilar. So now we’re back to catharsis. The foundation of a satisfying story can be 1.)
Tips on Screenwriting Structure and Format; How to write a screenplay QUESTIONS to ask yourself This page will be dedicated to the standard three-act structure of a screenplay. It'll cover everything from Plot Points, Character Development, Subplots, Conflict etc etc etc... Your IDEAS are greatly welcome. Always use ! Because of the 3-hole punched paper, the margin should be 1.5 inches and the is .5 inches. should be 1 inch each. -2.5 inches from the left- will be about 3 to 3.5 inches wide and shouldn't extend more than 6 inches from the left. at 3.7 inches and above the dialogue. should be located in the upper right hand corner and then double space and continue writing. A screenplay begins with At the end of your script you should type and center it, or double space, to the far right of the page, and type Your COMMENTS are welcome! Primary conflict up front Introduce the protagonist in a unique way Why does the story start today : Who? What power does the antagonist hold over the hero? Are there teams? How does hero seize control of destiny? What is now in the way