Decisions, Decisions I have a bunch of difficult choices in front of me. Why? I’m starting a new screenplay and I have to get it out of my head and onto the page. The first problems to hit are to do with the process of writing. Do I know what I want to say? Pretty […]
Tag: structure
Ten Animation Movies With Heart
Genre-Rama Since I’m working on an adventure comedy animation story right now, I thought I’d collect ten animation movies with heart that inspire my writing. I love genre movies. They often take a bad rap. I don’t think the term ‘B Movie’ is officially used any more, but I’ve heard it bandied about in real […]
Costa Rica Screenwriting Retreat with Jacob Krueger
Costa Rica has been on my bucket list for decades. When I saw this opportunity to combine Costa Rica with screenwriting, I couldn’t resist. To be honest, I felt a bit daunted to launch off into the unknown. I spent the whole flight worrying about whether I had the right country because sometimes people say […]
Story structure, plotting and free flow
Screenwriters and novelists, it’s not easy to turn out a good tale. A writer will get more criticism over story structure, plotting and free flow, than any other components. Why is structure so hard? I put the question to screenwriters, and unleashed a river of emotion. Here’s what stood out. Don’t start: you are not […]
What is a theme?
Q. What is a theme and must I have one? A. The theme is the moral discussion or proposition of your story, for example, “Love conquers all,” (Rome and Juliet), or “People get what they deserve,” (The Scottish Play). Not every writer chooses to include a theme, but it can make your story powerful for […]
3-Act Structure
Q. What is the 3-act-structure and should I use it? A. The 3-act-structure is the beginning, middle and end of your story. This principle is said to have originated with Aristotle in his work The Poetics. It’s the most commonly used structure for a novel, short story, play or screen play. A successful work hangs on a […]