Tag Archives: Screenwriting Tips

Writing and Music

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

Music&Writing (Zemanta)I am a big proponent of listening to inspiring music when you write.  Depending on the writing, be it a romance, adventure, or thriller, the music you listen to should be a compliment to that style.  For my romantic pieces I usually listen to classical, or what’s considered new age — wordless.  For the spy script I’m currently writing, the music has been a bit more intense — sometimes without words, but with a harder sound (Depeche Mode and Muse have a few wordless pieces that are great for writing to), or some techno and rock.  I’ve also created playlists based on tv shows or movies I’ve liked with similar interests like La Femme Nikita and Alias for my spy script, or Pride & Prejudice and A Single Man for my more romantic pieces.  Just think about what music has done for you in your life.  You hear a song and can be reminded of your childhood sweetheart, your grandparents, graduating high school, or taking a road trip.  I have a few songs that remind me of backpacking through Europe, because I only took two tapes (yes, tapes) for six weeks.  Or when you hear a song you saw in a movie and are right back in that moment and its corresponding emotions.  I mean who doesn’t want to cry whenever they hear a Sarah McLachlan song?  Music is powerful.  It inspires.  And it brings people together.

I know some writers that must have quiet when they write, but I find the silence more distracting, and depending on the time of day, and your writing environment, the outside noises can be more intrusive and a major concentration breaker.  I’ve created multiple playlists on both iTunes and YouTube that I can go to depending on the particular piece I’m working on.  And YouTube is great (and a time sucker) for sharing other music similar to that which you’ve just listened to.  And I love being introduced to new stuff, so when LitReactor shared this article, 9 Great Albums to Accompany Your Writing Process, I was immediately intrigued, and found a few new pieces to add to the collection.

I like the symbiotic nature of writing with music.  I have been given strong visuals to pieces I’m working on when listening to certain music.  I remember writing this romantic period piece while listening to Enya, The Sun in the Stream, in particular.  She is my go to artist when I write.  It was a series of visuals; walking through a vast golden field, a wild castle garden, and two men in a castle courtyard practicing with swords while a woman lingered above watching.  Still to this day, whenever I hear this song, I see these images.

Everyone has their method, and if you’re a writer who likes the silence and it works for you, then don’t let me tell you otherwise.  For me personally, music is so much a part of my life, in every aspect, that it is only natural for me to listen and be inspired further.  I only wish I was better at playing music myself.

Have a good week and best of luck in your writing endeavors!  And thank you to ItalyEnya for the upload!

*Image by Zemanta

Novels vs Screenplays Pt. 2

Posted in Posts, Tips by

FlyingLettersSo continuing on…I recently added my own insight into a discussion regarding the nature of screenplays.  A writer was finding it difficult to follow the screenplay formula and not leave the reader confused.  Screenplays involve a lot of blank page, little description, and subtext to limit dialogue…a whole, action packed story, all in under 120 pages.  As I stated in the previous post, 1 page of screenplay roughly equals 1 minute of screen time.  So, those romantic comedies that are always around the 1 1/2 hr mark are about 90 pages.  Again, there are exceptions to the rules.  That’s why the phrase “rules are meant to be broken” is so well loved among screenwriters.  But, you have to learn them first.

When I started writing, I tried writing longer stories.  What I found inhibiting was the attention to details.  Where does the story fall among all those descriptions and idle moments.  When I was introduced to screenwriting, that it was it for me.  Don’t misunderstand, I love to read.  Getting lost in a book is a great way to spend time.  But, as a writer, I find I’m more effective in screenwriting.  Since I began screenwriting, I tried my hand at transferring one of my ideas to novel form, and it took great pains to switch the brain to that mode.  But here’s something I learned along the way.  Because I had to expand the story, I learned more about my characters, their thoughts, their feelings, and the plot became more involved which in turn caused me to rewrite the screenplay.  The two worked better together, in this case.  (This may need to be another topic of discussion.)

So here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re writing a screenplay:

1) Description should be bare minimum.  Only those things that add to the character should be mentioned.  The director and casting agents will decide on who gets cast in your roles, so don’t over-describe what they look like.  Same goes for clothing.  A few references to add to the character are useful, but can be eluded to easily without spending a lot of time on it.  If your character works in the fashion industry, most readers will have some understanding of what type of looks are involved in that world.  And you only have to mention it once when you first introduce your character.  I have an “angsty” teenager in one of my scripts and I just mentioned that she wore all black.  That’s it.  Our imaginations can conjure up an image without going into great detail.  Sometimes locations will be altered, for multiple reasons, so don’t waste time with a lot of description here either.  But let’s say your character randomly quotes movie lines, then perhaps you can write that they have old movie posters around their apartment.  But don’t tell us what color the walls are.  If your characters go to a country house in England, again, we can pretty much imagine that.

On the flip side, if your story takes place in an “alien” world (and by alien, I mean anything out of the ordinary.  It could be a secret military base, or a parallel world), then yes, you may need to describe things a little more in detail, but try not to go over the top, because Hollywood readers (from what I’ve heard) will sometimes just skim over long blocks of description because it takes away from the flow.

2) The same is true of dialogue.  Screenplay dialogue does not always mimic real life conversations.  You can leave out traditional conversation fillers like “hello”, “how are you”, “have a good day”, etc., again, unless it’s adding to the subtext.  Maybe we’re meeting the villain for the first time and he’s unusually cordial and it makes everyone uneasy.  Or a couple has just had a fight, so their conversation is a little stilted as they try to get past the tension.  There’s a phrase to remember in writing, “Enter (the scene) late, Leave (the scene) early”.  Think about it as if you were attending a party.  You get there an hour after it’s started.  You don’t know what happened before you arrived, so some of the conversations you overhear are just strange.  When you leave, the same thing can be said.  The last line of dialogue you hear uttered may leave you questioning what just happened.  Not everything needs an explanation.  Maybe it’s foreshadowing.  Maybe we just learned how other people view our character.

3) Try to conserve words.  If you can use one word instead of two and achieve the same intent, do it.  120 pages isn’t a lot.

4) Lastly, over describing action is unnecessary as well.  I remember reading once that in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there was an elaborate fight sequence that was written only as “They fight”.  As writers we see the entire sequence in our heads, but leaving out some of the details does not necessarily mean it will weaken your story.  Obviously, you can write a little more than that, such as, “a fight that ensued through every room” or “an intense fight that seemed to last hours”.  A film involves so many more people, all with specific skills, and it is this knowledge that allows you to just tell the story.

This was a long one…goodness.  I hope it was helpful!  If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message.

Best of luck and have a good weekend!

Novels vs Screenplays

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

FlyingLettersI recently added my two-cents to a discussion about screenwriting and was compelled to talk about it a bit more.  This particular writer had posed a question about why screenplays had to be a certain length because he felt that his story lost something and might be confusing if everything he wanted was not included.  If you’ve written longer prose the switch to screenwriting can be a difficult transition.  Screenwriting is not like novel writing.  A novel can sometimes be upwards of a thousand pages, where a screenplay, especially for new writers in the field, should never exceed 120 (1 page roughly equals 1 minute of screen time).  Yes, there are exceptions to this rule — Gandhi, Malcolm X, Braveheart, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, to name a few — but they’re all historical, epic, so I can imagine if you have one of those in your arsenal, the page count rule will not apply.  But good luck selling that right out of the gate.*  Historical usually equals costly, and a “first time” writer will be hard pressed to sell something like that without a track record.  Now, again, there are always exceptions, so if you have an amazing story, go for it!  If it’s that good, someone will take notice.  *A disclaimer: I am not an expert.  I am a writer new to the world of Hollywood.  I have just started to make my rounds in the industry, have read a lot, and am partially regurgitating what I’ve learned so far.  Please take my ramblings as just that, ramblings.  I am only trying to impart the lessons of those who have come before.  I feel it’s important to know the terrain before heading out into it.

A screenplay is a blueprint for the film.  There are two mottos by which a screenwriter lives (there are more, I’m sure, but these are the big ones) — show don’t tell & write only what can be seen.   Not all the details need to be included.  If the screenplay is based on a novel many details can be excluded simply because there is source material to refer to.  Novels can spend entire chapters setting up characters, locations, and the premise, where a screenplay is supposed to have all that within the first 10 pages.  Novels can delve into a character’s inner dialogue, but in screenplays, unless it can be shown, you can’t do it.  And from the things I’ve read, most industry professionals don’t care for voice overs which could be considered a quick fix for faulty storytelling.*  *Again, refer to the above disclaimer.

I understand this particular writer’s frustration, but where I find screenwriting liberating, as it is formulaic and has rules (which of course are meant to be broken), to others it might be too restrictive.  For writers interested in exploring screenwriting, I would encourage you to find a screenplay of a movie you like and compare the two.  Even better if it was based on a novel as you can see how different all three can be.  Here is a site that lists where to find mostly free downloadable screenplays.

To be continued…I have a few more “pearls of wisdom” to impart.  Oh, yea.

Wishing you the best of luck in your writing endeavors!

Taking Chances

Posted in Posts, Tips by

There is something to be said about a writer who can do something as bold as killing of a “lead” character.  When it translates to television, having a face and a visual to connect with, their death, if unexpected (if you’re like me and maybe haven’t read the source material to shows like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones), can be tragic and almost heartbreaking.  It’s even harder nowadays to keep incidents on shows a secret when everyone is so apt to talk about it the moment it happens.  So, if you’re behind on any of your shows, like I am, you scroll past Facebook posts with eyes averted for months so that when that dramatic, surprising moment occurs, we can still be shocked, angry, or sad.  And the writer has accomplished something great.  It takes something special to surprise me anymore and when that does happen, it creates a loyal follower.  The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are among my favorite shows ever and for good reason.  (TWD has the highest ratings of any show practically ever, and GoT is second only to The Sopranos on HBO, so I’m clearly not alone in my devotion.)  They keep me guessing and rooting for the characters, that’s why when one of them falls, I feel like I’ve lost friend.  On The Walking Dead, as it’s a fight for survival, I want this small band of people that I’ve been following to find a safe haven and a moment’s peace.  On Game of Thrones, I want vengeance, often.  After the last season of GoT, it took quite a few days to overcome the sadness that I was surprised took hold of me.

Now you may be asking why I haven’t read the written works.  Once I’ve started a series, either tv or film, I don’t want to know what’s going to happen, I want to remain in the dark, so I only read up until the current season (I still haven’t finished Harry Potter, I know, I know…).  I’m just about to start George R.R. Martin’s series for insight into his writing style and technique.  I find Game of Thrones so fascinating that it’s only proper that I read some of the novels to learn more.

After another tragedy during my viewing today, I started to think about my own stories and how I play it fairly safe.  I’d like to blame my upbringing a bit because in fairytales, the layers of darkness and deception, etc. only go so deep.  My sister likes to call me naive, which in part is true, because my mind just doesn’t go to certain places.  This is why I need the influence of writers, such as these, to help me think beyond my own boundaries/limitations.  I love the feel of that tugging on my heartstrings, the pit in my stomach, when I realize I’ve been holding my breath, and clenching my fist…I’m emotionally invested.  And I want to do that for my readers and hopefully/eventually my viewers.  I want them to be surprised and to worry and hope for my characters as if they were friends, loved ones.  Stories are like walking into a character’s life and we should be moved by what we witness.

As writers, we owe it to our readers to take chances.  We are in a unique position to create worlds that draw people in.  What we do once were in there is up to us, but we should be willing to be bold and daring.  I’m not saying to shock for the shock value alone, but if done well, can be among those memorable moments that people will talk about time and time again.

Here’s to taking chances!

The Zombie Condition

Posted in Posts, Quotes, Websites by

DesertAbout seven years ago, my sister and I moved to a new state and my creative pool dried up and looked as barren as the Arizona landscape that lay outside my front door.  I told people I was a writer, because I hated the inevitable question that all servers/bartenders get, “So what else do you do?” or the yet worse, “This isn’t all you do, is it?” (because to outsiders, waiting tables is like purgatory, but the question is an insult.  It’s a slap in the face that what you’re doing right now, isn’t good enough, and they’re concerned for you).  Oh goodness, that’s a rant for another day.  So, about eight months pass, and I haven’t written a word, and yet I keep telling people that’s what I really do.  I’m a writer.  The thought that plagued me all those months was how could I call myself a writer if I wasn’t writing.  A few drafts in on one screenplay does not a writer make.  I had written more, all through my youth, but it’s not worth mentioning.  And there was a little fear lingering as well.  What other stories did I have to tell?  Then I remembered a quote from Maya Angelou.  “You can’t use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have.”  Creativity is a fountain.  And as writers we observe.  We are never short of ideas, stored in that so-called “vault”.  So after a little self-loathing and a metaphorical kick in the ass, I got back to work.SwarovskiFaceFountain, Austria

Writing is hard, it’s an art form, and not everyone can do it.  But, if it’s who you really are, then don’t let anything derail you!  That’s my tip of the day.

I was reminded of this condition when I read this funny article today on Script about Writer Zombies.  Don’t let this happen to you.

Best of luck in your writing adventures!

*Swarovski Face Fountain, Austria

“Killing Your Darlings”

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

This morning I read an article about the 3 Signs You Should Give Up On Your Story by K.M. Weiland — 1) You’re losing focus.  2) You lack passion.  3) Your gut says stop.  I think there should be an asterisk at the end of that title that leads you to a footnote that reads *Temporarily, because I’m not sure I believe any story you’ve poured so much effort into should ever really be dead.

Obviously we started the story because we liked it or what’s the point?  If you’ve lost focus or passion, perhaps it’s time to just shelve the story for a little while or retrace your steps to remind yourself why you started the story in the first place.  (I recently wrote about how I was reminded why I started my latest screenplay based on a snippet from Elfen Lied, and it reinvigorated the idea for me.)  If your gut is telling you to quit, it may be your inner voice, the one that always knows, that something has gone amiss, but to me, that doesn’t mean the story is dead in the water.  Sometimes we struggle.  Sometimes we get lost.  Sometimes we get buried, but I have never felt relieved to let a story go.  I put it on the back burner for a little while and work on something else.

When I was about 15 I started a romantic period piece that I was too inexperienced to write.  I have had this story shelved for quite some time because I lacked the knowledge of how to write it.  What did I know about that life?  What did I know about life in general?  I had started reading romantic fiction and I think I was inspired and wanted to imitate those stories in some regard because the themes I was hinting at were well above my age/emotional level at that time.  It is a story I have always planned on returning to, I just needed the right mindset to write it.  Since those first few drafts, I have changed.  I’ve become older, wiser, and much better at research.  I love history and have studied it a great deal since I was 15, so much so that I actually have a fairly wide knowledge base about certain time periods.  Plus, as time goes by, you learn more about the world and the people in it.  Those are the ingredients to make you a better writer.  And I loved those characters.  They were my first “couple” and I think it’s time they were resurrected (in time…).

Maybe you need more life experience.  Maybe you need more research.  Maybe you need someone to bounce ideas around with.  I find that talking out the story will sometimes help put it in perspective because you’ll find the holes immediately when trying to tell it.  And the big thing I’ve learned as a writer is that our characters will speak to us.  Sometimes they are the ones to fix a problem.

I’d love some feedback on this one.  Have you ever had to put one of your beloveds to rest?

Wishing you all the best and a great weekend!

Opportunity: Write Start Contest

Posted in Posts, Websites by

I always figured I’d be some kind of writer.  I remember (way, way back) in elementary school writing stories — I think I was trying to write a biography once, as if so much had happened in my 8 short years…maybe it was meant to be some sort of diary — I still have some of them.  In fifth grade we had this great project to create a hardcover book, artwork and all.  I wrote a story about running away after my bike was stolen.  Oh, yeah.  Not a true story by the way.  I kept writing, but always struggled.  I rarely finished anything.  It wasn’t until many years later that I found my calling.  I had taken some time off from college, not finding a degree that I wanted to spend money on and then brag about later.  That is, until I found screenwriting.  I graduated with a film degree and loved pretty much every moment of it.  That is a satisfying feeling.

So for those of you interested in becoming a screenwriter, I just discovered an opportunity for you.  Sponsored by Stage 32, The Write Start Contest will give you a chance to study screenwriting for an intensive 8 weeks at the New York Film Academy.  You don’t need to have written a screenplay, just an idea (remember I just said something about how everyone has an idea?!).  Anyway…screenplays take a different approach then novels do.  You leave so much description, dialogue, and “fluff” by the wayside.  It may not be for everyone, but I find it liberating.  One can get so bogged down in the details, and with screenplays, those details are left to the hands of all those creative departments.

So if you’re thinking about trying your hand at screenwriting, this may be a quick, intensive lesson in whether or not it’s right for you.

Good Luck!!

Editing Tips

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

EditingAll writing is rewriting.  So editing is something we writers must be good at (well, good might not be the best word for the ninja like precision we must hack away at our beloveds).  We must be swift and merciless when it comes to cutting down description, dialogue, and the stuff I like to call “fluff” (the extra things you might like and want to add but aren’t truly necessary to tell the story).  Sometimes we have to cut whole, beautiful, emotional scenes or likable characters…there’s that pang in my chest just thinking about it…because it doesn’t work.  It doesn’t drive the story.  As a screenwriter, I think it’s worse.  You only have 120 pages (or less) and there’s so much blank page (and then there are so many more hands in that pot as it moves forward).  As creatives, placing limitations on our process is a contradiction.  That’s why you write from the heart in the first draft and from the head in the inevitable numerous following drafts.  *And this is why you don’t need to read the following articles until you are ready to edit.  Don’t let them sway you.

Yes, we create something out of nothing.  But.  That first draft is never as good as it seemed in our heads.  Sometimes to get our character from point A to point B they have to take a few detours and that changes the story on the page from where we originally imagined it.  So, there has to be finessing, finding different ways to say the same thing, and the inevitable (just in time for Halloween) horror movie style slashing.

I, myself, am in the midst of yet another rewrite on one of my scripts, my baby, and am really having a difficult time separating my emotions from the story I’m trying to tell and the best way to tell it.  I’ve had this story in the works for quite some time and every time I go in for a rewrite, it changes dramatically.  This time around, I’m cutting the entire third act and reworking the earlier scenes and it’s starting to morph into something else entirely, yet again, which at this point, I’m not even sure I like yet.  And what’s worse, I’m on a deadline.

So today I offer up two sites with some tips.  The first is an article by one of my favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk, on LitReactor about “thought” verbs.  The other is a checklist by The Write Life — 25 Editing Tips for Tightening Your Copy.

I wish you all the best in your writing efforts!  Have a great week!

*Image found on professionalnoveleditors.com

Writer’s Pet Peeves

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

TypewriterFontWriterMore often than not when I tell someone I’m a writer I receive the response, “I have a great idea for a story!”  And sometimes they add, “Maybe we could talk about it…”  Why?  Have I mentioned something about running out of my own ideas?  Has my well run dry?  This may indeed be one of the first lessons every writer learns…everyone has an idea.  I’ve had old friends, people I hadn’t spoken to in years, call to ask if I wanted to write these interesting ideas they had because they had learned that I was now a writer.  I understand their enthusiasm for wanting to share their story, sometimes it is indeed interesting (I mean, we all have stories…you tell them at parties while standing around the kitchen with a glass of wine), but (and that’s a big but), I feel almost like they’re trying to validate not just what I do, but themselves as well for having lived with this glimpse of a story for as long as they have.

Maybe this sounds a bit callous, but in the end, I think their eye is on the possibility of money.  Novels can have hordes of followers and then can be turned into movies, and writers have a level of celebrity now that I don’t think existed prior to the internet.  I write because I have to.  I don’t want to do anything else, I’ve tried other avenues and this is it for me (and what would my poor brain do if I didn’t do this?  Hmm…), and hopefully, in time, the money will come, but that’s not why I do it.  This is my lot in life.

I was reminded of this pet peeve when I read an article about The 6 Things Only Writers Understand About the Writing Life on the site The Write Life.  Here’s a snippet from this particular pet peeve:

I always feel a little disrespected when someone brings up their story like we have something in common.  Do they think my job is just me wistfully going about my day with big ideas?

If you find yourself cornered by someone else’s half-baked dreams, try to steer the conversation toward the reality of your career and lifestyle to help them understand that you’re more than fantastical ideas. Explain what your day really looks like, and the deadlines and commitments that drive your work toward the finish line.

And usually we have to try to find time for our passion in between family, work, friends, and other commitments.  So stay strong fellow writers!

I wish you all the best of luck and a productive weekend (if you’re working and not “taking the weekend” like I’ve suggested)!

*Image from DL Koontz site

Network, Network, Network

Posted in Posts, Tips, Websites by

As a (currently unemployed) writer, sometimes I go days without speaking to anyone other than my sister and my dogs.  A writer’s life is already fairly solitary and add a few other non-social qualities and you’ve got a creative hermit.  My sister and I moved to Los Angeles together without knowing anyone and I would still say our acquaintances are few and far between.  It’s been a bit of a struggle (I will write another post, or three, on moving and living here for those of you considering it) and meeting people has been difficult…and as an aspiring screenwriter, meeting people is key.  You have to get out, mingle, socialize, network.  So last night I attended an event at the Writers Guild.  It was specifically for animation writers, which I am not, but the guest speaker is a friend, so I went to support.  In the course of the evening I met a few people with shared interests and it felt good to be around others creatively inclined.

AboveLAWhen I used to vacation in LA, I couldn’t imagine living here.  The city is HUGE and I was always a little unsure about the move (because I was a big chicken), but I knew it was something I was going to have to do in order to make my career aspirations a reality because this is where the action is.  For those of you who do live here, there are so many opportunities to take advantage of; free screenings, free seminars, meet and greets, events, etc. through numerous organizations.  For those of you who do not, there are still plenty of avenues at your disposal; states have a film commission where information can be found in regards to film companies and productions shooting in the area which might lead to other opportunities (guest speakers), the website Meetup lists writers groups (genre specific groups available as well) and opportunities to mix and mingle, and some groups, like Women in Film (which is not only for women), have chapters worldwide.  You may also want to look into your university or community college for classes that offer a chance to meet other writers or offer other opportunities like monthly meetings.

My tip of the day (which I must also take to heart): Get out of the house.  Escape those four walls.  Meet people.  Network.  It’s not only good for your writing but your mental well being too.

Have a great weekend!