How to write a full length (book, story, novel, screenplay, etc.)
1. Get an idea and write it down. Once you’ve gotten it and it won’t leave you alone, write down every scrap of inspired information you have about this idea. Write in on anything you can find, and write it as fast as you can. You aren’t writing a story. You aren’t even necessarily writing a list. Just put down everything in your head that meshes with this idea. Keep writing until you run out of steam. Generally that should be enough to help you pick back up when you get the nerve up to write again.
2. Organize your idea. Pick out important points that you see happening in your story. An easy way to do this is to follow a basic formula like Freytag’s Pyramid.
-Exposition
-Inciting Incident
-Rising Action / Complications
-Struggles and Growth
-Moment of darkness / Moment of loss / Moment of Recognition
-Climax
-Falling Action
-Denouement / Resolution
It is not requisite that you use these points to set up, but be aware that by the time you finish your story these points will most likely all be present. It is a story format that closely reflects life, learning, and growth, and so is extremely familiar to the human experience and. So it is sometimes easier to get these points out first since they will most likely be some of the points that you think of first.
3. Write down Key moments or ideas. These are the moments that you see happening in your minds eye. The little girl blowing a dandelion into a wind that carries the seeds into...? The epic battle that rages between two clans who rose from feuding brothers until two families finally destroy themselves with blood. A man who has lived with a woman for twenty years and she just finds out that he...? A poignant scene between two lovers. the funeral on a hillside frozen in time and covered with dust. The rise and fall of a heretical prophet. The rise and fall of a political party. The pain of being a double agent.
These are the moments and ideas that you write for. They may not be the moments that matter when you finish, but they will carry you to the next point.
4. Answer this little question.
Why in the world are you writing this? Why would anyone else be interested in what you want to write?
Here are a couple of possible answers.
a-I’m writing this to make money. The idea is very commercial and it’s been done before so I know people will like it still.
b- I’m writing this because I think that the current (Romantic Comedies, Spy Novels, Horror Flicks, Kids stories, Epic movies, thrillers, etc.) are becoming stagnant, and I think people will appreciate something new.
c. I eat drink and sleep this story, and I think that other people will catch on to my passion and make this a cultural phenomenon.
d. A message trapped for millennia has found out that it can come into this world by means of a writer from our realm. And if I don’t write it, it will force its way through another less good route.
e. (and this is the worst and best of all the answers.) I don’t think anyone will like or even appreciate what I have to say. But I have to say it. I don’t know how to live without telling my story.
5. Write.
6. Write.
7. Write.
8. Get a second opinion.
9. Rewrite.
If it’s not done by now, look at your answer from number 4, then go back and repeat steps 7 - 9.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Discombobulation
In times past I have noted, with restrained malice, various and sundry persons exiting a theater prior to the full run of the credits listing has achieved ultimate fruition.
Ok, so I guess that it doesn't really bother me all that much, but it is a valid point. When you watch a movie, especially in a movie theater, you have paid a certain amount of money to experience an entire artistic creation of which the credits are most definitely part. Now, I really don't mind that other people leave a movie theater before the credits are done, or even started for that matter. It's the social norm. Credit roll signals the end of a movie, so it's time to leave.
However, I would like to put out a word for staying 'til the end of the credits and why those who leave early miss out. I will explain. When a movie is created the director and editors spend quite a bit of time establishing the theme and mood that they feel best suits the script. A well designed credit roll follows and extends the mood of the rest of the film so that we, the audience, can sit and reflect on the movie that we just saw. It allows for a sort of catharsis and the music draws us to an emotional conclusion that extends and strengthens the mood and message of the film. Granted, some credit rolls fail in this ultimate goal and instead hurry the exodus of the stadium seating. But I would argue that some films evoke the same effect (Just as a notice you should probably be aware of the difference of affect and effect. If you are not, look it up and this article may do you some good.)
In short, if you leave a movie before the credits finish than you have missed out on a part of an artistic creation and squandered your money.
So next time you go to see a film take the time to watch the whole thing and let the added few moments of film credits fulfill their purpose.
Notes:
1. If you have children with you as you watch a movie, it may be impossible to enjoy any part of the movie not to mention the credits. Be aware of the type of movie you are intending to watch. Of course, movies made for children often have music that they will enjoy as well but only if you are fine with dancing in the aisles.
2. Some movies with good Credit rolls: Lord Of the Rings: Return of the king; Disney's Aladdin; AI; Spiderman 1
If you find more successful credit rolls, or have some that really hit home with you, please let me know.
Ok, so I guess that it doesn't really bother me all that much, but it is a valid point. When you watch a movie, especially in a movie theater, you have paid a certain amount of money to experience an entire artistic creation of which the credits are most definitely part. Now, I really don't mind that other people leave a movie theater before the credits are done, or even started for that matter. It's the social norm. Credit roll signals the end of a movie, so it's time to leave.
However, I would like to put out a word for staying 'til the end of the credits and why those who leave early miss out. I will explain. When a movie is created the director and editors spend quite a bit of time establishing the theme and mood that they feel best suits the script. A well designed credit roll follows and extends the mood of the rest of the film so that we, the audience, can sit and reflect on the movie that we just saw. It allows for a sort of catharsis and the music draws us to an emotional conclusion that extends and strengthens the mood and message of the film. Granted, some credit rolls fail in this ultimate goal and instead hurry the exodus of the stadium seating. But I would argue that some films evoke the same effect (Just as a notice you should probably be aware of the difference of affect and effect. If you are not, look it up and this article may do you some good.)
In short, if you leave a movie before the credits finish than you have missed out on a part of an artistic creation and squandered your money.
So next time you go to see a film take the time to watch the whole thing and let the added few moments of film credits fulfill their purpose.
Notes:
1. If you have children with you as you watch a movie, it may be impossible to enjoy any part of the movie not to mention the credits. Be aware of the type of movie you are intending to watch. Of course, movies made for children often have music that they will enjoy as well but only if you are fine with dancing in the aisles.
2. Some movies with good Credit rolls: Lord Of the Rings: Return of the king; Disney's Aladdin; AI; Spiderman 1
If you find more successful credit rolls, or have some that really hit home with you, please let me know.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
RMA - 3956630475834-3-05779455-3904675
So, I was a sucker the other day and despite my good judgement I clicked on one of those "fee ipod" or "Free PS3" or "Free waste of money" things. I'm pretty sure that it was one of those things. Now that I think, it may very well have been the last one. It might as well have been for all the good that came of it.
Now I'm not completely naive. I understood that "Free" actually means "Just sign up for a bunch of offers so that we can use the money we get from advertising and suckers who don't understand the system to send the few who actually get through all the paperwork and headache might actually get a free item which is not guaranteed to compensate for the free headaches that are guaranteed." I tell you what. That's a lot of subtext. Whoever wrote that "Free" should be a professional writer maybe making screenplays because saying so much with only one word is a marketable skill.
So, even though I went into the process knowing that I'd perhaps pay $150 in offers I was ok with that because that is still significantly less than I would pay otherwise.
INTERMISSION
I would like to take a break here to complain about wireless keyboards. Especially wireless keyboards with dead or dying batteries. I would stand to reason that I complain about dead or dying batteries, or using someone else's keyboard when they don't replace the batteries. And if I were truly proactive I might skip the complaining process and just replace the batteries myself....But I'm going to complain. I've never had a wired keyboard drop every third lettr or so that I typed so at it ook twice a long to tye my blog becase I had ogo back and correct all the words wdropped letters. But indubitably ths keyboard has, andis as I typedoing ust that. So, mr. highandmitywireless you don't rule the world yet!
Now back to our feature presentation.
Also, I thought that maybe I would actually get something that I wanted out of the deal signing up with these offers. So, I clicked on the link, and started the offers. And every step of the way I found out new restrictions, limitations, and rules that made for more headaches, and less free. In the end, I would have been paying $4-500 for an item by signing up for offers that I didn't want for sure. (Because I signed up for the ones I did want under an alternative email because I didn't want tons of junk mail coming from the "Free Stuff" site. But then I found out that they track by the e-mail and I couldn't change by that time.) But the whole time I worked feverishly under the direction of our happy friend the green eyed monster because I wanted to have for free something that I couldn't afford. And somewhere deep in my middle section (probably my spleen) I just knew that I was getting a great deal and I was cheating the system because I wasn't actually paying for it but it was legal. (actually, somewhere deep down I knew I was falling for a well contrived plan to rip me off at every turn and to make money off of people who don't know better. Did you know that one ounce of face cream costs $69.00 and you don't even have to worry about asking for more when that small amount is gone because they will conveniently ship you more next month. Don't like spending your money for something you don't want? Don't worry they'll conveniently charge your credit card for you so you don't have to lift a finger to waste your money. They'll do it for you. Don't have enough money? That's ok. we've got a great payment plan with the collections agency of our choice. We don't really expect you to pay anyway so we'll just write off the two or three ounces of cream we sent you because it only cost us $5.00 to manufacture it anyway....maybe I'm exaggerating. Maybe I'm not. Actually I'm not exaggerating. I'm completely making up scenarios. It is however based on my knowledge of how companies generally work (from the company and customer side) and situations that friends and colleagues have found themselves in. I am leaning heavily on the side of the customer though because even though everyone does need to make a living, I think that there are less conniving and sneaky ways to make a living than leeching off the unaware. Its kind of like trying to get a PS3 for free. Greedy, and Just not right.
Luckily, I do read the terms an conditions. So even though I signed up for all this stuff, I knew what was going to happen. Unfortunately, they don't list all of the terms and conditions up front. That means new surprises at every turn. And now, even though I cancel all my trial offers and such, and I accept the fact that I'm not getting a PS3, I'm still out all the s & h charges. (It wouldn't be fair to make them pay for my lack of judgement)
So, I guess I learned my lesson. There's no such thing as a Free lunch. Only "Free" lunches. And we remember the subtext there don't we.
I'll just have to wait until I have enough money. That is after all the honest way to do it....or I'll forget my lesson and click on another ad next year. We'll see. But...Until then.
Now I'm not completely naive. I understood that "Free" actually means "Just sign up for a bunch of offers so that we can use the money we get from advertising and suckers who don't understand the system to send the few who actually get through all the paperwork and headache might actually get a free item which is not guaranteed to compensate for the free headaches that are guaranteed." I tell you what. That's a lot of subtext. Whoever wrote that "Free" should be a professional writer maybe making screenplays because saying so much with only one word is a marketable skill.
So, even though I went into the process knowing that I'd perhaps pay $150 in offers I was ok with that because that is still significantly less than I would pay otherwise.
INTERMISSION
I would like to take a break here to complain about wireless keyboards. Especially wireless keyboards with dead or dying batteries. I would stand to reason that I complain about dead or dying batteries, or using someone else's keyboard when they don't replace the batteries. And if I were truly proactive I might skip the complaining process and just replace the batteries myself....But I'm going to complain. I've never had a wired keyboard drop every third lettr or so that I typed so at it ook twice a long to tye my blog becase I had ogo back and correct all the words wdropped letters. But indubitably ths keyboard has, andis as I typedoing ust that. So, mr. highandmitywireless you don't rule the world yet!
Now back to our feature presentation.
Also, I thought that maybe I would actually get something that I wanted out of the deal signing up with these offers. So, I clicked on the link, and started the offers. And every step of the way I found out new restrictions, limitations, and rules that made for more headaches, and less free. In the end, I would have been paying $4-500 for an item by signing up for offers that I didn't want for sure. (Because I signed up for the ones I did want under an alternative email because I didn't want tons of junk mail coming from the "Free Stuff" site. But then I found out that they track by the e-mail and I couldn't change by that time.) But the whole time I worked feverishly under the direction of our happy friend the green eyed monster because I wanted to have for free something that I couldn't afford. And somewhere deep in my middle section (probably my spleen) I just knew that I was getting a great deal and I was cheating the system because I wasn't actually paying for it but it was legal. (actually, somewhere deep down I knew I was falling for a well contrived plan to rip me off at every turn and to make money off of people who don't know better. Did you know that one ounce of face cream costs $69.00 and you don't even have to worry about asking for more when that small amount is gone because they will conveniently ship you more next month. Don't like spending your money for something you don't want? Don't worry they'll conveniently charge your credit card for you so you don't have to lift a finger to waste your money. They'll do it for you. Don't have enough money? That's ok. we've got a great payment plan with the collections agency of our choice. We don't really expect you to pay anyway so we'll just write off the two or three ounces of cream we sent you because it only cost us $5.00 to manufacture it anyway....maybe I'm exaggerating. Maybe I'm not. Actually I'm not exaggerating. I'm completely making up scenarios. It is however based on my knowledge of how companies generally work (from the company and customer side) and situations that friends and colleagues have found themselves in. I am leaning heavily on the side of the customer though because even though everyone does need to make a living, I think that there are less conniving and sneaky ways to make a living than leeching off the unaware. Its kind of like trying to get a PS3 for free. Greedy, and Just not right.
Luckily, I do read the terms an conditions. So even though I signed up for all this stuff, I knew what was going to happen. Unfortunately, they don't list all of the terms and conditions up front. That means new surprises at every turn. And now, even though I cancel all my trial offers and such, and I accept the fact that I'm not getting a PS3, I'm still out all the s & h charges. (It wouldn't be fair to make them pay for my lack of judgement)
So, I guess I learned my lesson. There's no such thing as a Free lunch. Only "Free" lunches. And we remember the subtext there don't we.
I'll just have to wait until I have enough money. That is after all the honest way to do it....or I'll forget my lesson and click on another ad next year. We'll see. But...Until then.
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