Story and Plot Weekly Email (Page 13)

Don’t start with theme. Let it come to you.

Don’t start with theme. Let it come to you.

Writers love to talk about theme. Academics, too. It comes up often. A story’s themes can unify and deepen the emotional reaction and those layers can make the work feel “elevated.” For writers and other artists, this is awfully seductive. It really does inflate our self-importance.

Small Things That Make A Difference

Small Things That Make A Difference

Small things matter, because the small things add up. I am a strong believer in writing's cumulative effect over any kind of duration.

90s Action and Why Speed’s Weird Third Act Works

90s Action and Why Speed’s Weird Third Act Works

I’ve been watching 90s action movies with my mom for the last few weeks. I’ll drive up to visit, and suddenly a movie I’ve seen at least ten times but unwatched in 15 years is playing, and we have the surround sound turned UP.

An option for midpoint problems

An option for midpoint problems

A big bottle-neck for many as they first try to structure their story is the midpoint. This is often the third big structural decision I make on a project. I credit realizing the importance of the midpoint as one of my first big breakthroughs toward being a professional.

This Might Be What’s Wrong With Your Spec Pilot

This Might Be What’s Wrong With Your Spec Pilot

I’ve been able to read a lot of spec sitcom pilots over the years. Mostly from friends and acquaintances within the Los Angeles improv/comedy scene. The shortcomings of these projects have been surprisingly consistent.

Why Story Matters: Act 1 and Act 3

Why Story Matters: Act 1 and Act 3

I am working with a fellow screenwriter, and we are struggling with a third act. We both LOVE the ending. The ending is unique, making me fall in love with the project. Having the ending before you have much else is not all that uncommon, but it’s a unique challenge.

TÁR and Remaining Teachable

The Mental Battle

TÁR and Remaining Teachable

The first page of Todd Field’s screenplay for Tár made the rounds on Twitter over the weekend. It has the look and feel of a 30-year-old script. Confident and masterful, but tough to read. You have to be patient with it. It demands your concentration.

It’s Not About The Plot

It’s Not About The Plot

Too often, the new writer thinks MORE plot will save them. This is rarely, if ever, true. One of my biggest realizations from breaking down the structure of screenplays was seeing just how simple the plots actually were.

A quick and dirty guide to managing too many characters

A quick and dirty guide to managing too many characters

A student asked me about what to do with a script that had a lot of young kids running around as supporting players. Twelve to be exact. She wanted to know how to introduce them, how to help the reader keep track of them, etc…

My biggest leaps were between projects

The Mental Battle

My biggest leaps were between projects

I have seen it repeatedly over the years. Newer writers have an idea for a screenplay that they love, and they write the damn thing. This is huge. Finishing a screenplay is a big deal. Knowing that you can complete one of these things pays tremendous dividends later.

Writing it down isn’t just about remembering it

The Mental Battle

Writing it down isn’t just about remembering it

You know the advice about writing something down to make sure you remember it later. Don’t trust yourself, they say. You will forget it. So keep a pen and paper or that notes app on your phone handy.

Audiences Care About Relationships

Audiences Care About Relationships

I was frustrated with the fourth season of Stranger Things. It felt like the season spent most of its time getting out of Russian corners it painted itself into the season before. But I kept watching. And watching. And while I wondered why I kept watching, I really shouldn’t have. I knew the answer.