Often as novelists, it’s easy to get caught up in all the books we need to read. However, if you’ve ever felt like you were in a writing funk, then it might be a good idea to try mixing things up and reading a play–or seeing one if your local theater is showing any.
Read MoreTo many people, a play and a movie are strikingly similar in how they tell stories. In fact, many plays are adapted into movies almost seamlessly, it’s a wonder the two aren’t interchangeable.
However, if you are someone looking to write a play or a movie and you’re not sure which to pick, just randomly selecting to write a play because you think it will be easily adapted into a movie is not only a poor idea, but will limit your creativity as a storyteller.
Read MoreIf you asked any fellow writer if they wanted to be a “good storyteller” they would undoubtedly say “yes.” Even if it’s not for reasons tied to fame, recognition, or success, everyone wants to be good at what they do.
However, to be “good” at something has many different meanings, especially in the artistic world.
Read MoreFor many authors seeing their work go from fiction to film sounds nothing short of a dream. This appeal is not unfounded – how awesome would it be for more people to come in contact with your story? To see your story brought to life? To hear those biting conversations you wrote and painful exclamations become fully realized?
Read MoreOften one of the most difficult parts of writing a novel is starting. The blank page is known to have intimidated even some of the greatest authors, so it should come as no surprise that no matter how many novels you’ve written – whether it’s your first or your 30th – the beginning is often the most difficult.
Read MoreThe notion of creating an ideal writing life as an unknown storyteller is something that at first feels incredibly far off.
This is because you more than likely aren’t being paid for your stories, which means other things such as work or family are interrupting what could have been a full day of nonstop writing.
Read MoreFor the majority of my writing life, I had been the writer who does a lot of talking, but not a lot of writing.
However, one day during my junior year of college, my boyfriend said to me, “For someone who wants to be writer, you don’t write very much.”
Read MoreAt the heart of a great story almost always lies a great character. While there are of course exceptions in which the setting or the plot carry the narrative, in most circumstances a great story isn’t without a stand-out character or two.
Because of this, all writers devote time to crafting characters with the hopes that they are unique and memorable.
Read MoreWhen it comes to worldbuilding, I must admit, I usually neglect it, be it on this blog, where I rarely even mention it, or in my own screenplays. Instead, I'm all about characters and getting them "right" so that often I completely forget to think about the world.
For a while, I assumed this was okay and that I was just writing in "reality" – especially for my films. But after reading Morgan's article of worldbuilding I came to quickly realize that all of my favorite movies have a deep layer of worldbuilding, I just wasn't seeing it! In fact, I was often mistaking this worldbuilding for "style."
Read MoreMany novelists dream of seeing their books adapted into films – or maybe they don’t and only accept this proposition later on when the paycheck appears. Maybe it’s so their stories may reach a wider audience, or maybe it’s because a film suggests some sort of higher level of success and validation.
Read MoreMost articles on screenwriting will tell you that to write a script that stands out in Hollywood, you’ll need an addicting plot or solid conflict – though some may even say all you need is some explosions and you’re good to go.
Read MoreAs writers, it is easy to live in the clouds and never start writing. We can sit around imagining about how things will turn out, envisioning an end result that is highly appealing, but when it comes to putting in the work, suddenly we freeze up and get stuck.
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