Why Do I Write?
When Asked Why I Write, I Answer: I don’t. It’s the simple truth. I don’t write screenplays and novels. I give life to them. It’s not merely putting pen to paper, I breathe life into a non-existent void. I expand...
Category: Scripts
Everything you need to know about Hollywood and screenwriting
Ending Scenes or Chapters – The Right Way
Ending scenes the right way can be tricky. There are certain rules that each chapter, or scene, should follow. I know this is counter-intuitive since writing really doesn’t have any rules but bear with me. The idea of a scene...
Stuck In The Middle, Again
As a writer, we’ve all been there. By “there” I of course mean a myriad of places. Especially the In Between. We’ve all stared at a blank page, a blinking cursor, or the sharpened end of a pencil. We’ve all...
The Devil is in the Details
As a writer, we must decide how many details to include in our created worlds. Believe it or not, there is a fine line for most readers between too little and too much. Finding that perfect detail balance is what...
Why Starting a Rough Draft Can be so Hard
It isn’t often that we give a whole lot of thought to our rough drafts. By the time we sit and start writing, we have so many other things on our minds that the actual draft becomes more of “just...
Give Driving Directions
Long ago I learned a valuable life lesson: Not everyone gives good driving directions, not everyone receives driving directions well. You can Learn Writing Lessons From Life As I was just starting out driving (I told you, it was long...
Voice, On!
Voice is imperative. It’s essential. It is everything. It is quite possible to have one of the greatest storylines ever created, the vast lands, the adorable and lovable characters, the perfect plot twists and the greatest ending ever penned by...
Research: The Conundrum
Research is touchy. Especially for writers. Women don’t like to feel made a fool of, or gullible. Men know everything and want to prove it. Readers, in general, don’t like being data dumped upon. There is a fine line between...
Mar. 30 Writing Prompt
Almost the end of yet another month! I don’t know about you, buy March has crawled by and seemingly lasted for at least a full year or two. I am glad to see the back end of it. With that...
Overcoming The Dreaded Blank Page
If there is one thing that every single writer faces it is the blank page. We can’t help but come across it. Every new project starts the same way: a new, shiny, blank page. Sometimes, we writers sit there, staring...
Archetype or Arc?
Story Arc and Archetype, Explained Today I will discuss story arc and story archetype. Wait. I hear you say. Aren’t they the same thing? I mean, arc is just an abbreviation of archetype, right? Well… no. They do have some...
Character-Driven Plot: Should You Be Writing This Way?
If you are pondering using a character-driven plot in your story, you have come to the right place. If you don’t know what the writing types are; you have come to the right place. Also, if you are looking for...
The Importance of Beta Readers
Do You Need A Beta Reader? No. You Need a Team of Beta Readers! Games have testers, books have readers. The idea behind them is the same: find a problem before it’s sent out for the masses. Beta-readers are the...
How Long Should A Chapter Be?
Chapter Length, Does it Matter? I ask myself this often. How long should a chapter be? Is there an optimal chapter length? The true answer is that there is no answer. The truth is realized when you understand… there is...
Mar. 04 Writing Prompt
Aloha and welcome! I remember the first time I stepped off the plane in Hawaii. I didn’t want to be there and everyone was so happy. Every employee at the airport said the same thing: Aloha and welcome! We had...
Mar. 01 Writing Prompt
Welcome to a new month! A month of clock movement, warmer weather (hopefully) and writing a lot more words on your WiP. To start off the month, I want to begin at the ending. Essentially, we will talk about endings...
Playing God Is Torture
As a writer I have seen and heard it all. Everything from the mundane stereotypes all the way to the awkward assumptions. As a reader, I have read it all. Just like in movies, in a book everything has been...
Feb. 26 Writing Prompt
Another week’s worth of writing prompts gone and another weekend ahead. The shortened month has seemed to go really fast at times and slow to a crawl at others. Which brings me to today’s lesson/prompt. Time is a relative thing...
Feb. 25 Writing Prompt
Greetings, fellow kids. Today’s writing prompt is more practice on a combination of things. While you are writing this scene, think about the reader’s questions and their desire to have them answered. Keep the scene engaging. You also want to...
Introducing: 5-Draft Method Contributor, Hannah Bauman
Hannah Bauman is a professional, freelance literary editor. She is responsible for editing more books than I can count. Hannah was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to provide you with a fantastic Q&A session for...
Feb. 24 Writing Prompt
In yesterday’s prompt we talked (at length-and no I won’t apologize) about dialogue tags. Today, I want to switch things up a bit and cover another little secret of mine. This time it deals with scene transitions. If you missed...
Feb. 23 Writing Prompt
Well guys, my streak came to an end. I missed the prompt yesterday. In my defense I am dealing with a broken foot that happened yesterday morning. But, I don’t like to make excuses. We all knew this day would...
Feb. 10 Writing Prompt
This week we have been working on our character arcs. I know that the writing prompts have been more lesson and less prompt lately (except for this weekend), but I feel it is important to keep up on these things....
Feb. 08 Writing Prompt
A new work week has begun and it is time to turn off your work brain and get back into the writing frame of mind. Last week we covered narrative arcs in detail and created an exciting story line full...
My Rough Draft is Perfect! Right?
The Rough Draft is a Perfect Draft, for What it is Is your rough draft perfect? Of course it is! Most writers think of the rough draft as the start, but it begins far sooner than that. Every writer is...
Creating Word Count Goals
Word Count Goals and How to Make Them It’s all around you as a writer: set your word count goals and stick to them. Writing goals, words per day goals, hours per session goals, and on and on and Scooby...
Feb. 04 Writing Prompt
So, if you have been following along, this week we are covering the arcs of the story. If you haven’t been following along, what the hell, man? Go catch up! As a recap, here is what you should have now:...
Feb. 03 Writing Prompt
I am letting you in on a little secret of mine that I use to lure readers in. I expect you to harness this power and use it only for good. Also, I expect you to keep it to yourself.
Feb. 02 Writing Prompt
Story arcs, story arcs, where will they lead? That is what we aim to find out today. Working of off yesterday’s prompt where we set up a little outline for our story arc, we now move on to adding in...
Feb. 01 Writing Prompt
Welcome to the second month of the year! If you have been playing along, you are now on your 32nd writing prompt. If you are just joining us, you can always go back and play catch up. Or, just start...
Do You Have to Write Every Day?
There are a couple of adages running around the writer’s community. “If you want to write better; read a lot.” Also, “if you want to write better, write a lot.“ “Write every day.” That is what they tell you. The...
Jan. 28 Writing Prompt
A little late today, but it is still today. For today’s writing prompt we will look at more practice opportunities to build up your scenes and develop your characters. Just a simple one today as it is getting late. But...
Want to be a Better Writer? Name Your Characters
Why name your characters? Characters aren’t just some random made-up beings that do our bidding. Okay, so they truly are. The problem is a lot of writers out there treat them as such. Doing so makes them unbelievable. Just like...
Knowing Your Characters – Why I Do it and so Should You
What do I mean, “Knowing Your Characters?” Have you ever watched a movie and cried when a character gave a long, emotional speech, or when two characters finally realize they are meant for each other and hug and kiss? Knowing your...
Jan. 22 Writing Prompt
Look at us go! 22 in a row! Amazing! They say if you do something for 21 days in a row it becomes habit. Perhaps they are right. All I know is that I set out to provide you with...
Setting a Scene
Setting the scene is as important as creating real-to-life characters. It is an art form and you are the artist. As an artist, we have a plethora of ways to interact with those that wish to be entertained. We act,...
Jan. 20 Writing Prompt
In the last few prompts we have covered scene building, piece by piece. In case you missed it, here is the breakdown: Jan 16 – Focus on a perfect scene Jan 17 – Using only dialogue Jan 18 – Using...
Jan. 19 Writing Prompt
This week has started a trend in the writing prompts to get you to practice certain aspects of scene building. Today, we will continue that trend. So far we have built a scene using only dialogue and we have built...
Jan. 17 Writing Prompt
In yesterday’s prompt we talked about perfect practice. Today, we continue the trend but in a slightly different way. Today we will take something we aren’t good with and practice making it better. Because this prompt is generic and I...
Creating Characters, Building Lives
Creating characters isn’t just about putting a name to some random text speaking entity. As the author, you play God. You breathe life into these paper dolls. More goes into even that though, at least for me. When I first...
Jan. 15 Writing Prompt
Today we mark the half-way point of the month! Congratulations on making it this far into the new year. I hope that you are still working on your goals, resolutions, plans or whatever changes you told yourself you would make...
Jan. 13 Writing Prompt
Greetings fellow kids! Today’s writing prompt is designed to get you to think about titles. This can (and does) include things like chapter titles, scene headings and project titles for the novelist and screenwriters out there. It also includes headings...
Jan. 11 Writing Prompt
Shall we continue our New Year’s tradition with the 11th writing prompt of the year? Yes! Okay, then. This lesson is geared to ALL writing types. I don’t care if it is poetry, copywriting, novels, those notes you make on...
Why You Should Read Your Work Out Loud
As writers, we tend to have this belief in ourselves that can only come from the inside. It is a great thing. That little voice inside that tells us “You can do it, this is fantastic, keep going!” It’s that...
Jan. 10 Writing Prompt
For the 10th, the writing prompt will focus more to the screenwriter. However, the novelist will get a good challenge from it, too. One disadvantage that screenwriters face (compared to novelists), is that they have a much more limited area...
Jan. 09 Writing Prompt
I am a little late to the party today guys, I apologize. But, since it is still technically the 9th where I am (at least for a couple more hours) it still counts! Today’s prompt is another specialized one. It...
The Biggest Killer: Self-Doubt
Literary agents, publishers, editors, synopses, query letters… all scary things, all demanding, demeaning. Sometimes they can be daunting, haunting, loathing as well as loathed. Oftentimes heartbreaking, disconcerting, dispiriting. None of them hold a candle to yourself. You truly are your...
Jan. 03 Writing Prompt
People ask me about the daily writing prompts (well, okay, no one asks me – BUT, I figure it is at least worth mentioning). “What happens if I miss a day?” I assume they are talking about themselves, but since...
Dreams Are Meant to Die
It starts in childhood. Dreams while you sleep, dreams during school, dreams of the future and the girl with the pink bowed pony tail. Dreams never really end. They do change shape as we age, but they never die. Or...
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