But then I met the awesome Judith Graves, and suddenly I'd stopped dreaming in novels alone, and have become a little bit obsessed with writing for TV and film.
I'd completed one TV script on my own - and have since written two more with Judith, including a pilot series, complete with a full treatment and six episode ideas in the can.
Judith and I have, er, a few more ideas on the go, not to mention the couple of projects I have on tap with Kyle Kerr, and um, yeah, this new screenplay I'm dying to write.
If that seems ambitious, I won't disagree - but it's just the tip of the iceberg now that I've read (thanks again to Judith), Save the Cat: The Last Book On Screenwriting You'll Ever Need.
An apt title.
Author Blake Snyder has absolutely changed how I view storytelling, forcing me to look beyond "going with the flow" and actually pinpointing major plot points, and paring down my words to something even my mentor Steve "Write Tight" Berry would be proud of.
The book has also inspired me to go on a bit of a movie watching binge. Hubby and I settled in for Terminator tonight (an oldy but frankly, a classic thriller and one of my favorite movies...ever...) and if I'm lucky I'll convince him to watch a few more of our living room classics (Breakfast Club? Silence of the Lambs? Pretty Woman? The Princess Bride?) before I drag him to the theatre.
I've always considered myself a bit of a panser, but Snyder makes plotting look fun (plus, it's an excuse to peruse the aisles of my local stationary store.) His screenwriting principles transfer nicely to fiction...which means almost all of my projects are going through a plotting overhaul this weekend...
Inbetween movies, of course.
- Dawn
The Book In My Bag Today: Divergent, Veronica Roth
So glad the book has inspired you! I felt exactly the same way when I read Syd Field's Foundations of Screenwriting. It's what powered me to the admin at university and made me beg to be let in on the Screenwriting class that I technically wasn't allowed to do. But I got in. I must have been convincing! :o) This sounds like a book I need to read to get inspired again in a somewhat 'down period' in my creativity!
ReplyDeleteYou DO need to read this book and I'd send you mine, but now it's all marked up...I understand about "down periods" of creativity - it generally happens when I'm focussing too much on the business side of writing instead of actually WRITING. When you were here, you had the itch...scratch it. xo
DeleteI don't write screenplays, but Save the Cat was one of the best books I've ever read for crafting a story.
ReplyDeleteAnd The Terminator is a classic.
Amen, Alex!
DeleteI'm going to have to break down and get this one.
ReplyDeleteYes you are, Rockstar. You won't be disappointed. xo
DeleteI've heard so many amazing things about this book from all our friends. Plus I just love the idea of saving the cat. Must get it, too! Thanks, Dawn! And good luck to you if you pursue the screenwriting thing! That would be very cool~ :o) <3
ReplyDeleteDawn, I do so admire you for actually pursuing a writing CAREER.
ReplyDeleteYou GO girl!