Writing for the Cinema, Part 2

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

This is a continuation of the presentation of the author of The Rector and The Actress. Michael Hicks Thompson gave to our writer’s group, recently. We covered three of Michael’s tips in my Writing for the Cinema, Part 1 blog post on Tuesday. You may catch up there by going to this link. If you have read Part 1, then let’s continue with his tips on writing cinematically.

Structure. “Books and movies can employ the same beats – beats that can create certain rhythmic feeling inside us. This lets us know that the experience we’re having feels familiar, yet new, all at the same time.” Michael then shared with us the way to do that is with structure. “If you want your story to feel cinematic, you will need to do 2 things:

1) Read this book: Save the Cat, Blake Snyder

2) Download and use 3-Act Diagram. It’s the roadmap for the best storytelling. Once you have mastered this you can deviate. Michael uses the program Scapple to create a mind-mapping outline to streamline his book

Tension, according to Michael, should be included in every chapter, every paragraph and every sentence if possible. It should be anything interesting to keep your readers nose in the book. We have all read books that keep us on the edge of our seats. Tension between the characters plays a big part in that and a big part in the movie that could be made from the book. How many times have you finished a movie and seemed to be exhausted? Ninety minutes of tension can do that to you.

Action. Michael says there are two things an author would rather have more than anything. One is book sales and the other is a movie deal. Action will get you there. Every big story cries out for some BIG moments. A fight? Car chases? Maybe a dramatic courtroom scene. You probably just thought of your favorite ones as you read this. They punctuate the action and grab the reader.

Create Character Arcs. The technique of having your main characters change over the course of the story is a must. Every story should have such an effect on the main character that changes occur. This, character arc, is a technique that one should study.  Again, Michael reminds us to study the craft.

Michael Hicks Thompson is willing to travel to conferences, deliver this and other Keynote addresses, or workshops. Please contact Michael through his web site, michaelthompsonauthor.com for more information and a quote. This 2 part blog does NOT include all the information in the "7 Secrets of Cinematic Writing." Thompson saved his best, I'm not allowed to include it here. You'll need to bring Thompson to your next conference to see his cinematic writing presentation, his Dramatic Irony presentation, or his "7 Secrets to Mystery Writing,” as only Michael can deliver.

From Writer to Screenwriter

By Kate Hallock

As a writer I love stories, and consume them regularly, in any medium books, movies or television. Until recently, however, I only ever tried to write stories, for readers. Most writers I know also write their stories for readers. But as writers we should feel comfortable writing stories for any format. So I challenge you to take either a story you’ve already written or the new idea that you are most excited about and write it up as a screenplay instead of a novel.

There are a few huge benefits to doing this:

1. You will increase your knowledge of the craft of writing.

Anytime you venture into a new type of writing, you learn about yourself as a writer and about the way stories work. This knowledge will serve you in all your future projects no matter what form they take.

2. It may help you shape your story.

By turning your existing novel into a movie you may start to see some flaws that you didn’t see before. Maybe one of the characters is coming across flat, or a scene just doesn’t work, that you never noticed before. By seeing it in a new light you may find ways to improve your story.

3. You double the chance of getting the story out there.

Instead of limiting yourself to publishers you can now try to sell the same story to a production company. It’s not easy to get in the door, but neither is the publishing world.

4. You can now add screenwriter to you author bio.

Once you tackle a screenplay you become a screenwriter. An occupation that is underserved in a world full of writers.

I recently decided to take on my own screenwriting endeavor and I found two resources to be immeasurably helpful.

The first is a book called Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. This book takes you from idea to finished product in an easily digestible way. Even if you never write a screenplay his insights on structuring a story and plotting make it worth the read.

The second is the word processor Scrivener. For the price it is a hugely helpful tool for all types of writing. When I first thought about attempting a screenplay the formatting alone was enough to keep me from giving it a go. But using Scrivener takes the guesswork out. You simply click on Screenplay and it formats everything for you. For example it knows when you need all caps, so you are not endlessly turning on and off caps lock.

There’s no reason that any writer cannot become a screenwriter. By using these tools you can tackle the few key differences between writing a novel and writing a screenplay. After all a good story is a good story. And who knows, you may just be responsible for the next mega blockbuster.

_____________________________________________________________________________

KATE HALLOCK is passionate about great stories, whether in books, movies, television or her own mind.  She writes YA fiction. Her blog M3 Devo, short for Monday Morning Movie Devotional, takes a look at biblical truths found in mainstream movies. You can check it out at www.M3devo.com Or  www.Katehallock.com. You can also follow her on twitter @katehallock29

Write a GREAT Story

By Michael Phillip Cash

How do you write a great story? Really. How is it done? Do you map out your work? Do you write on the fly? I get these questions EVERYDAY from fellow writers and interviewers. Everyone wants to know the "secret" to great storytelling.

I have to whisper this...I have that secret.  

OK, are you totally excited now? You should be. Because I really do have the secret to writing a killer story.  And I learned it-from a screenwriting book.  

Yes, a screenwriting book, that took those ideas from another book about stories. The screenwriting book is called Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and it really is the last book you will ever need on writing a great story. Save the Cat was inspired by The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. Another amazing book, but a bit difficult to digest. But Blake's book, Save the Cat is it. If you want to learn how to write a great story, read Save the Cat.  Save the Cat breaks down stories by beats. Every story has to hit a beat, or it won't go anywhere. You'll just be writing, and writing, and writing...and just like a treadmill, going nowhere fast.  No, you have to "beat" out your story before you put your fingers to your laptop. Every story in the history of the world follows these beats. Let me give you an example.

Horror writing. Sounds easy, right? Just write about some dumb teens in a random place, a killer and everyone dies...blah, blah, blah. There are actually three distinctive elements every great Monster in the House story needs. It's called Monster in the House because it's exactly that...you need a monster. Duh. A man-eating shark, an alien, bugs, Freddy, something that will SCARE the living daylights out of people. You need a HOUSE. But not just any house. You need a house that people cannot leave. Like Amityville in Jaws. Or Nostromo in Alien. Third and final thing...probably the most important thing, you need a SIN. A sin that allows the monster to eat the people. In Jaws for example, the sin is committed by the mayor. He knew there was a shark but kept the beaches open (for profit). Greed is the sin for the shark to eat the people. Your story has to be primal. You have to be able to explain it that will affect people emotionally.  

These are all lessons you will never learn in school. You need to read Save the Cat and learn from Blake (who tragically passed away a few years ago). Write out the beats to your story, and you will be able to write in no time!  

________________________________________________________________________________

Born and raised on Long Island, Michael Phillip Cash has always had a love for horror, thriller, paranormal, science fiction and fantasy. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children. Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best-selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle for Darracia have all been named to Foreward Reviews Book of the Year Awards. He can be followed at  http://www.michaelphillipcash.com