Chronicles of a Writer

Three component parts of a character

What do you do when you introduce a new character in your screenplay?  A few essential facts will give you a head start and capture your character with a good first impression. Name and Age Yes, the first one is a freebie. Physical Description In a way, so is the second one.  Make sure you're describing traits that will individualize your character.  Skinny, pretty and blonde hair will not suffice. Temperament This portion is the most distinct.  A detailed yet succinct descript...

To script or not to script?

Recently, it's been growing on me that improvisation and freestyle seem to be the order of the day.  Hey, when used properly, it works, but it does put screenwriters in a bland mood. That's not to say people have thrown away their appreciation for story as well.  Take "The Office," or comedy in general.  Sometimes sitting down in front a computer just doesn't give you the same instinct as being in the moment and coming up with the perfect joke.  Given its style, the general mockumentary style a...

THE notebook

Every writer has one, I think. You know, it's worn out from overuse and if someone else opens it, it's utterly inexplicable and indescernible to them.  It's the notebook you put your musings and ideas in, and it doesn't have any sense or value to anyone else but you. My first notebook was a hand-me-down from my best friend.  Basically, I needed to jot down some notes one day and picked up the first thing that I saw, and the process repeated itself.  Plain, black and used (the first few pag...

Plagiarism: how to avoid it

The stealing of someone's intellectual property can be a tricky subject.  First of all, it's not a crime if you don't get caught, and sometimes you'll be accused of the crime without actually committing the sin at all.  Plus, being the victim of plagiarism is an even worse pill to swallow.  When it comes to plagiarism, there is no hard or fast rule, but some habits can help you steer clear of trouble. Do Your Research Say you're writing a script with vampires in it.  Chances are you're alr...

How to deal with writer’s block

First of all, I have to clarify some of the stigma regarding writer's block.  For one, writer's block is a necessary process for all writers and sometimes...it can be great! Worth the Wait Writer's block is simply a sign that you're human.  You're not always at your peak in terms of creativity.  Is that really a surprise?  The realistic perspective is that it's simply a down time. The thing is, if you love what you do, the wait is worth it.  When you have enough passion to continue down...