Adventure Plot
Not to be confused with the quest plot, the adventure plot involves setting out on a journey. In a quest, the lead is pursuing some object. In the adventure plot, the lead is seeking adventure. Along the way he meets interesting characters and gets caught up in fascinating experiences and circumstances. After the adventure the [...]
Quest Plot
The quest plot consists of 4 primary pieces: 1) The lead is incomplete somehow and generally has a typical life. 2) He/she searches for something of critical importance. 3) There must be huge obstacles preventing him/her from attaining it. 4) Character arc. The character must learn something. Must change somehow. Could be for better [...]
Plot Ideas
Looking for plot ideas? Here are 20 of them, courtesy of Ronald B. Tobias: Quest Adventure Pursuit Rescue Escape Revenge The Riddle Rivalry Underdog Temptation Metamorphosis Transformation Maturation Love Forbidden Love Sacrifice Discovery Wretched Excess (A personal favorite) Ascention Descension (Another personal favorite) Some good books covering plot are: 20 Master Plots (And [...]
Killer Green
UPDATE: 8.16.2010 – To my knowledge, this project has been cancled. The low budget horror penned by David N. Wilson was born on Twitter and picked up by Ambergris Films. Below is a snippet from the producer’s website: “In February of 2009, a group of users on the social network Twitter had an almost [...]
Work in Progress Update #1
As I have stated on my blog, I recognize that among my weaknesses as a writer, are the inability to effectively write women, and romance. So I’ve decided to work on this weakness and take the notes I have and work I had done on my romantic comedy screenplay, and work on turning it into [...]
Information Dump
Exposition is a powerful and oft necessary tool for the fiction writer. Whether you’re writing a novel, movie or short story, exposition is an effective means of conveying necessary facts and background information. This can be achieved through a diary, a note, newspaper clipping, a picture, message on a phone, through the narrative or any [...]
My Personal Challenge
Of all the poems, short stories, screenplays and even the two “novels” I’ve written, there are a few things I have never done and a few areas I consider myself very weak in. One, I have never written a romance. Probably because I hate them. Two, I really, really struggle to effectively write women. Struggle [...]
Favorite Actors & Directors
Favorite actors in no particular order: Male: Robert De Niro Johnny Depp Sean Penn Tim Robbins Tom Hanks Robert Duvall Al Pacino Russell Crowe Kevin Spacey Jack Nicholson Christian Bale Philip Seymour Hoffman Edward Norton Kevin Spacey Robert Downey Jr. Benicio Del Toro Female: Katharine Hepburn Meryl Streep Naomi Watts Jodie Foster Betty Davis Judi [...]
Showing vs Telling
Many writers have trouble with this. I don’t want characters in a movie, or book for that matter, to tell me how they feel. I want to see how they feel. Give me visuals. I want to see what they see. Feel what they feel. Hear what they hear. Jane can say: “Patty showed me her [...]