Writing Screenplays, Satire and Novels

My usual comment is a gripe about the loss of great storytelling in film. Where are the stories that are so breathtaking you could talk about them for hours afterward with your friends? Where are the comedies that make you laugh and make you think? You counter my glum countenance by reminding me that Avatar is a very conventional story—yeah, it’s kitty cat aliens and space miners instead of Indians and settlers or catholic girl and Jewish guy that drives the love story—but it is a traditional story:  the clash of cultures as the hero falls in love with the doomed society. What about the cool CGI, the glowing forest, and the state of the art battle scenes, you ask? Isn’t that why the audience turned out in half-a-billion-$-plus droves? Eh, no. Read more

So, you think you’ve got a great idea for a story and want to share it with the world. Fame and riches await. Hey if J. K. Rowling can do it with a kid, a wand and a he-who-shall-not-be-named why not you? Maybe; maybe not. One thing is true, however: every successful writer was on the outside looking in at the initial stage of his/her career. And another thing is probably true: some one gave them some help to get their idea out of their head, onto paper, and into the hands of a publisher.

The purpose of this series is to share what I know about bringing a story to the place where it’s marketable. From what I’ve observed, there are many who would like to write a novel, short story, screen play or other creative format and simply don’t know what it takes. So, in writing this, I’m going to assume that you, the interested reader, have a great idea but no other experience. So, let’s explore the premise of the story, the great idea. Read more