Blog Profile / Time to Write
| URL : | http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Arts / Writing | |
| Posts on Regator: | 1816 | |
| Posts / Week: | 6.8 | |
| Archived Since: | April 2, 2008 | |
Blog Post Archive
Does your novel or script contain these lines? Oh oh.
A few lines I won't miss if I never have to hear them again in a movie or read them in a novel: "All right, I admit I was there that night! But I didn't kill him/her! He/she was already...
How to write faster and finish what you start (the 80% solution)
Do you think somebody who is writing a novel or a screenplay is helped or hurt by being a perfectionist? It may sound like an admirable quality--striving for perfection--but all too often it means the person never finishes writing his...
A tail, er, tale of perseverance and success
How big a role does perseverence play in the success of artists and writers? In a newsletter from ArtYouGrewUpWith.com, I found this example, a cartoonist named Rupert Fawcett who has done very well with his cartoons about parenthood as well...
What are your novel's or screenplay's 3 magic words?
If you are writing a novel or screenplay, this is a simple way to make sure that it has the qualities that will attract readers and buyers. Lou Kunzler, who teaches the ‘writing for children’ workshop I attend, had this...
Forge ahead with your writing: the Next Massive Action Day is on Sunday, June 16
Want to make huge progress on a writing project (or on getting your home office organized, or anything else)? Join my online Massive Action Day on Sunday, June 16. Declare your goal for the day in our exclusive chat window...
Can an app be the next horror movie?
Can an app have the same impact as a horror movie? Neal Edelstein thinks so. He’s produced a number of traditional movies but his latest venture is a ghost story app (Apple only) called “Haunting Melissa.” You can download the...
How not to make a movie (even if you have Brad Pitt)
Vanity Fair’s June issue reveals the many troubles of the film “World War Z.” They include: an unfinished script at the start of production a budget that went out of control (ending up somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 million—and...
Three act structure in real life: Act 3
The last two posts were a cartoon look at Acts 1 and 2 of the three-act structure, which applies to a lot of films and stories as well as to our life. We finish with one man's feelings as he...
3 act structure in real life : Act 2
The three-act structure of films and stories applies to real life, too. Yesterday's cartoon was a glimpse of one man's Act I, today it's Act II, which often features a reversal of some kind in the middle. (Want friendly guidance...
Are you a Tough Writer?
I was reading that obstacle races are big money makers these days. The most famous one is Tough Mudder, which is from ten to twelve miles long and involves getting zapped with electricity, going through an ice bath, and lots...
3 act structure in real life : Act I
Screenwriters and others probably are familiar with "3 act structure" - the way many stories are organized (the story kicks in with an inciting incident in act 1, escalates with lots of conflicts in act 2 (often with a reversal...
Writers' Monday Alert: Get going with ginseng
If you find you have a hard time feeling energized at the start of your writing session, it can be useful to consider some natural stimulants. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is better for this purpose than American ginseng. Studies have...
Writing blocks due to your Inner Critic? Blow it up!
The inner critic is the part of you that can be harshly critical when you start something new or when you get stuck. In my book, “Your Writing Coach,” I suggest some ways to get rid of it, and right...
Creativity can save a life--here's how it did
The writer and artist Sark revealed in the introduction to her book, "Make Your Creative Dreams Real," what first inspired her to follow her creative path: When I was ten my best friend was 80 years old. His name was...
Writers' Alert: Go Guarana to wake up your brain
Writing if you’re feeling sluggish isn’t fun or productive. I’ve always found it difficult to get going in the mornings, which is why I’ve looked into natural stimulants that help us to wake up our brains. Guarana comes from the...
Want to write bigger stories or just think bigger? Here's how.
Readers and movie-goers like big stories. That doesn’t mean only stories in which the world is going to be destroyed by aliens or international terrorist rings try to bring down the Western world. It can be a story about the...
Writing sessions: get off to a great start
In the previous post we looked at how to gain momentum when doing a big writing project. This time let's see how you can get off to a great, fast start for each of your writing sessions and keep up...
Big writing (or other) project? Here's how to build momentum!
If you have a big writing (or other) project, one great way to build momentum is to spend a full day working on it with support from your peers. IT'S GOOD TO GO MAD That's what we do on my...
Want to solve a writing or marketing problem? Ask 'How do THEY do it?'
Let's say you have a problem relating to your writing or selling what you write. You're stuck...now what? I suggest a brainstorming activity I call, “How do THEY do it?” First you think of somebody who does something that’s similar....
Writers' Monday Alert: Go green (tea) for increased energy and focus
I’ve been writing about natural ways to boost your alertness, and green tea may be one of the best. Dutch researchers report that caffeine and an amino acid called L-theanine, both found in green tea, heightened alertness, reduced tiredness, and...