In this brief video interview Simon Beaufoy, who wrote The Full Monty and Slumdog Millionaire, answers three questions: how he got started, his influences, and his advice for writers:
I think the key tip here is the difference between drama and melodrama--a point that's well illustrated in Slumdog Millionaire. Although the story could sound like a melodrama (which makes it easy to pitch), it was successful because it had the added dimension of what is driving the character.
Related posts you might find useful:
Do You Want Your Readers to Identify With Your Characters? Do this!
Ask These Questions to Get to Know Your Characters
(For writing advice from the top writers of the past and present--including Chekhov, Twain, Hemingway, as well as Martin Amis, Stephen King, and many more--get my new book, Your Creative Writing Masterclass, published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller. Also see the website: http://www.YourCreativeWritingMasterclass.com.)
