Time to Write

Lies salespeople tell (screenwriting software department)

I just saw an ad for new screenwriting software that says, “Did you know that a typo or an incorrectly formatted montage can make a script reader put your script down?”

Uh, no.

I was a script reader for a production company and I’ve known others, including one who read for Disney and another who read for 20th Century Fox. None of us put a script down because it had a typo or a minor variation in formatting a montage.

Sure, a script riddled with typos or one written by someone who clearly has never figured out how a script is formatted would be rejected. But a minor error or two in a good script wouldn’t cause it to be rejected.

A while back I read a blog post in which a writing instructor said that if your script is even one page over or under the normal range, it won’t be considered. That’s wrong, too. Again, if it’s way off—like 60 or 200 pages long—that would do it, but if it’s 94 or 121 pages long that will not be the reason for rejection.

I guess it’s in the interests of people selling software or classes to make you think that without their product or service you are doomed, but I wouldn’t spend my money on products hyped with such misinformation and scare tactics.

What else screenwriters need to study

I had an email saying, "I've done several screenwriting workshops and gained a lot from them. Are there any other courses you think are beneficial for writers?"

Yes! The more you have an understanding of the other aspects of filmmaking, the better. Here are the four I recommend:

ACTING: For finding out what actors look for in a role and what challenges they have saying somebody else's words, nothing beats taking an acting class.

Try to find a beginners' class, ideally one that includes others who want to learn about the craft without necessarily becoming actors. That will make you less self-conscious.

IMPROVISATION: You'll get something different from this than you'll get from a straightforward acting class.

Improv teaches you to think on your feet and quickly immerse yourself in a character. It also stops you from being too precious about any one idea, because you learn that ideas are endless. And it's fun!

EDITING: Find a course that teaches the basics of editing--not the software, but the effects of juxtaposing two things, of short scenes vs. long ones, and of the importance of reaction shots. Filmmakers know the extent to which editing determines whether a movie works or not.

Once you appreciate the basics, you'll find that you're reflecting them in the way you structure your scenes on the page.

DIRECTING: Just as it's helpful to experience what actors look for, the same goes for stepping into the shoes of a director, even if you never intend to direct. You might even discover you have an affinity for it and become a writer/director. 

That's a lot but there's no need to rush into learning it all.

If you can do only one, I'd go for an improv course. To get a taste of how relevant the principles of improvisation are for any of the theatrical arts, read Keith Johnstone's book, Impro: Improvisation for the Theater (one of my favorite books for its insight into human nature). 

Free courses on filmmaking and more

Would you like to learn more about filmmaking or digital storytelling? Check out the free courses at Future Learn.

A course underway at the moment is "Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen" from the NFTS and BFI Film Academy. Here's part of the description:

"Over six weeks, our team of award-winning filmmakers will take you through their approach to telling stories, as well as demystifying their own filmmaking specialisms - from writing and directing to cinematography, editing and composing."

Hmm, is "specialisms" a word?

Starting on Sept. 28 and running for four weeks is one for which I've signed up: "Digital Storytelling: Filmmaking for the Web," from the University of Birmingham. 

"We will cover all aspects of production - from how to research your story to adding the finishing touches in the edit. The course will address many issues along the way, including critical thinking; story structure; style; genre; ethics; legalities; practical techniques for camera, sound and lighting; and more."

They suggest you set aside three hours per week. These are just two of the courses in the Creative Arts and Media category; they also offer courses in business, literature, health & psychology and more.

It's a great resource--please share this information it with others who might be interested.

This U.S. summer program is for writers of sci-fi, fantasy and horror (apply by April 8, 2015)

ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP ANNOUNCES ITS 20th SUMMER SESSION!

About Odyssey

Each summer, writers of the fantastic come from all over the world to attend the Odyssey Writing Workshop.  Odyssey is one of the most highly respected programs for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.  Only fifteen are admitted.  Fifty-nine percent of graduates go on to professional publication. 

Odyssey is for developing writers whose work is approaching publication quality and for published writers who want to improve their work.  The six-week program combines an advanced curriculum with extensive writing and in-depth feedback on student manuscripts.  Top authors, editors, and agents have served as guest lecturers, including George R. R. Martin, Jane Yolen, Terry Brooks, Robert J. Sawyer, Ben Bova, Nancy Kress, Jeff VanderMeer, Holly Black, Catherynne M. Valente, and Dan Simmons. 

This summer's workshop runs from JUNE 8 to JULY 17, 2015.  Class meets for at least four hours each morning, five days a week.  That time is split between workshopping sessions and lectures.  While feedback reveals the weaknesses in students' manuscripts, lectures teach the techniques necessary to strengthen them.  Intensive lectures cover the elements of fiction writing in depth.  Students spend about eight hours more per day writing and critiquing each other’s work. 

The program is held on Saint Anselm College's beautiful campus in Manchester, NH.  Saint Anselm is one of the finest small liberal arts colleges in the country, and its campus provides a peaceful setting and state-of-the-art facilities for Odyssey students.  College credit is available upon request.

The early action application deadline is JANUARY 31, and the regular application deadline is APRIL 8.  Tuition is $1,995, and housing in campus apartments is $830 for a double room and $1,660 for a single room. 

Odyssey graduate Sara King is sponsoring the Parasite Publications Character Awards this year to provide financial assistance to three character-based writers wishing to attend.  The Parasite Publications Character Awards, three scholarships in the amounts of $1,995 (full tuition), $500, and $300, will be awarded to the three members of the incoming class who are deemed extraordinarily strong character writers, creating powerful, emotional characters that grab the reader and don't let go. 

Several other scholarships and a work/study position are also available.

Odyssey's Director and Primary Instructor

Jeanne Cavelos is a best-selling author and a former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, where she won the World Fantasy Award for her work.  As an editor, Cavelos gained a reputation for discovering and nurturing new writers.  She provides students with detailed, constructive critiques that average over 1,500 words each.  She also meets individually with students several times over the six weeks to discuss their progress and explore ways in which their writing process might be altered to improve weak areas.  These discussions often lead to breakthrough insights. 

Comments from the Class of 2014

"Jeanne is an amazing, supportive, and nurturing mentor.  This has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and I say that as a veteran of the Marine Corps who has spent a significant amount of time in combat zones.  This is the best investment that I have ever made in myself.  I think it was worth every penny and every minute away from home, loved ones and work.  I was completely unprepared for how amazing and special this workshop was for me."

                               --JT Howard 

"I have three graduate degrees, but I can easily say that Jeanne Cavelos is the best instructor I've ever had. I came to Odyssey with specific ideas about what the problems were in my fiction.  During the first week, I learned I had problems with my fiction that I didn't even realize I had.  Jeanne, though, teaches us that those problems should not overwhelm fiction writers; instead, she teaches us how to solve them." 
                               --Brigitte McCray

Our 2015 Writer-in-Residence

Kij Johnson is widely considered one of the top fantasy/science fiction writing teachers in the country.  She is the author of three novels--two fantasies set in classical Japan, The Fox Woman and Fudoki, and a Star Trek: The Next Generation novel--and a short story collection, At the Mouth of the River of Bees. Since 2008, her short fiction has won the Nebula Award (three times), the Hugo, and the World Fantasy Award. In the past she has worked in book publishing, comic books and graphic novels, and RPGs and trading card games. She received her Master of Fine Arts from North Carolina State University and teaches at the University of Kansas, where she is associate director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction.

Other Guest Lecturers

Lecturers for the 2015 workshop include some of the best teachers in the field:  authors Brendan DuBois, E. C. Ambrose, Alma Alexander, and Alex Hughes; and top literary agent Jennifer Jackson. 

 Odyssey Graduates

Graduates of the Odyssey Writing Workshop have been published in the top fiction magazines and by the top book publishers in the field.  Their stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Analog, Asimov’s, Weird Tales, Lightspeed, Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and many more.  Recent novels by Odyssey graduates include Low Midnight byNew York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, published by Tor Books; Elisha Magus by E. C. Ambrose, published by DAW;The Thickety by J. A. White, from HarperCollins; This Shattered World co-authored by Meagan Spooner, published by Disney-Hyperion; and Reflected by Rhiannon Held, from Macmillan Books.

 Other Odyssey Resources and Services

The Odyssey site, odysseyworkshop.org, offers many resources for writers, including online classes, a critique service, free podcasts, a weekly discussion salon, writing tips, and a monthly blog.  Those interested in applying to the workshop should visit the site or e-mail [email protected]. 

 

Creativity Now...in simplified Chinese!

Just got this--cover of the 2nd edition of Creativity Now in simplified Chinese. You can get it in English, too--published by Pearson and available from your favorite bookseller.

How fast can you write a book? (and why that's the wrong question)

I see that somebody has an ebook out called "8 Hour Bestseller: How to Write Your Bestselling Book in Record Time." I guess in an era of the supposed 4-hour work week, 8 hours is a long time. 

The author says his ebook will show you how to write 2000 words an hour. Wait a minute, that means your book will be only 16,000 words long. That's kind of short. Oh wait, his book has a print length of 59 pages. Allowing for the title page, table of contents, etc. probably it's only 50 pages...times, say, 300 words per page...equals 15,000 words. OK, I guess he considers that a book. 

Oh wait, his book has a print length of 59 pages. Allowing for the title page, table of contents, etc. probably it's only 50 pages... times, say, 300 words per page...equals 15,000 words. OK, I guess he considers that a book. 

By the way, his definition of "bestseller" is a book that reaches number one in its category on Amazon, which isn't hard to do if you get a bunch of people to buy your book at the same time. It has no relationship to the normal definition of bestseller.

I don't necessarily mean to be harsh with this author, it may be that his book has lots of useful information. What annoys me is the emphasis on how to write a book in the fastest possible time, rather than one that actually is as good as you can make it...and that won't happen in 8 hours.

If you want to write a book, you'll find friendly guidance in my book, Your Writing Coach, published by Nicholas Brealey and available from your favorite bookseller. Warning: it emphasizes quality over speed..

The Writing Secret that Marketers Don't Want You to Know

Do you want me to tell you the secret that people who market to aspiring writers don't want them to know?

It's that THERE IS NO SECRET.

Another day, another offer in my email for aspiring writers (from the same people mentioned in my last two posts), with the usual implication that there are secrets of writing well that you don't know--but you will when you buy their book or course.

Here's part of the latest pitch from Trent Steele, this time for a course about writing for children:

"For years, the world’s greatest writers have followed a SECRET SYSTEM.

It’s a system that enables them to write well – and write QUICKLY.

And YOU don’t know about it!

Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” in just 2 weeks. Barbara Cartland wrote each of her books in a quick 5 days.

Yes – THESE writers know the SECRET of WRITING QUICKLY."

In the case of Dickens, the secret is that he was a supremely talented and disciplined writer. In the case of Cartland, it was that she wrote basically the same book over and over.

Writers tend to be open about their methods. I collected much of their advice (including that of Dickens) in my book, Your Creative Writing Masterclass. Many of them wrote extensively about how they worked. I didn't come across any who wanted to keep it a secret.

AND HERE COMES THE HYPE!

Later in the pitch, we come to this:

"Inside 'How to Write a Children's Book in 14 Days' you’ll learn the PRECISE STEPS you need to follow to GUARANTEE a best-selling children’s classic – in under two weeks.

Let us savor that promise for a moment. 

They GUARANTEE (their caps)...

that in under two weeks ...

you will write not only a best-selling children's book...

but a classic!

If you believe that, please contact me about a bridge I have for sale.

Then they suggest:

Take a SNEAK PEAK Inside This Amazing New Course!

A book about writing, from people who don't know the difference between peak and peek, how could you go wrong?