Proper writing format
assignments in this class will use
3rd person/present tense
-a character is “narrating” the story as it is happening
“Mark picks up the gun and holds it in his hand. it begins to tremble, as if alive.”
-It presents a more immediate and urgent feel to the material.
-commonly used in:
-screenplays.
the story/ film is unfolding as we read it.
fosters a more URGENT and IMMEDIATE feel to the story.
-thriller & suspense genres
Passive vs. Active voice
Passive=
weak verbs
tells us what’s happening in the character’s head
distances the reader from the story
Active=
strong action verbs
shows the action
uses immed sentence structure
conveys the story in a lively manner
TIPS
-everyone WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEMS coming up w/ a list of excuses for procrastination
-the BIGGEST PROBLEM is getting started
-if u have work in progress never stop fot the night if ure stuck
-always solve the problem and keep going until u are in safer water. A good night’s sleep is impt. Sleeping on problems is a myth
-if u can’t get started, start writing anyway. To do this, you need to have some words to type
-it doesn’t matter what you write, you’ll soon begin to think and move in your own rhythm/ pace.
EXERCISE 1A: OPENERS
Hannah walks into the library wearing a wet suit and a clown nose. Whispers could be heard all across the library. Unaware of the eyes following her every move, she continues her slow march.
Suddenly, she jerks backwards and proclaims ” Wha-? Where am i?” Some people cocked their eyebrows. Others continued staring at her. Terribly confused, she…
-note down questions you were asking urself as u wrote it.
who’s story am i telling?
what’s the point of this story?
how can i engage the attention of the audience?
WRITE 12 OPENING PHRASES in your blog under openers page.
ELEMENTS OF DIALOGUE
-dialogue reveals character
A character will talk about himself and other people will talk about him.
-dialogue establishes relationships between characters
Once you have established your main character’s POV you can use dialogue with other characters to show that they have other attitudes, creating opp/alt POVs.
-Good effective dialogue will move the story forward
-dialogue communiations faces and information to the audience
It conveys essential exposition
characters will talk about what happened, establishing the storyline.
-dialogue comments on the action
-dialogue ties the script together
it is one of the devices that YOU as a writer can use to expand and enlarge your characters.
ELEMENTS OF DIALOGUE
“if you can see it or hear it, don’t write it.”- Neville Smith
-Dialogue should be used sparingly
-Never tell the audience what they can see for themselves!
COMMON MISTAKE
-students sometimes never achieve a level of competence as they tend to reproduce conventional spoken language, long statements of “real talking” and defend their decision by telling us that
-Good dialogue is not somebody’s ability to write authentic speech as heard in real life.
-If that was all there is to it, you can just push a button on the tape recorder and then go collect your Oscar.
-GOOD DIALOGUE is the illusion of reality.
-You’ve got to know how to edit what people say without losing any of the spirit
COMMON MISTAKE
-students tend to create radio shows with images.
FILM IS A VISUAL MEDIUM
a screenplay is a story told in pictures
The scenario
-a middle-aged man returns home from work
-he had stopped for a few drinks with his friends and forgot to phone his wife to tell her he’ll be late.
-the dinner is ruined
The exercise
-write a short scene composed of dialogue between husband and wife.
“Honey, I’m back!”
“Don’t you ‘honey, i’m back’ me. If you think you can saunter into this house all happy and jolly at twelve midnight, you have another thing coming.
The real exercise
-Repeat ”THE EXPERIMENT” BUT:
-Husband and Wife are YOUR own parents.
“Honey, I’m home.”
Wife gives husband the evil eye.
“Where did you go?”
“I went out for a couple of drinks, that’s all.”
“That’s all? Since when were you ever into drinking? I was always under the impression that you were allergic to alcohol?? I made dinner for you. I intended to even wait up till 9 to eat with you.”
STORYTELLING TOOL 1: OBSERVATION
-adopt a keen eye
-develop a natural sense of curiosity
-An observed event, when subject to simple questions, set up a sequence of possibilities that will develop a story worth telling.
-Whom am i writing about?
-Who is my character?
-What’s he/ she/ it like?
-What does he/ she/ it do?
-What happens to him/ her/ it in the story?
-people rarely observe familiar people or things
-more people pass through the day with 20% – 30% awareness
MINDLESS OBSERVATION vs TRUE OBSERVATION
-OBSERVE in a concious way
-DEVELOP the ability to SEE and RECORD people:
Their MOVEMENTS
Their PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The SETTING/ PLACES they’re in
EXERCISE: PEOPLE-WATCH
1. Walk into the canteen/library, etc. and watch ppl pass by.
2. Eventually, one will catch your attention.
3 Write down as many details as possible through observation.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for a second character.
5. Transcribe all their detail into the “PEOPLE WATCH” page that you will create on your blog
(Shedigumme & Mary)
CHARACTERIZATION DEFINING THE CHARACTER
-w/o a character there is no action
-w/o action you have no conflict
-w/o conflict you have no story
-w/o story you have no screenplay
Developing characters
-when developing characters ask yourself
who is the character?
what does he want?
what is his quest?
what drives him to the resolution of the story?
1. Establishing your main character.
Characters should have a 3 Dimensional structure
a)physiology
sex
age
height, weight
colour of hair, eyes, skin
posture
appearance
defects, abnormalities, deformities, birth marks, diseases
heredity
b)sociology
class (lower,middle,upper)
occupation. type of work, hours of work, income, condition of work, attitude towards organization, suitability for work
education, amount, kind of sch, marks, favorite subject, poorest subjects, aptitudes
home life, parents living, earning power, orphans, parents seperated, parents habits/ mental development/ vices/ neglet, characters marital status
religion
race/ nationality
place in the community, leader among friends, clubs, sports
political affiliations
amusements, hobbies, books, newspapers, magazines he/she reads
c)psychology
sex life, moral standards
personal premise, ambition
frustration, chief disappointments
temperament; choleric, easy- going, pessimistic, optimistic
attitude towards life, resigned, militant, defeatist
complexes obsessions, inhibitions, superstitious, phobias
personality extrovert introvert
abilities; language, talents
qualities imagination, judgement, taste, poise
I.Q.
what is the deep and personal secret this character has which he is desperate to protect/ hide.
Interior
The interior life takes place from birth til the moment your story begins.
it is a process that forms character, when you start formulating ur character from birth you see your character build body and form
-how old is he?
-where does he live?
-does he have siblings?
-what kind of childhood did he have?
-what was his relationship to his parents?
-what kind of child was he?
-is he married, single, widowed, seperated or divorced?
EXTERIOR
it is a process that reveals character
-who are they and what do they do?
-are they sad or happy with their life?
-do they wish their life was different? another job? another wife?
