The art of dramatic writing : its basis in the creative interpretation of human motives

Adèle Ramet

"This book is a first-rate guide for writers who are looking for ways to improve their output. It focuses on: fiction writing and the world of genre fiction - science, romance, horror and crime ways of drawing on personal experience in order to write non-fiction articles on a wide variety of topics in a number of different styles and, writing for children which requires specialist skills that, once mastered, bring enormous satisfaction to both the writer and the reader. Crucially, there is also a chapter on presenting your work to a publisher and getting it into print"--Publisher's description. Lire plus…

By Mel Helitzer With Mark Shatz

This book is extremely informative as well as entertaining.As someone doing a fair share of writing, and appreciating the use of humor in writing, I have found great value within these pages. I recommend it highly.It convinces you that trying to inject humor into your writing, without studying some of the actual structure and types of humor, puts you at a disadvantage. For anyone interested in adding some humor to increase the impact and lessen the boredom in their written work, this book is a must-have for your personal library. Lire plus…

Patricia Cooper, Ken Dancyger

The short film is a unique narrative art form that, while lending itself to experimentation, requires tremendous discipline in following traditional filmic considerations. This book takes the student and novice screenwriter through the storytelling process- from conception, to visualization, to dramatization, to characterization and dialogue- and teaches them how to create a dramatic narrative that is at once short (approximately half an hour in length) and complete. Exercises, new examples of short screenplays, and an examination of various genres round out the discussion. NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION: new screenplays, a chapter on rewriting your script, and a chapter on the future of short films A comprehensive guide to writing this challenging form Numerous exercises to jumpstart visualization and writing In-depth discussion of genres suited to the short screenplay Lire plus…

Margaret Geraghty

This book will inspire you to write, even if you have only a few minutes to spare. It may also change the way you think about writing. Drawing on a mix of disciplines, including psychology, art, linguistics, and advertising, each chapter offers you a writing-related discussion, followed by a five-minute exercise. Whether you are a beginner writer, an experienced writer looking for new ideas, or you simply want to use writing to gain self-awareness, the book will help you to: \* Access your inner self, the personal memories that reflect universal patterns of the total human narrative. \* Gain fresh insight into the nature of stories and storytelling. \* Recognise your own life as an inexhaustible source of story ideas. \* Stimulate creative thought, including right-brain techniques for 'stepping outside the box'. \* Escape writing blocks. \* Establish an enjoyable writing routine. Just pick a page and begin your writer's journey. Lire plus…

Sophie King

Writing short stories is both a science and an art. You need a certain amount of skill but you will increase your chances by studying your market and learning what magazine editors are looking for. It is not always obvious. "How to Write Short Stories" will take you as a would-be writer through the tricks of the trade by: helping you discover what the different magazines are looking for and how to think up ideas to suit; demonstrating how you can write different slants, such as twist in the tales and feel-good stories; and, advising on how you can win fiction competitions. "How To Write Short Stories" is packed with tips, quotes and inside angles from magazine editors and relevant experts. AUTHOR BIOG: Sophie King is the pseudonym for journalist Jane Bidder. As well as writing novels - The School Run; Mums@Home, Second Time Lucky and her latest novel The Supper Club*), she has had literally hundreds of short stories published in women's magazines such as Woman's Weekly; Take a Break; My Weekly; and Best. Sophie lectures in creative writing for Oxford University and West Herts College. She is also the writer in residence for Grendon Underwood Prison. CONTENTS: 1. Identifying Your Market 2. Good Idea 3. Nice to Meet You! 4. Plotting your Short Story 5. Viewpoint. Whose Shoes are you Standing In? 6. Who's Speaking Please? 7. First Person or Third? 8. Beginnings and Endings 9. Twist in the Tale Short Story 10. How to Write Feel-good Stories or Tug-at-the Heart Tales 11. How... Lire plus…

Christopher Vogler

See why this book has become an international best seller and a true classic. The Writer's Journey explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style that's made it required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world. The updated and revised third edition provides new insights and observations from Vogler's ongoing work on mythology's influence on stories, movies, and man himself. Lire plus…

Ray Bradbury

This is a delightful, inspiring and extremely useful book on writing. Bradbury talks his evolution as a writer -- what he discovered writing 2000 words every day from the age of 12 to 22, publishing short stories every week in his twenties, and eventually creating novels such as Farenheit 451, Dandelion Wine and the Martian Chronicles. Here is Bradbury's writing routine: "All during my early twenties I had the following schedule. On Monday morning I wrote the first draft of my new story. On Tuesday I did a second draft. On Wednesday a third. On Thursday a fourth. On Friday a fifth. And on Saturday at noon, I mailed out the sixth and final draft to New York. Sunday? I thought about all the wild ideas scrambling for my attention, waiting under the attic lid, confident at last that, because of "The Lake," I would soon let them out. If all of this sounds mechanical, it wasn't. My ideas drove me to it, you see. The more I did, the more I wanted to do. You grow ravenous. You run fevers. You know exhilaration. You can't sleep at night, because your beast-creature ideas want out and turn you in your bed. It's a grand way to live" (62-63). He offers lots of suggestions for how to develop your writing, particularly on his chapter entitled, "How to Keep and Feed a Muse." Here's a sample: Write about what you love and also about what you hate: "What do you love most in the world? The Big and the little Things I mean. What do you want more than anything else in the world? What... Lire plus…

Orson Scott Card

This book made me stop writing for a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. Not only is it very informative, it's entertaining too and presents the information in very lucid way. I've yet to read Card's fiction, but even the examples he provides in this book are intriguing enough to make me wish the story went on from there! He definitely knows what he's talking about. I felt like after reading the book I had a much clearer understanding about what I was doing in my own characterization. Just being aware of things like the difference between presentational and representational stories, levels of narrative penetration and so forth really help demystify the writing process. I've read a fair number of writing reference books and was pleasantly surprised to find that even in the most basic chapters, like the point of view sections, there was new information for me or information that was presented in a different light. I think this book could be helpful to writers of all skill levels. If you're a novice, the amount of information and number of choices he presents might at first seem intimidating, but even if only a tenth of the book sinks in the first time you read it, you will be a better writer for it. And if you're already pretty comfortable with your level of expertise, I think you'll find the breakdown helps you become more consciously aware of what you're doing. Another thing I liked about it was that it provides examples of bad characterization. ... Lire plus…

Editor, Gregory Victor Babic

Has No Book Cover!Motivation for Writers, Every Day of the Year. Specifically selected Quotations for each Calendar Date illuminate all aspects of the Writing Process. * The First Quotation illustrates the Pre-Writing or Preparation Stage (of Thinking and Planning) * The Second Quotation illustrates the Writing or Creation Stage (of Drafting and Editing) * The Third Quotations illustrates the Post-Writing or Celebration Stage (of Publishing and Marketing) ''This is a treasury of inspiration, stimulation and fun for writers.'' Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual ''No matter what page you open to you'll find the experience, wisdom and inspiration of the best writers in the world to motivate and energize the work you do.'' Paul J Krupin, author of Words People Love to Hear Lire plus…

Syd Field

all Writing Is Rewriting. But What Do You Change, And How Do You Change It? All Screenplays Have Problems. They Happened To die Hard: With A Vengeance And broken Arrow -and Didn't Get Fixed, Leaving The Films Flawed. They Nearly Shelved platoon -until Oliver Stone Rewrote The First Ten Pages And Created A Classic. They Happen To Every Screenwriter. But Good Writers See Their Problems As A Springboard To Creativity. Now Bestselling Author Syd Field, Who Works On Over 1,000 Screenplays A Year, Tells You Step-by-step How To Identify And Fix Common Screenwriting Problems, Providing The Professional Secrets That Make Movies Brilliant-secrets That Can Make Your Screenplay One Headed For Success...or Even Cannes. Learn How To: •understand What Makes Great Stories Work •make Your Screenplay Work In The First Ten Pages, Using thelma & Louise And dances With Wolves As Models •use A "dream Assignment" To Let Your Creative Self Break Free Overnight •make Action Build Character, The Way Quentin Tarantino Does •recover When You Hit The "wall"-and Overcome Writer's Block Forever Lire plus…

Dancyger, Ken

The Technique of Film and Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Because editing is about more than learning a specific software program, this book focuses on the fundamentals of editing as art. Analysis of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice. This edition includes brand new chapters covering the goals of editing, including editing for narrative clarity, subtext, aesthetics, and dramatic emphasis, all showing how to evoke specific audience responses. Some of the new films to be discussed include A History of Violence, Atonement, The Departed, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, MIchael Clayton, and more. * Learn how to strengthen your story and engage your audience through the editing process* Examples, analysis, and film stills from great movies* Brand new chapters covering the creative goals of editing - learn the why behind editing choices, especially as they relate to narrative clarity, dramatic emphasis, subtext, and aesthetics* New films covered include THE HOURS, THE DEPARTED, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, ATONEMENT, INTOLERANCE, UNITED 93, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, THE DEPARTED, MICHAEL CLAYTON, LUST,... Lire plus…

By Ron Rozelle

Build a Believable World How essential is setting to a story? How much description is too much? In what ways do details and setting tie into plot and character development? How can you use setting and description to add depth to your story? You can find all the answers you need in Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting by author and instructor Ron Rozelle. This nuts-and-bolts guide - complete with practical exercises at the end of each chapter - gives you all the tips and techniques you need to: • Establish a realistic sense of time and place • Use description and setting to drive your story • Craft effective description and setting for different genres • Skillfully master showing vs. telling With dozens of excerpts from some of today's most popular writers, Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting gives you all the information you need to create a sharp and believable world of people, places, events, and actions. Lire plus…

Mackee, Robert

## Amazon.com Review Writing for the screen is quirky business. A writer must labor meticulously over his or her prose, yet very little of that prose is ever heard by filmgoers. The few words that do reach the audience, in the form of the characters' dialogue, are, according to Robert McKee, best left to last in the writing process. ("As Alfred Hitchcock once remarked, 'When the screenplay has been written and the dialogue has been added, we're ready to shoot.' ") In __Story__, McKee puts into book form what he has been teaching screenwriters for years in his seminar on story structure, which is considered by many to be a prerequisite to the film biz. (The long list of film and television projects that McKee's students have written, directed, or produced includes __Air Force One__, __The Deer Hunter__, __E.R.__, __A Fish Called Wanda__, __Forrest Gump__, __NYPD Blue__, and __Sleepless in Seattle__.) Legions of writers flock to Hollywood in search of easy money, calculating the best way to get rich quick. This book is not for them. McKee is passionate about the art of screenwriting. "No one needs yet another recipe book on how to reheat Hollywood leftovers," he writes. "We need a rediscovery of the underlying tenets of our art, the guiding principles that liberate talent." __Story__ is a true path to just such a rediscovery. In it, McKee offers so much sound advice, drawing from sources as wide ranging as Aristotle and __Casablanca__, Stanislavski and __Chinatown__, that... Lire plus…

Snyder, Blake

"One of Hollywood's most successful spec screenwriters tells all in this fast, funny, and candid look inside the movie business. "Save the Cat" is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying - and saleable. This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat."--Jacket Lire plus…

By Nancy Kress

The indispensable Write Great Fiction series continues with an in-depth look at three of the most important tools in the writer's craft: character, emotion and viewpoint. With the tips and techniques in this book, readers will learn how to: -Create compelling characters that readers believe in -Write scenes that deliver an unforgettable emotional impact -Distinguish among the many different kinds of viewpoint, and choose the one which is right for their story Each chapter is filled with examples drawn from the work of successful writers and action-and- results exercises that help readers take their lessons to the keyboard. Lire plus…

James Scott Bell

Ramp up the tension and keep your readers hooked! Inside you'll find everything you need to know to spice up your story, move your plot forward, and keep your readers turning pages. Expert thriller author and writing instructor James Scott Bell shows you how to craft scenes, create characters, and develop storylines that harness conflict and suspense to carry your story from the first word to the last. Learn from examples of successful novels and movies as you transform your work from ho-hum to high-tension. * Pack the beginning, middle, and end of your book with the right amount of conflict. * Tap into the suspenseful power of each character's inner conflict. * Build conflict into your story's point of view. * Balance subplots, flashbacks, and backstory to keep your story moving forward. * Maximize the tension in your characters' dialogue. * Amp up the suspense when you revise. __Conflict & Suspense__ offers proven techniques that help you craft fiction your readers won't be able to put down. Lire plus…

Angela Ackerman; Becca Puglisi; Sharon Knauer

One of the biggest problem areas for writers is conveying a character's emotions to the reader in a unique, compelling way. This book comes to the rescue by highlighting 75 emotions and listing the possible body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses for each. Written in an easy-to-navigate list format, readers can draw inspiration from character cues that range in intensity to match any emotional moment. The Emotion Thesaurus also tackles common emotion-related writing problems and provides methods to overcome them. This writing tool encourages writers to show, not tell emotion and is a creative brainstorming resource for any fiction project Lire plus…

Blake Snyder, George Newbern

This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz Veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat! He's made millions of dollars selling screenplays to Hollywood and now screenwriter Blake Snyder tells all. "Save the Cat" is just one of Snyder's many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketablle and your script more satisfying - and saleable, including: The four elements of every winning logline Lire plus…

Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi

Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. But the task has become easier thanks to __The Negative Trait Thesaurus.__ Through its flaw-centric exploration of character arc, motivation, emotional wounds, and basic needs, writers will learn which flaws make the most sense for their heroes, villains, and other members of the story's cast. Inside __The Negative Trait Thesaurus__ you'll find: \* A vast collection of flaws to explore when building a character's personality. Each entry includes possible causes, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and related emotions \* Real examples from literature, film, or television to show how each flaw can create life challenges and relational friction \* Advice on building layered and memorable characters from the ground up \* An in-depth look at backstory, emotional wounds, and how pain warps a character's view of himself and his world, influencing behavior and decision making \* A flaw-centric exploration of character arc, relationships, motivation, and basic needs\* Tips on how to best show a character's flaws to readers while avoiding common pitfalls\* Downloadable tools to aid writers in character creation Written in list format and fully indexed, this brainstorming resource is perfect for creating deep, flawed characters that readers will relate to. __The Negative Trait Thesaurus__ sheds light on your character's dark side. Lire plus…