Hey fellows! Here to impart the wisdom of a screenwriting student currently embroiled in the whole MUST have something to turn it.
This semester, I've learnt more than I ever have in the past. First things first, if you have a method that works, don't change it, BUT if you need some structure do this:
1.) Get out the notecards. Write out 100 (adjust for length accordingly) obstacles, plot points, or ideas. They don't have to be focused or even coherent, just mildly related to what you want to write about.
2.) Stick em up on your wall or lay them out on your floor. Patterns will begin to emerge, reorganize them from start to end points. At this point, the story basically writes itself. You'll find that a thread will start forming in your mind.
3.) Start writing. Keep in mind that as you write, things will change. You'll leave out something you wrote down, add in something new, or even change where certain elements come in. What's important is that you have a BIG IDEA.
This works when you need to get something done. IT WORKS.
Advice on writing coherent stories:
1.) Write background first. My method involves writing out the first few pages of WHAT I THINK the story is. This gives me the character and the world, and more often than not, a more focused plot line. Delete it. (You don't have to actually delete it. I'm being metaphorical. Keep it for reference, but start over.) You'll find that once YOU, THE WRITER know about the world and character, you're not as hellbent on revealing all of it as you write. Remember, good writing is about the organized ABSENCE of information. (Quoth Andrew Stanton.)
2.) Don't write falling action. Falling action is boring. It's drudgery, and almost always hard to get through. Every scene raises the stakes. Every scene your character's lives get worse, and they get hurt more. If we think things are going well, it should be because we just don't know how bad they're getting... Which will shortly be revealed to ruin our delusions. It's not until the final conflict that things can get better.
3.) Know your ending, but perfect your opening. Seriously, the opening not only sets the tone for the reader, but also for you. If you write an opening and find that it needs to be rewritten, you might have to start all the way over from the notecards.
Good luck everybody!
EDIT: Another note on structure. Don't overthink it. If you are familiar with the three-act structure or the hero's journey don't attempt to cater to those models. Hit an opening/inciting incident (world, character, and quest), X# of problems, a pivotal moment (protagonist may or may not get what they want), and a final conflict (the big emotional pay off, can be very closely tied to the pivotal moment). The rest will occur naturally. Promise.
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Topic: NaNoWriMo 2016! The Pre-Beginning Begins! (Read 10843 times)