FOLLOW THE PAIN
Not a great recommendation for celebrating the holidays, I know. But if you want to find great stories to tell, this is the key. I first came up with the phrase “follow the pain” during a presentation.
Q & A: Can a Hero Also Be His Own Nemesis?
After reading your “Conflict #4: The Nemesis” article and considering the “coming of age/personal development” story I’m writing, you have me wondering what you would think about…
Q & A: What If My Hero’s Desire Isn’t Original?
Is there a way to find an original motivation that is also strong enough for an adventure story? I want to avoid clichés: avenging a dead parent; seeking a treasure; winning the love of a prince.
Q & A: Inner Life of Characters
Do you have any advice for people who are good at ideas, plots and dialogue bits but not so good at getting into the heads of their characters?
Delivering a Powerful Theme
The most powerful and persuasive stories don’t simply entertain or enlighten – they challenge their readers and audiences to transform.
Make Your Characters Distinct
In the outstanding film HIDDEN FIGURES, screenwriters Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi faced the formidable task of immediately…
Empathy, Skill and A FEW GOOD MEN
One of my all time favorite screenplays (and movies) is Aaron Sorkin’s script for A Few Good Men. So I was honored and excited when Film Courage…
Embracing Extreme Heroes
To add depth to the hero of your screenplay, novel, speech or marketing tool you must give that hero some fear to be confronted and overcome.
Changing Your Hero’s Goal
I’m sometimes challenged when I proclaim that the hero of a story must decide on his or her Outer Motivation during the New Situation…
Q&A: Low Budget Blockbusters
Q: I’m from India, and I want to know why we don’t see low budget Indian movies where the protagonist has a CLEAR & VISIBLE goal.