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Post by madametarot on Feb 22, 2018 14:43:32 GMT 10
I have come to the conclusion that the money is in writing screenplays and not books.
I realised this before I started to write "Breadcrumbs to Briz Vegas".
I can write public service speak and I can write evidence speak and uni paper speak and have done journalism and I can write a readable book, but I have no idea how to write a Teleplay.
Fortunately, I have a Facebook friend who has offered to help me but I will finish writing "Breadcrumbs to Briz Vegas" first. BBV is a long way off completion but I do know how it finishes and it is a recreational write and not a commercial write.
In the past, most teleplays are converted from books - but everything is changing now.
Every scene in the story in a teleplay is costed, accepted or rejected before it committed to the plot.
And of course flamboyant words and thought bubbles cannot help tell the yarn on TV, so these are being replaced by special effects and interesting things that exist and do not have to be created.
It costs an author a lot to create a memorable character, because he/she has to sacrifice part of his soul to the devil, unless of course he plagiarizes.
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Post by Sediba on Feb 22, 2018 15:34:12 GMT 10
Anything you can't do I can't do better.
What's wrong with selling your soul to the devil? If I had one to sell I'd sell it to the highest bidder and buy apples. I'd use them to seduce Eve. Much more practical .... and more inner-fulfilling
Heheeee 😈
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Post by madametarot on Feb 26, 2018 16:55:33 GMT 10
I have been checking out the tip of "Ice Berg Screen Writing" and I have decided my 100 pages and 40,000 word novel is no good.
Everything about "Breadcrumbs to Briz Vegas" is fine except the way I wrote it.
I read a best seller novel recently (I had not read a book for ages) and it was structured differently to what I expected. But silly me, I did not learn from it.
So I went ahead and wrote my novel and used up all my best gags.
At our age we all reckon we have this that and the other sussed, and I am no different, Therefore, alas and by-jove, I did not pick up on what is making a best seller these days.
Novels have been around forever, but the screen plays have warped our brains.
The screen plays hit us with an instant visual attention grabber first up.
Meanwhile the books start with describing the 5Ws and H which is quite sensible but BOOOOOORING
A James Bond or Mad Max starts spectacularly and even a crappy little cop show will start with a chase scene or a fight.
I started my book with a coffee shop scene and an FBI agent pulling a fly out of his cup with a long handled spoon and eating it (the fly not the spoon.).
It did not take me long to make my first strategic mistake., did it.
That latest book I read put entertainment ahead of almost everything, including timelines, and sensible structure. But he referenced his specialists who helped him with technical detail. He must have used the specialists to verbalise dialogue because at one stage I was convinced the writer was a woman.
Do you follow the anomaly,
For example we could have the finest detail of the crime scene and without a lead in we could be watching a fly climb up its web in South America.
When we view on TV we can easily see we are not at the crime scene anymore but we are now in South America but the book is so much slower.
The anomaly is trying to speed up (less detail) the slack bits and pump up the interesting bits.
So a best selling novel these days is probably poorly structured and lacks a lot of 5Ws and H and leaves a lot more to the imagination.
Sorry to bore shit out of you.
Please comment.
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Post by Sediba on Feb 26, 2018 17:33:36 GMT 10
Everything about "Breadcrumbs to Briz Vegas" is fine except the way I wrote it. Well .... My first comment is Bwahahahaha. I would have thought the ONLY good thing about any novel is the way it's written. But put that aside. How did you write the novel First Person? Third Person? Post a sample chapter. But be warned, I'm an honest critic
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Post by madametarot on Feb 26, 2018 17:37:30 GMT 10
Everything about "Breadcrumbs to Briz Vegas" is fine except the way I wrote it. Well .... My first comment is Bwahahahaha. I would have thought the ONLY good thing about any novel is the way it's written. But put that aside. How did you write the novel First Person? Third Person? Post a sample chapter. But be warned, I'm an honest critic Narrated,
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Post by madametarot on Feb 26, 2018 17:49:31 GMT 10
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Post by Sediba on Feb 27, 2018 0:40:00 GMT 10
Post a chapter Col. I won't be a smartarse about it. Maybe it's OK and you don't need to abandon it.
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Post by madametarot on Feb 27, 2018 8:50:36 GMT 10
Post a chapter Col. I won't be a smartarse about it. Maybe it's OK and you don't need to abandon it. I will post the old and new starts prob tomorrow after I have written the new start. That way you can have a fair go at it.
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Post by madametarot on Feb 27, 2018 20:54:31 GMT 10
Post a chapter Col. I won't be a smartarse about it. Maybe it's OK and you don't need to abandon it. I will post the old and new starts prob tomorrow after I have written the new start. That way you can have a fair go at it. I do not know the best way to post. There is lots on necessary formatting and one will not make sense without the formatting. Suggestions please Meanwhile screenplay writing once you source the formatting template is a lot more fun than writing a novel.
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Post by Sediba on Feb 27, 2018 21:24:37 GMT 10
I do not know the best way to post. There is lots on necessary formatting and one will not make sense without the formatting. Suggestions please I screenshot mine as images and added them as attachments Meanwhile screenplay writing once you source the formatting template is a lot more fun than writing a novel. Col ?? That's purely a personal opinion. I would NOT like to write a screenplay, I loved writing my novel.
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Post by madametarot on Feb 28, 2018 8:33:37 GMT 10
Of course it is my opinion (screenplay writing is more fun than novel writing), did you think I should have taken an international survey before commenting? SP writers software reduces time wasted with protocols and they have other features for tracking the plot and editing and at least one will read your play out loud, I have only used the "Word" template for screenplay writing but even that was good and I found my story, for me, was easier to keep in focus hence my "more fun" comment. The thing to remember with screen writing is when you see a show, they have credits longer than your arm, so when you write you can leave some detail for the others. Alternatively, you can get it to finite production detail. The choice is yours and of course you can have different versions of scenes and scene placements in the script. (Flash backs are common in screen plays) Most writers need to research because they are writing about topics they are not up to speed on (that is good because at least the writer learns something). Then by having someone read the parenthesis for different characters, you can change the syntax for how different people speak. In other words your writing becomes less mechanical and less boring. In fact, I believe modern best selling novels are likely to be written as a screenplay first using SP software then converted to a novel format. Historically it has been the other way around. (things change) Here are some top 10 reviews of SP software. www.toptenreviews.com/business/software/best-screenwriting-software/
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Post by madametarot on Feb 28, 2018 8:48:54 GMT 10
The SP formatting I have used is industry standard for a4 reading.
I am doubtful if a screen dump will do it justice, especially for critical analysis.
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Post by Sediba on Feb 28, 2018 9:43:37 GMT 10
SP writers software reduces time wasted with protocols and they have other features for tracking the plot and editing and at least one will read your play out loud, I don't agree with this. There is a HUGE amount of freely available software for writing novels these days.Much of it embedded with AI to prevent you making mistakes, correcting grammar, tracking characters, following the plot. And just as sophisticated, probably more, as for writing screenplays. I don't use it myself, but it's there. I don't think you bothered to check. The thing to remember with screen writing is when you see a show, they have credits longer than your arm, so when you write you can leave some detail for the others. There is a reason for credits, and they're not there for the viewer. Most writers need to research because they are writing about topics they are not up to speed on (that is good because at least the writer learns something). Then by having someone read the parenthesis for different characters, you can change the syntax for how different people speak. In other words your writing becomes less mechanical and less boring. In fact, I believe modern best selling novels are likely to be written as a screenplay first using SP software then converted to a novel format. Historically it has been the other way around. (things change) No, not correct. Have you actually bought a novel or a screenplay to actual completion, to the point where it can be submitted to and agent or an editor? No matter the software or the aids available, in the end it has to be authored. There are no wizards that will make you a successful writer of either. Just your own imagination and your ability to ' bring your work to completion'. The second requirement being the hardest part. Here's how I did it. I'm not an author. But I've just finished my first book. I don't have a first draft. I write the chapter. Then I listen to Siri (dictation software) read it back to me. You can have any voice, any nationality, any accent .. and you can control the rate of speech. As she reads it back I make notes. I have a really good set of wireless headphones. Sennihauser. I can pick up a missing apostrophe, comma, full stop etc. I'm also listening for cohesion, consistency ... and general crap. When someone else is reading to you it gives you heaps of insights to the shit I write. I do this for a new chapter about 6-7 times, correcting. Then I call that chapter 'polished'. Once I have six chapters then I always, always play the previous 5 polished chapters along with the new one. And I move this window forward for every chapter. So if chapter 12 is new, then I listen from chapter 7. Quite often I go to bed at night listening to the whole thing from the get-go. I also run a timeline beside the novel. Every event gets plugged on the timeline, and the initials of every character who knows about that event is noted beside the event. Mine's a mystery novel and this is how I keep track of all clues and information-spread. If you don't do this, I have found, you will have so much to remember that it's impossible to write coherently, for a mystery novel that is. Mine is 34 chapters and all now are 'polished' and the novel is 'polished'. I only wrote the last chapter three weeks ago. I listened to the whole thing twice (80,000 words) and I'm SURE it doesn't contain a single mistake, mis-clue, or bad grammar, or bad spelling. BUT ... an outside Editor is still necessary, and they will find HEAPS wrong. Knuckle down and finish the work you've started. For all your wizards you don't seem able to place a sample here.
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Post by madametarot on Feb 28, 2018 15:26:06 GMT 10
Thanks Sediba I have finished my 41,000 word first draft and in retrospect I think my plot characters and location deserve a better treatise.
You might call it finished but as a qualified Freelance Journalist I know it needs to be put aside for a while before reviewing it again.
Yes you are right, there is a lot of work involved in writing well. That is why I have only published articles and not books.
I have been awarded 100% for Journalism assignments in Freelance Journalism through Qld Distance Ed.and when I queried the 100% mark I was told it could go straight to printing without editing. So I can proof read properly.
The issue with voluntary reading is it is voluntary, hence we cannot expect anyone to read our work if it is boring.
Therefore keeping it interesting trumps everything else:spelling, structure, paragraphing, everything. Grabbing the readers attention within a few lines is paramount.
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bluesky
Fought a few Battles
Posts: 95
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Post by bluesky on Feb 28, 2018 16:28:48 GMT 10
Thanks Sediba I have finished my 41,000 word first draft and in retrospect I think my plot characters and location deserve a better treatise. You might call it finished but as a qualified Freelance Journalist I know it needs to be put aside for a while before reviewing it again. Yes you are right, there is a lot of work involved in writing well. That is why I have only published articles and not books. I have been awarded 100% for Journalism assignments in Freelance Journalism through Qld Distance Ed.and when I queried the 100% mark I was told it could go straight to printing without editing. So I can proof read properly. The issue with voluntary reading is it is voluntary, hence we cannot expect anyone to read our work if it is boring. Therefore keeping it interesting trumps everything else:spelling, structure, paragraphing, everything. Grabbing the readers attention within a few lines is paramount. Keeping things interesting is good, but being able to construct a sentence that is grammatically correct is also important, particularly if you expect people to take your work seriously. On that note, I have some grammar guides from Uni. They're in PDF format. Can I upload them? is anyone interested? However, if Chopper Read (mostly illiterate) can write a book that sells, I'd suggest anyone can.
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Post by Sediba on Feb 28, 2018 19:49:38 GMT 10
However, if Chopper Read (mostly illiterate) can write a book that sells, I'd suggest anyone can. I've never read Chopper Read. But I think his editors corrected his grammar. He was a natural at being able to communicate. Norman Douglas was one of the worst Paedophile's of all time. Yet his books are brilliant. ' Fountains in the Sand' is one of my all time favourite books. ' South Wind' was a hugely popular book in it's day. I don't think that just cause Chopper was a criminal we can say ergo: Anyone can do it. Only writers can do it, and they can come from any walk of life. If you can write, publishers and editors will do all the hard yards, grammar, structure etc for you, gladly. I think the most important ability in writing is being able to build a world that the reader can clearly see and move around in. I think that's why Harry Potter is so popular. (tho I've never read Harry Potter either) Norman Douglas
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Post by madametarot on Feb 28, 2018 22:15:37 GMT 10
I only put effort into writing when it is justified, so I do not put much effort into forum crap, but that does not mean I do not know how to write. It is 29 years since I did F. Journo. and although I have never turned pro, I did get some payments from some mags.
The amateur writers for "voluntary readers" usually make 3 major mistakes.
1) They do not value white space highly enough 2) They us a Dictionary that is too big 3) They value their own words too highly and do not cull anywhere near enough of their own words.
Here are some culling exercises we did.
We were asked to write a 2000 word piece on "Should I use a pen name". We had no idea what the next assignment would be.
The next assignment was to cull it to 1500 words
The last assignment was to cull it to 1000 words.
It sounds easy until you try it.
It was, of course, a lesson on keeping the "waffle factor down" and not being too precious about your words and to cull them ruthlessly..
My first draft book of 41,000 words has little left to cull.
There maybe some detail to be added, because I do cull ruthlessly.
Another subject was "QWERTY" (it is your keyboard top letter line), write 1000 -1200 words.
The next assignment was to cull it 50%.
I can look at a piece without reading it and usually tell straight away if it is written by a journo, it is all about the white space.
White space is good because recreational readers are reluctant to read big blocks of text.
I also wrote for non-recreational users.
I was a public servant dealing with criminal law (Queensland Criminal Code and Environmental Legislation and writing legally binding licence conditions and notices) I also wrote draft Ministerial responses to go to the Ministers Offices or their PR man to spin them.
I wrote for compliance with ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and AS 9000 (Quality Assurance) and I have written specifications for Govt purchasing. And I also wrote some Business Re-engineering for Govt. Departmental use.
As a kid I had no training but I was writing poetry and even bought my own typewriter.
These days I prefer free verse, that may rhyme or not rhyme.Poetry has gone out of fashion but I still enjoy writing it.
I have not written a screenplay, yet!
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