Authoring & Playwriting

I was just thinking about how little there is in great modern theatrical horror. Plenty of shows have horror elements, but I am talking about a horror movie on stage. I really want to see this now.

The three F

Fun, Fame, Fortune

I wish people wouldn't say there's an "unexpected twist end" to a film or performance. If I went to see said film/performance, I'd then be expecting the twist end. Let people find out for themselves.

@David E I mentioned the twist end in comparison to the climax of whole film franchise. Not all productions in any series have a twist end and not all audiences expect one. I've seen many performances where a planned twist end was mediocre. All I meant is they pulled it off.

Fun Fact: The original movie's original ending was the screen going black while the audience continues to hear the crunching and chewing sounds of the man being devoured. Steven Speilberg recommended the jump scare ending in the theatrical release. I guess when Speilberg gives you a note, you take it.

Sarra gives great advice, Ashley Renee Smith! I'm big on proofreading when it comes to my scripts. I don't like seeing typos in my scripts or books I read. It pulls me out of the story.

Glad she mentioned developmental editing because it's a common misunderstanding that book editing is only proofreading. Dev editors look at big picture, high-level and the creative side whereas copy editing and proofreading happen more on the low-level, detailed and technical side. You really need both. In self-pub, picking a lane is definitely important for building a fan base. Even in trad, many agents want their authors to stay within a specific genre. Great share Ashley Renee Smith.

Thanks, Jonathan Jordan! I always love your insights and I'm glad that you found this resource true to your experiences.

I totally agree with all her points, Ashley Renee Smith . Self-Publishing can be very empowering since you have 100% control over your work, but you really need to have a plan and a "why" you wrote your book so that you can stay motivated to keep going. It's a non-stop process. But even traditional publishers are having a hard time marketing in this digital age. The challenge is finding your audience of readers.

I’ve found that writing for a super engaged group or community that already exists - is the key to faster sales. Souhd obvious but i cannot tell ya how many authors i’ve spoken to who wrote books bc “people need this book”. When it’s much easier to find a community that’s posting or commenting at least 100 comments in the group — DAILY — and promote your book to that tribe. they obviously care about the topic! And hey, don’t be afraid to poll the community about what they’d like to see from you - you might find that a super twist like a coloring book or comic book would turn them on vs a straight formative of your subject.

*narrarive (not formative)

the editor won’t let me edit my post rt now

Totally agree with the video, I just released my first self published Novel (Protected by Mari D.) on Amazon. I expected it to be hard. but when you cannot even find your own book online in a search, it's darn right depressing. So I learned the secret is putting better metadata. I am 51 year old this was like trying to understand another language. A kind fellow author advised that I must try putting the name of my book with my author name as metadata. So I am holding thumbs (and toes) that works.

Congratulations on releasing your first self published novel on Amazon, Marilyn Du Toit! Hope you get a lotta sales!

It's not easy to learn something new, but it's impressive that you're going for it, Marilyn Du Toit!!

So true, it's something I see a lot in novice writing. Presenting archetypical characters and voices in qualified ways. You have to just present the characters and let the audience draw their own conclusions about a characters' behavior

E.J. and Tom Lapke: I agree. I was not suggesting that the writer must come from "right" versus the antagonist coming from "wrong". Rather that the contrast be clear.

It's true that what you remember most from a movie are definitely the characters. Hans Landa? Best thing from Inglourious Bastards! However, I must say that let's have no qualm about judging: we all do it, all the time. Let's just leave the audience condemn them.

This is so true E.J. Wade ! Only by not judging your characters will they be allowed to become multi-dimensional. As soon as you judge them, it paints your writing only one color. I find my characters often surprise me when I let them reign free.

Sounds good. In the same case you described, I rely on their motivations, weaknesses, to feel them more human and be able to actualize them coherently.

I've read some YA, and the first person approach is common. But remember when writing it, there's no way for the protagonist to know what someone else is doing. Once you go first person, you go all the way! First idea is solid, and the second idea is the Seven Samurai (minus six), you don't have to go off world for this one, you can keep it grounded (no pun intended).

I found this post ISO going from Screenwriter to attempt Novel. First thing I noticed is Logline is called "short description'. Also the term Chapter(s) Outline. I have found after writing 3 Screenplays with One of them getting 7 rewrites and a few studios dangle a carrot with some flim flam Producer that Studios prefer a track record if One would like investment money. Hence me switching to writing a Novel, mostly to just get it out of my head! I'm headed down the rabbit hole to find help on Ch, Outline(s), nomenclature and other guidelines. It's going to be a change to use Shoe Leather (as termed in Screen) which I stumbled across A.I for that.

I digress. Your logline(s) could use super adjectives pitting the Antag against the Protag to get my attention to read.It seems the short description allowed on a book cover affords for a lengthier hook than a Movie. The Best story is the One you want to do. For marketing purposes. . . What are your sphere of influences? (rhetorical) Eg., I am into Politics and the Truth, my sphere is too. When Kash Patel wrote Government Gangsters we shared it with one another on our Social Media accounts, which drove interest to the movie now being made. So writing within that sphere (fiction for down time) ~ If I write a Jack Ryan type movie with my Clive Cussler influence and of course write a good hook I could see good traction for a self publish Amazon. <h1> IF </h1> <--- Supposed to be big IF I sell enough THEN and only THEN would I get any help, to be sure. Oh and writing an FBlie movie and hopping into a law enforcement group, will come off like a 3.00 bill.

Best,

Old man

I am all about number 1. There is a lot of opportunity there to make it a really strong character piece. The concept of an immortal magician conjures up (pun intended) the idea of someone who has seen and done it all and needs to be inspired to care.

Also, adapting a book into a screenplay is a different muscle, even if it is your own book. If you have any eye on possibly adapting it, you might want to watch a webinar like this one now. It might help current you to write it in such a way that saves future you a lot of headache. Just a thought.

https://www.stage32.com/education/search?term=novel&h=how-to-adapt-a-boo...

It's very interesting that most people who commented here chose number 2 and most people on Twitter who voted chose number 1. Ultimately, I decided to start with number 1, because that idea has been kicking around in my head longer. But seeing this positive feedback for number 2 makes me more motivated to write it down the road.

This looks awesome! I'll have to check out the documentary!

It's always heartbreaking to lose a cultural touchstone like this.