In recent months, I have done far more reading than writing, much to the detriment of progress on my latest novel. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed catching up on the works of other Sci-Fi writers from whom I can learn a lot, and I have enjoyed re-reading some of the technical screenwriting material on the subject …
Tag: screenwriting
Conflict, Tension and Audience Participation
Novel writers can learn a lot about story development from the screenwriting industry. In my previous blog, I dealt with how screenwriters use Story, Plot, Arc and Theme to develop a story. This month I want to look at how screenwriters use Conflict, Tension and Audience Participation to grip an audience. The essential elements of …
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The big idea, concept or premise
To be successful, any new story has to be built around an idea, or concept that makes it new and exciting. A school for wizards is an idea or concept, but it's not a story premise. A story premise needs both a character (for example, Harry Potter) and a central conflict or problem that drives …
Hero Goal Sequences
Since I started writing fiction in 2011, I have always been fascinated with the subject of story structure. I have read most of the key texts written by the screenwriting masters like Syd Field, John Truby, Michael Hauge, Robert McKee, Christopher Vogler, and some of Frank Daniel's followers, as well as many more less known …
JMJ Williamson 