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3 Tech Clichés That Will Kill Your Writing DEAD

High Tech World We live in a high tech world, which means tech inevitably impacts on storytelling. Writers often have to find ways to ‘get rid’ of tech, but this can lead to a plethora of cheesy tropes and writing fails. But what if I told you tech was like anything else in storytelling? You CAN use it whenever you want, however want … You just have to make it authentic and twist it, so it works. Let’s go. 1) Facebook & Twitter In my other life as an author, I write crime fiction in the domestic noir subgenre. For… Read More »3 Tech Clichés That Will Kill Your Writing DEAD

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Top 5 (More) Mistakes Comedy Writers Make

Previously On B2W … Comedy is super-popular amongst us Bang2writers. So Dave Cohen aka @davecohencomedy is back, this time with 5 MORE Mistakes Comedy Writers Make. Dave really knows his stuff, so is well worth a follow on Twitter and Miss the last one on this topic? Then CLICK HERE. Enjoy, comedy writers – and good luck if you enter the BBC Comedy Window. Over to you, Dave … It’s That Time Of Year Again! The BBC Comedy Window opens on April Fool’s Day, and you’ve got until 29 April to hone your budding scripts into comedy gold. Last year… Read More »Top 5 (More) Mistakes Comedy Writers Make

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How FRIENDS Makes Character Archetypes Look Easy

All About Archetypes The difference between archetypes and stereotypes is subtle, but crucial. Archetypes are frequently mistaken for stereotypes and vice versa … Not just by writers, but audiences and critics too. This is never more obvious than with comedy. This genre sometimes DOES use stereotype for comedic effect, in shows like The Simpsons. Homer is ‘The American Dream gone wrong’. He is a cliché of white, middle-class male entitlement. It doesn’t matter how he screws up, he will fall on his feet (usually because someone else will clear up his mess).  It is the point of his character and why we… Read More »How FRIENDS Makes Character Archetypes Look Easy

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Writing Scenes

All About Writing Scenes In my new book, The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script, I complement the overwhelming amount of material on story and structure for screenwriters by focusing on craft. In fact, avoid these common 5 Scene Mistakes and improve your script today! 1) Scenes That Ignore The Story’s Concept A scene that doesn’t link its surprise to the concept is a non-sequitur. It’s generic. Avoid scenes that could work in other films. Dance with the one that brought you: your concept. Stay true to it and reap many rewards. The main conceit… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Writing Scenes

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Diverse Characters

Wanted: Diverse Characters Diverse Characters were in demand in my latest experts panel … Producers, Agents, Publishers, Script Editors and Script readers all said they wanted more of them in the year to come. This is no real surprise, since ‘more diverse characters’ has been on the the industry’s wish list for a good while now. I am pleased to say most Bang2writers have picked up the mantle on diverse characters. Whilst there is a contingent of writers who believe diverse characters are a ‘fad’, they are mostly confined to ranting on Facebook. In the past two years in particular,… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make With Diverse Characters

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7 Things I Learned At The Comedy Awards

The Comedy Awards Earlier this week the best movie, TV and radio writers came together for The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards 2019. You don’t often see writers at televised awards ceremonies. We’re an unloved category on most glitzy nights. Our natural inclination to introversion and perceived lack of dress sense define us as bad telly. The awards aren’t televised but they do attract some of the biggest names in the business, while reminding producers, agents and commissioners how great stories and the people who tell them remain at the heart of our creative industries. There are now three… Read More »7 Things I Learned At The Comedy Awards

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14 Masters Of Comedy Share Their Secrets

Comedy Heavyweights If you want to learn, ask the masters … and wow, does Bang2write have some real comedy heavyweights on the site today! I’m delighted to welcome Paula Finn to B2W, who has interviewed the comedy greats and compiled their comedy mastery in her book, which you can find on Amazon. For a taste of what you can find there, check out these nuggets of wisdom from the masters below. Don’t forget to check out Paula’s book either. Enjoy! Learning From The Masters Over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed in-depth conversations with over 50 successful comedy TV writers. Here… Read More »14 Masters Of Comedy Share Their Secrets

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Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

Rise of the Spec TV Pilot Every screenwriter alive wants to write a great pilot episode of their own, if the spec pile is anything go by. When I started B2W back in the day, I hardly ever saw spec TV pilot episodes of any kind. Fast-forward fifteen years and I would venture I read more spec TV pilot episodes than anything else! It also means THE most popular article on this entire site is How To Write TV Series Bibles – over 130K+ unique hits now. Wow! That said, spec TV pilot episodes are notoriously difficult to write. Whilst… Read More »Why FRIENDS Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers)

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Why PADDINGTON 2 Is The Best-Written Family Sequel, Ever

Paddington 2 Love Have you seen Paddington 2? I did, over the Christmas break (which seems like a MILLION years ago now! Waaah!). In fact, I ended up seeing it TWICE! But unusually, I had no issues watching Paddington 2 a second time because it was so damn good — a script editor’s dream, in fact! I actually think it improves on the first Paddington in pretty much every way. Here’s why, plus what writers can learn from it as ‘Top Tips’ to take away. Ready? Let’s go … 1) The plot has a MacGuffin A MacGuffin is ‘a plot device in… Read More »Why PADDINGTON 2 Is The Best-Written Family Sequel, Ever

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5 Things I Learned From Dead Writers

Friend of B2W, regular LSF speaker and Euroscript founder Paul Bassett Davies is on the blog today offering up some GREAT tips as part of our very popular ‘X Things I Learned From …’ series. I love how Paul has linked writing tips with his new book, Dead Writers In Rehab (which has to the BEST novel title of 2017!). I have my copy ready on my TBR, can’t wait to check it out. Remember, if you want to write a post for B2W? Check out the types of post we run HERE and get in touch with a pitch.… Read More »5 Things I Learned From Dead Writers

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How WONDER WOMAN Proves The Power Of Untold Stories

No Real Spoilers So the news and reviews and first weekend figures are in: Wonder Woman is an epic box office SMASH! This is great news not only for female lead characters, but female directors as well. Patty Jenkins has done a HUGE turn to female filmmakers everywhere. Whilst it’s obviously completely and utterly wrong that ONE film had so much to prove like this, that’s a conversation for another time. For now, I for one am delighted that Jenkins et al has pulled this off, against the odds. BRAVO! So now I’m going to take a look at the… Read More »How WONDER WOMAN Proves The Power Of Untold Stories

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15 Cheesy Writing Fails To Avoid In The First 10 Pages

Cheesy Writing Fails We all know we have to avoid the cheesy writing fails to get ahead. As all screenwriters know, the first ten pages can be make or break … But now novelists – both self-published AND trying to smash their way out of the slush pile – are finding they have to hit the ground running too. Readers and viewers are more media literate than ever and they simply WILL NOT ‘wait’ for the story to start! When the beginning of your work is SO important, it simply doesn’t make sense to include scenes or elements we’ve seen a gazillion times… Read More »15 Cheesy Writing Fails To Avoid In The First 10 Pages

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