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What Do I Do If My Book or Script Is A ‘Hard Sell’?

Help! What If My Story Is A ‘Hard Sell’? Every week I hear from Bang2writers who say their stories are a ‘hard sell’ and they don’t know what to do. That’s right … EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK! With this in mind, I broke down the process into steps to help. Ready? Let’s go … STEP 1: Get REAL First things first, what makes your story a ‘hard sell’? Do you know for certain … Or are you just guessing? I always find it very interesting (but not surprising) that lots of new writers pretend to themselves their story is a ‘hard… Read More »What Do I Do If My Book or Script Is A ‘Hard Sell’?

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Writers, This Is The Very Least You Can Do

Newsflash! Good screenplay format is the VERY LEAST expected of a screenwriter. Yup, it’s true … Writing craft doesn’t mean what you think it does. Too many spec screenwriters OBSESS on format, thinking that equals good craft. NOPE!!! Seriously wish this was the least we need. Eek. So by all means study screenplay format and “reader proof” your script … If your script looks professional, this might get you through the door. That’s the good news. The bad news? You ARE NOT going to stay there if your concept, characters and story ain’t up to scratch. Hashtag facts! It’s different for… Read More »Writers, This Is The Very Least You Can Do

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What Marvel Can Teach Us About Writing Powerful Villains

Marvel Villains Every hero needs an opposing villain. They go together. Plus you can’t get more heroic or iconic than the notion of a SUPER hero! There have always been stories of these special kinds of hero, in every culture. There’s always talk of ‘superhero fatigue’ online, but the reality is audiences can’t get enough. It’s no accident that studios like Marvel have been doing so well with superheroes. Marvel knows what entertains their target audience and they have provided it. AVENGERS ENDGAME finally usurped TITANIC at second place on the biggest box office smashes of all time recently.  Love or loathe… Read More »What Marvel Can Teach Us About Writing Powerful Villains

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5 Epic Problems Nearly Every Writer Has When Drafting

Drafting is DIFFICULT As every writer knows, drafting is difficult. As a script reader and script editor I help writers with drafting … and have discovered over the years there are 5 issues just about EVERYONE struggles with. Yes, even pro writers!! Enjoy — and pass it on! 1) Overdoing symbolism/ theme Every writer has a ‘message’, because writing is in itself a communication. I’d argue all of us want to SAY something, or PROVE something. It’s an innate part of being a writer. I’d bet real actual money on it. However, that message (or whatever you want to call… Read More »5 Epic Problems Nearly Every Writer Has When Drafting

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5 Visual Representations of Storytelling Structure

Scary Structure Structure freaks so many writers out … It can be enough to strike fear into the heart of ANY spec screenwriter or unpublished novelist. But I actually think getting to grips with this is THE KEY to not only being a ‘good’ writer, but a SUCCESSFUL one! Whilst some structure methods like Blake Snyder’s ‘Save The Cat’ may seem formulaic, it’s important to note structure is NOT a formula. (Also, don’t forget Snyder never meant ‘Save The Cat’ to become the checklist it has, especially in some Hollywood circles). Structure = Beginning – Middle – End Stories are… Read More »5 Visual Representations of Storytelling Structure

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Top 10 Words Or Phrases Storytellers Gave Us

Inventing Words Shakespeare was The Don when it came to inventing words and phrases, so we tend to think writers and filmmakers contribute to language a lot more than they do. It’s actually rather unusual for a writer or filmmaker’s words to get assimilated wholesale by popular culture, but here’s my top 10. Enjoy! 1) You do not talk about … An easy one to start. FIGHT CLUB (1999) is an iconic book and film, so whenever anyone says the phrase, “You do not talk about [whatever]” they’re usually invoking this particular scene from the movie. Over the last two… Read More »Top 10 Words Or Phrases Storytellers Gave Us

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Infographic: 6 Tips For Writing A Great One Pager

Check out this Infographic! I love an infographic … They can be a GREAT way to break down useful “How-To” pointers and content, especially if we’re in a hurry. I’ve been asking the talented @edwinatyrrell to convert some of B2W’s most hit articles into visuals for Bang2writers. Having already converted the How To Write Series Bibles post into an infographic, Edwina has worked her magic again! It’s now the turn of the oft-hit 6 Tips For Writing A One Page Pitch For Your Novel Or Screenplay. In recent years, one pagers have become more and more important. This is because initiatives,… Read More »Infographic: 6 Tips For Writing A Great One Pager

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3 Questions Your Writing MUST Answer

Bang2writers sometimes write to me, asking if I can tell them whether it’s “worth” them continuing with a project, or even writing altogether. But my answer is always the same: if YOU feel it’s “worth” it? THEN IT IS. If you don’t, then it’s not! Simple, really. But often, those writers don’t really mean the above. What they mean is, “How can I TELL if my project or my writing *could* get any traction with agents, publishers, producers [and so on]?” Well, it’s good news. You totally CAN tell “upfront” if your writing is “worth” pursuing and all it takes… Read More »3 Questions Your Writing MUST Answer

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Writing Fantasy: 10 Dos And Don’ts

I was lucky enough to meet fantasy author Lucy Hounsom at the recent Tiverton Literary Festival in my hometown in Devon. She spoke so well about the genre on her panel, I thought you Bang2writers would like hear some of her top tips as well. Enjoy! Over to you, Lucy … Although the same general ‘rules’ of writing apply to fantasy, i.e. character creation, exposition, structuring, crafting dialogue, fantasy is a genre with roots in the ancient world and it’s important to be aware of its established themes, stereotypes and symbols. It’s up to you to work with or against… Read More »Writing Fantasy: 10 Dos And Don’ts

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5 Things Screenwriters Can Learn From Games

Some great food for thought for screenwriters today from WGGB’s Chair for Video Games Steve Ince!  Make sure you check out Steve’s book on writing for video games as well, since this is a great market for writers. Enjoy! I was recently at a conference in Rio when someone posed the following: “People say that film is a director’s medium and TV is a producer’s medium – whose medium is games?” I’d never been asked this before but my answer was almost immediate – “Games are the player’s medium.” Because they’re such an important part of developing games and interactive… Read More »5 Things Screenwriters Can Learn From Games

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The Transmedia Starter Kit

Lots of Bang2writers are interested in Transmedia, but have no clue where to start – so here’s Luke with a short but sweet “step by step” guide to getting started. Thanks Luke! So, no excuses people … what are you waiting for?! There’s so much information out there on the internet, it’s hard to know what’s relevant and what isn’t. Particularly with Transmedia. It’s such a broad term that it invites chaos when trying to find out how to start in Transmedia yourself. So I wanted to create a small list of resources – inspiration, tools, books, blogs, etc, to… Read More »The Transmedia Starter Kit

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6 Things Every Hero Needs

Hollywood is in love with the hyper-masculine hero to such a degree that an ordinary guy is simply not enough anymore … He has to be exceptional, even genetically modified, a so-called SUPER hero! I’m fascinated by representations of heroism in both movies and novels, so I love this food for thought from Paul. Enjoy! 1)    A Serious Case of Self Loathing Think of a hero and you automatically think of strength, intelligence, a morally upstanding figure, but underneath all that is a serious case of self loathing. They don’t like themselves for the person they have to be seen… Read More »6 Things Every Hero Needs

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