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B2W FAQs – Writing Craft Edition

Questions on Writing Craft How do I write a good character? This is a real ‘how long is a piece of string’ question, since everyone has VERY different ideas on what ‘makes’ a good character! Consider instead two things – your character’s role function and motivation. Here’s Top 10 Links To Help You With Characterisation. I want to write more diverse characters, but I am scared of getting it wrong. Any advice? You just need to do your due diligence. This means doing proper research, across a wide cross-section of people who live lives *like* the character you want to… Read More »B2W FAQs – Writing Craft Edition

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Top 20 Screenplay Contest Tips From Scriptapalooza

Screenplay Contest Tips From Scriptapalooza Many thanks to The Scriptapalooza Screenplay competition for today’s post. There’s some straightforward gold here that can provide a powerful reset and act as a really useful checklist. If you’re planning on entering contests this season, be sure to check out Scriptapalooza at the bottom of the post. Ready? Then let’s go … 1) Read the Submissions Guidelines Each competition has its own guidelines/rules. Make sure you read them and submit exactly what each competition suggests. 2) Always spell check your script Nothing is more frustrating than a producer reading your script and seeing mistake… Read More »Top 20 Screenplay Contest Tips From Scriptapalooza

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16 Easy Ways To Unlock Your Creativity

Spark Your Passion Lots of Bang2writers have told me lately their creativity has taken a dive during lockdown. With so much upheaval and uncertainty in our lives right now, it’s no surprise. This is why I’ve designated this week ‘Passion Week’ across the B2W network. Uber-author and 21 time NYT bestseller Jerry Jenkins kicked us off with How To Rekindle Your Passion for Writing. Now, Expert Editor have got in touch with a great infographic with 16 ways to spark your passion for writing again. I love their idea of ‘creative exercise’ for your brain. Make sure you check it… Read More »16 Easy Ways To Unlock Your Creativity

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15 Awesome Tips For Cutting Down Your Page Count

All About Cutting Down Page Count Cutting down scripts is an essential tool of the trade for writers. Last week I had to cut a script down from 138 pages to the required 104. Losing 34 pages is no mean feat, but most of us will have to do this at some point … Some writers will find themselves cutting down even more! I’m a writer who continually overwrites (I’d rather have too much than too little). This means cutting down page count is a skill I’ve developed over the last few years. Here’s my top tips on how to do… Read More »15 Awesome Tips For Cutting Down Your Page Count

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Top 10 Legal Questions For Writers

Legal Eagles I’ve had loads of legal questions lately from the Bang2writers, so I thought it would be a good idea to round them all up here for everyone. So if you have a burning legal question, check out the below! Before I begin though, a quick disclaimer … DO remember B2W is not a lawyer or legal expert!! The below is based only my own experiences and the various deals and situations I’ve seen going round the writing block. If you require legal advice, then speak to a real expert ASAP. Let’s go … 1) What is an option… Read More »Top 10 Legal Questions For Writers

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5 Reasons Grammar Purists Can Go Fuck Themselves

F Off, Grammar Purists Grammar purists have always nestled like alabama ticks in every dark corner of the internet. In the past year or so, they seem to be everywhere! These guys police statuses, tweets, threads and then call those out they feel are ‘unacceptable’. (Why anyone who doesn’t like colloquial speak online would follow a platform like B2W, I have no idea. Some people are their own worst enemy, yet point fingers at others as being ‘the problem’. Le sigh). But this phenomenon is not only related to B2W. It seems internet-wide. It started with basic corrections of typos and spelling.… Read More »5 Reasons Grammar Purists Can Go Fuck Themselves

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A Spotlight On Due Diligence For Writers

Due Diligence Writers are urged to do their ‘due diligence’ a lot. This is especially relevant when it comes to finding and evaluating agents, producers and publishers, but also any services or we might pay money for. This may include obvious stuff like screenwriting, novel and short story contests, but also other things like writing courses, software and other things we may buy or use. However, as many Bang2writers may have noticed lately, there is a small but nevetherless stubborn contingent of writers around who think practicing ‘due diligence’ means slagging off and/or smearing people, products and services, especially on… Read More »A Spotlight On Due Diligence For Writers

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Top 5 Tips To Deal With Writer Burn Out

All About Burn Out So with not one, but TWO of my novels to edit recently (not to mention various other deadlines, including my IFS students’ end projects), I have been feeling the BITE of burn out lately. So, when Rachel Jackson got in touch with me to share some ideas on how to combat this feeling, I was all ears!! I particularly like her points 3 and 5. Enjoy! What Is Writer Burn Out? Burn out is silent and sneaky. It creeps up on people when they least expect it. Stress levels slowly begin to rise … Before you… Read More »Top 5 Tips To Deal With Writer Burn Out

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How To Write Fast Like A Pro

1) Set a DEADLINE ‘I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by,’ said uber-author Douglas Adams, but seriously? If you want to get stuff done – and done FAST – set yourself one. I always advocate looking ahead at the calendar, breaking down what’s possible in what time and having THREE deadlines: one ‘likely finish’; one ‘hopeful finish’ and one ‘unlikely finish’. Try it! 2) Work out your BEST TIME I work best mid-morning till lunchtime on my own writing. This is because first thing in the morning I’m doing admin and social media… Read More »How To Write Fast Like A Pro

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How To Stop Wasting Writing Time Procrastinating Online

A new year must be round the corner, because Bang2writers KEEP asking me about goal setting, productivity and ensuring writing gets done! 😉 One of the biggest problems B2Wers seem to have is procrastinating online – they tell me they spend waaaay too long chatting or watching cat videos or funny memes and gifs. So when Bernadine suggested this post, I was only too happy to hear her ideas — and I hope you are, too! Don’t forget to add your tips to the comments section, too. Enjoy … It’s easy to procrastinate online. Dilly-dallying is never difficult, especially when… Read More »How To Stop Wasting Writing Time Procrastinating Online

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5 Top Writing Hacks For Quick, Effective Storytelling

Screenwriting is all about telling the best story you can. Here are some handy hacks to help make your plot fly FAST! The following are a few of the most glittering trinkets in that nest, that may be helpful to blocked writers, newbies looking for guidance, or any writer on the lookout for some new approaches to try: 1) Start With An Ending Half of the posts I see on social media about blockages are getting so far into a script and not knowing where to go. With an ending in place – and note it doesn’t have to be THE… Read More »5 Top Writing Hacks For Quick, Effective Storytelling

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10 Useful Infographics To Help You Pick The Right Words

1) TIP: Never Use Boring Words! First up, the obvious … And one that some say is the ONLY rule every writer should follow – ‘Don’t be boring!’ Novelist Bang2writers obviously have the strongest burden in NOT being boring. In comparison to screenplays, every single word of a novel is accessible to a reader. That said, script readers have to read a screenplay first, so it’s still not wise to be repetitive and write ‘flat’ and flabby prose. This infographic from Custom Writing breaks down some common and frankly DULL words, plus what ALL writers can use instead. Remember, just because… Read More »10 Useful Infographics To Help You Pick The Right Words

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