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3 Steps To Writing A Complex Structure In Your Story

Are you writing a complex structure? As veteran Bangers know, I’m a huge fan of  a complex structure in both novels and screenplays … So when creator of Atomic Blonde Antony Johnston got in contact offering a guest post about writing his own complex structure, I bit his hand off! So if you’re struggling with your own complex structure, check out Antony’s tips and insights. Enjoy and over to you, Antony … Books are like magic tricks   Books require sleight of hand, misdirection, and a grand reveal. But the truth behind any trick is often quite dull … The famous… Read More »3 Steps To Writing A Complex Structure In Your Story

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Why Novelists Should Write Outlines Just Like Screenwriters

Outlines: For Or Against?  It seems every writer has an opinion on outlines! But often writers will fall into two camps … Those who do write outlines and those who don’t. Generally speaking, novelists who do outline tend to advocate the practice as the ‘common sense’ approach. Their outlines may be super-detailed or broad strokes.  The uber-organised authors may even use spreadsheets to keep track of every minute detail in their book … or they may use bullet points, notes to self or similar instead. In contrast, novelists who don’t outline are often very loud online. Such writers like Stephen… Read More »Why Novelists Should Write Outlines Just Like Screenwriters

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10 Simple Steps For Revising Your Draft

So, You’ve Finished Your Draft! Congratulations, but you still have work to do: revising it!! But where to start?? If you are feeling overwhelmed, then check out these 10 revision pointers for novels or screenplays. They can act as a handy checklist for revising your draft. Good luck … 1) Wait! First up, do NOTHING. That’s right … Just let that novel sit in a drawer or on your computer’s desktop. Do absolutely zilch with it, for a couple of days (minimum) or weeks (preferred) or months (maximum). Let your subconscious bubble away, revising any of your story’s problems as… Read More »10 Simple Steps For Revising Your Draft

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10 Ways To Write 1000 Words By 9AM

1000 Words By 9am What if you could write as much as 1000 words by mid-morning, and enjoy the ride? Even though you love writing, it’s probably the most challenging activity you tackle each day. Here are some of the best tips that will let you “eat that frog,” sidestep procrastination, and 1000 words done by 9 AM 1) Create an outline the day before Sitting down in front of a blank screen first thing in the morning is a recipe for low productivity. What you should do instead, is to create an outline the day before, so you’ll immediately… Read More »10 Ways To Write 1000 Words By 9AM

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10 Quick And Easy Tips To Boost Your Writing

How To Boost Your Writing If you want to give your writing a quick and easy boost, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a top 10 of writing tips I give most often. What I love about these is they’re straightforward and easy to implement. You can start doing them all TODAY!  Ready? Let’s go … 1) Start Anywhere Writing a whole screenplay or novel from start to finish can seem insurmountable. But what if I told you that you DON’T have to write in chronological order? Just start anywhere. GOGOGO! 2) Bullet Point It Lots of writers freak… Read More »10 Quick And Easy Tips To Boost Your Writing

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How To Become A Better Writer In 10 Days

Become A Better Writer Want to become a better writer? Join the club! ‘How to become a better writer’ brings people to this blog every month, every single week and day of the year. Lots of people think becoming a better writer is down to some kind of special magic. This is not true. Whilst getting better is a lot of work, it’s actually just like anything … You have to PRACTICE! But how do we do this? Well, I sat down and put some thought into a short 10 day programme that will help you become a better writer.… Read More »How To Become A Better Writer In 10 Days

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5 Questions To Help You Write A Killer Treatment

All About Treatments A treatment is a document that includes everything that will happen in the script, in the order it will appear on the script – usually without dialogue. A treatment should not be confused with a one page pitch. For details of ‘scriptments’ (with dialogue), ‘extended pitches’, or ‘sizzlers’ (super-short treatments), CLICK HERE. Why You Need A Treatment A treatment is a tool to ensure you DO NOT FOOL YOURSELF. A treatment is the essence of the drama. If the treatment is not good, I guarantee your script won’t be good either. It is much harder to take… Read More »5 Questions To Help You Write A Killer Treatment

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How To ‘Break Story’ To Write Something Great!

Break Story – A Definition I love the term ‘break story’ to describe the process of testing a new idea. (It’s borrowed from the building world, where you ‘break ground’ to lay the foundations of a building). Though I learned this in the screenwriting world, I discovered it works with all ideas. Now it does not matter if I am writing a script, novel or short story … I always break story. Whilst every writer has their own individual process, most do it to check the story ‘stands up’ at concept level … Such as: Premise – does it ‘stand… Read More »How To ‘Break Story’ To Write Something Great!

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55 Top Tips Bang2writers Already Know … Do You?

Don’t Miss Out Bang2writers this year have swarmed all over this website … With 35K+ hits per month this year,  they’ve absorbed its delicious writing-tip-goodness like the 1950s version of The Blob. Wow! But this means NON-regular Bang2writers might be at a disadvantage. You see, this blog has been going for a looooong time now. So if you’ve not read the most popular articles on this site? You are literally missing out on the knowledge your competition already knows!! But you know B2W will always have you covered. So I’ve rounded up the top 55 articles Bang2writers hit consistently this… Read More »55 Top Tips Bang2writers Already Know … Do You?

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10 Lies Writers Tell Themselves About New Projects (And How To Embrace Them)

If you’re a writer with a blank sheet of paper in front of you, chances are you’re currently optimistic. The possibilities stretch out in front of you, and the world you are about to craft begs to be written. But a word of warning. If you want to finish the story, you’re going to have to manage those expectations. This might seem like a negative post – but don’t read it that way! For all these lies, there are ways to fix them! 1) ‘This will be easy’ At the beginning of a story you’re convinced that you’ll get through… Read More »10 Lies Writers Tell Themselves About New Projects (And How To Embrace Them)

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NEWSFLASH: This Is Why Your Flashbacks Suck

This is the thing about flashbacks … Most flashbacks in the spec screenplay pile are DULL at best; DISJOINTED at worst. In fact, it’s incredibly unusual to find a non linear script in the pile that makes sense. Supersadface. Similarly, though time can obviously be more malleable in  a novel, unpublished novelists can still end up tying themselves – and the reader! – up in knots over where we ‘are’ in the timeline. But why is this? Well, it’s actually very simple: Flashbacks are primarily a PLOT device. This means they should relate primarily to how the story works, from… Read More »NEWSFLASH: This Is Why Your Flashbacks Suck

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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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