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Top 5 Mistakes series

5 Top Research Mistakes Writers Make From Bestselling Author Peter James

All about Peter James Got a treat for you today Bang2writers … The awesome Peter James is offering us his expansive writing knowledge! If you don’t know who Peter is, FOR SHAME! Peter is probably THE top selling British author of the moment and most recently he won the coveted 2016 CWA Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence, plus he was publicly voted by WHSmith readers The Best Crime Author Of All Time. As if all that wasn’t enough, before Peter became a full time novelist, he was responsible for a whopping 25 movies as a producer and screenwriter. In short, there’s… Read More »5 Top Research Mistakes Writers Make From Bestselling Author Peter James

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Top 5 Mistakes Even Pro Writers Make

So, I write A LOT on this blog about writing mistakes, but that’s because I see them ALL THE EFFING TIME. Seriously, every single day. In all kinds of mad ways. And there’s just no excuse … Not when there’s a STACK of advice online on how NOT to do this shit. But it’s important to remember it’s NOT just newbies and unproduced, unpublished writers who make these mistakes either. Even pro writers may fall foul of obvious pitfalls … And it’s far easier to do this than you think! Chew on these for size: 1) Not having a proper… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Even Pro Writers Make

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Continuing with my Top 5 Mistakes series, Mary’s jumped in for me today to share her thoughts on what NOT to do *as a writer overall*. She’s telling it like it is, so you better listen, Bang2writers … Enjoy! We all want to be the pinnacle of perfection, but reality has to kick in sometime. As a writer, you’ve made mistakes before and you’re going to make them again. This doesn’t make you a bad writer: it merely makes you human. But learning from our mistakes is what prevents us from repeating them, and being aware of what to look… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Avoid Them)

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Top 5 Genre Mistakes Writers Make

Carrying on my Top 5 mistakes series, it always surprises me how some spec screenwriters will start blindly writing a genre, without researching it robustly. Look, I know it’s tempting to just dive in, but believe me when I say it SHOWS if you haven’t done your homework!! So, be warned and stay away from: 1) Depressing Dramas OK, first off I’m breaking my own rule by putting something on a drama in a genre post … but when so many spec screenwriters don’t understand the difference between drama and genre anyway, chances are you may be here looking for… Read More »Top 5 Genre Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Craft Mistakes Writers Make

Writing Craft versus Format Too often, spec screenwriters think “craft = format”. No. NoNoNoNoNoNo! Format involves the “look” of the page and is the VERY LEAST you should do, Bang2writers. What’s more, you can get on top of the latest expectations and preferences in format by script readers and their bosses very easily. Just check online lists like the one at The B2W Format 1 Stop Shop. So … Screenplay format is the ‘done thing’ (aka HOW you lay it out on the page) Craft is HOW you do it – ie. the actual storytelling. So, what are the top 5… Read More »Top 5 Craft Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Social Media Mistakes Writers Make

As everyone knows: I love social media, but I also TOTALLYHATEITSOMUCHOMG. Continuing my Top 5 Mistakes Series, here’s where some people online go HIDEOUSLY WRONG … 1) Pitch people or demand help straight away The clue is in the name, people! It’s SOCIAL media, which means you need to build relationships with people BEFORE you ask them for their help, time or money. It’s not rocket science – you wouldn’t just wander into a bar and ask a random person to marry you, would you?? (Or if you did, the chances are they’d say a big fat NO!). It’s the… Read More »Top 5 Social Media Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Female Character Mistakes Writers Make

So, carrying on with my Top 5 Mistakes series, I thought I’d return to what many of you come to B2W – female characterisation! But let’s flip it for a change – rather than, say, 5 Ways To Write A Strong Female Character, let’s look at how NOT to write her … Enjoy! 1) Define her by the men in her life Repeat after me: women have their own lives, thoughts and problems … And very often, we’ll see male characters defined as such in spec screenplays, yet female characters? Forget it. They’ll end up as sounding boards, facilitating male… Read More »Top 5 Female Character Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

Savvy Writers I’m assuming we’re all savvy writers who all know loglines are NOT taglines … So let’s put REAL loglines under the microscope in the next instalment of my Top 5 Mistakes series! 1)  Writers forget 1 (or more) of “The 3 Cs” Clarity, characters, conflict – in that order, please! Here’s why: Without clarity, we don’t understand what’s going on We need to know who your character/s are to want to get on board the journey We need to know the conflict to understand what your character/s are up against. EXTRA TIP FOR YOU: I’ve noted savvy writers… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

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Top 5 Screenplay Format Mistakes

How’s your screenplay format? Screenplay format gets a bad rap and is often conflated with writing craft. Whilst sometimes the two things DO cross over, this post will deal predominantly with **how** your script looks ON THE PAGE. Continuing in the Top 5 Mistakes series, I’ll be concentrating on screenplay format today. (I’m assuming your layout, spelling, punctuation and grammar are awesome already. If not, you can check here: 10 Common Errors In Your Writing You Need To Fix Right Now.) Ready, then? Let’s go … 1) Overly long sluglines (aka ‘scene headers’) A slugline or scene header in a… Read More »Top 5 Screenplay Format Mistakes

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Top 5 Submissions Mistakes Writers Make

1) Not reading the submissions guidelines Seriously, always read the submissions guidelines and/or the FAQs. What’s more, every single time I head up a writing competition or scheme, I get sent the wrong documents by overeager writers … Or worse, I get blank ones! Look, I get it. Everyone makes mistakes, plus sometimes technology is responsible for not delivering attachments, but it’s still very easy to avoid these clangers. 2) Sending to the wrong person/ place Don’t send a comedy script to a horror filmmaker; don’t send a heartfelt drama piece to an agent or publisher that specialises in science… Read More »Top 5 Submissions Mistakes Writers Make

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Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Giving Feedback

Learning to Give Feedback is IMPORTANT If writers want to get taken seriously by industry pros, then one important skill is learning to give feedback. Yes, you read that right — GIVE feedback (not just receive it)!!! The reason for learning how to give feedback is three-fold. It helps you … Develop the craft skills to break down stories (which feeds into your own writing) Create those all-important relationships with your peers Realise your opinion is NOT everything In short, learning how to give feedback properly is for writers who want to get to the NEXT LEVEL! But sadly, there’s… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make Giving Feedback

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