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Writing and Kids Series

Heroes, Villains & Disposable Men (AKA 5 Reasons Male Characterisation Needs An Overhaul Too)

On Male Characterisation It’s not fashionable or cool to talk about male characterisation … but then when Bang2write started, it wasn’t cool to talk female protagonists either. Look what’s happened since!!! Critique of any kind is very important in challenging the status quo. However we are SO focused on female characters I fear we are in danger of two things … i) Putting undue pressures and expectations on individual films, characters and their makers/writers Commentators love to wax lyrical about supposed “empowerment”. Yet a single work cannot stand for ALL women or undo decades of BS. As I’m fond of saying,… Read More »Heroes, Villains & Disposable Men (AKA 5 Reasons Male Characterisation Needs An Overhaul Too)

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Guest Post: Want To Write Better Screenplays? Read A Picture Book by Ezra Paris

A GREAT guest post from Bang2writer Ezra here, with some fab advice and writing exercises for screenwriters… Let the other Bang2writers know how you go if you give any of them a shot. Thanks Ezra! ————————-Picture books, you say? I am writing a Lynchian take on the Western. I’ve completed character biographies, a beat sheet and a coloured coded layout of my three act structure. Surely there is nothing for me to learn from plucky little steam engines, children who do not wish to sleep and an array of cute baby animals who are unable to locate their mother? Think… Read More »Guest Post: Want To Write Better Screenplays? Read A Picture Book by Ezra Paris

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When Do I Give Up My Day Job?

Following a short flurry of conversation on Bang2writers yesterday (and having been asked many times before), I thought I’d address this question. [DISCLAIMER: obviously these are just MY experiences and thoughts on the matter, not absolute gospel, so please consider all the factors and important people in YOUR life before making any huge life-changing decisions… End of disclaimer.] First, the obvious answer: You give up your day job when the bills can be paid via writing and not a moment before. Except there are the following problems with the above: 1) A freelancer’s life is “up in the air” –… Read More »When Do I Give Up My Day Job?

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Writing & Kids, Pt 2: Working From Home

The title of this post is a little misleading, as I feel it can be applied to anyone who works from home whilst looking after children – not just writers. And there are a lot of us: I am of course not just a writer, but a script reader and self employed teacher (ie. “outside” the state school system) as well. I know parents who make jewellery and other crafts whilst looking after children (my own parents did this for a time as I was growing up, in fact); accountants; copy editors; web designers – the list of jobs you… Read More »Writing & Kids, Pt 2: Working From Home

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Writing & Kids, Pt 1: Getting The Spec Done

This post is for StrawLaneScott, who asked on Twitter for advice on writing when you have kids in the house to look after at the same time. I was a parent long before I was a writer or script editor; having a child in your teens before you have even gone to university, never mind started your career, means you have to be able to time manage. Yet there appears to be this feeling one has a baby, then you wait for it to get old enough to go to nursery or school, THEN you get started on whatever it… Read More »Writing & Kids, Pt 1: Getting The Spec Done

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