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Zeitgeist Stories

How To Write An Awesome Lone Wolf Character

We Love Lone Wolves! Every day, the Google search term ‘lone wolf’ brings Bang2writers to this blog … First though, let’s hear what author G X Todd has to say about her own ideas and inspiration behind her Lone Wolf character, Pilgrim from her bestseller book Defender: “I quickly realised that I wouldn’t be happy writing about a lone man who experiences so little human contact; I also feared it would bore readers to death.  I decided that Pilgrim would unconsciously create a coping mechanism to deal with being all alone in this new world; a coping mechanism that would… Read More »How To Write An Awesome Lone Wolf Character

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5 Easy Resolutions To Make You A Better Writer

So it’s a new year … with plenty to grab our attention and lots to do on our projects, who’s got time for new year’s resolutions?? Well, if you have, here’s 5 resolutions you could implement RIGHT NOW … GOGOGO! 1) Support marginalised creatives Commit to seeing TEN movies by female directors. Read TEN novels by people of colour. Read e-zines and websites by gay and trans activists. Seek out films and TV shows by disabled writers and filmmakers. You get me. Plus, perhaps most importantly: tell EVERYONE about the work you enjoy, especially on social media. Avoid slagging creative… Read More »5 Easy Resolutions To Make You A Better Writer

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5 Quick Questions To Help You Write Awesome Characters

As any veteran Bang2writer knows, this site is known for its critique and help with characterisation, so when the mighty Angela Ackerman got in touch with this great post I virtually BIT her hand off! Angela really knows her stuff on this subject, so make sure you utilise her great questions in planning your next great work. Enjoy! With most writers, the moment a story idea hits, a clock begins to count down. Plot snippets, half-formed characters, themes, conflict options, potential twists…a cascade of ideas hit, cranking up excitement and making our fingers itch. Once the pressure hits critical heights,… Read More »5 Quick Questions To Help You Write Awesome Characters

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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 10 Spec Script Story Clichés

B2W always loves to shine a light on the spec pile and demystify the submissions process … So MANY thanks to Justine from Shore Scripts today for this insight. Fascinating! I must say I agree with all 1o here — too often writers rehash concepts, characters, moments and even WHOLE PLOTS from movies and TV they’ve already seen and absorbed (often accidentally, sometimes intentionally). But it’s important to note: writers shouldn’t necessarily be reinventing the wheel, either … So if you WANT to write any of the below, just TWIST, reboot or genre-bust it. Easier said than done, but can pay… Read More »Top 10 Spec Script Story Clichés

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3 Steps To Reader Proof Your Screenplay

Reader-Proof Your Screenplay I always recommend Bang2writers reader-proof their scripts. Whilst there are no rules in this screenwriting malarkey, but there are best practices. It should be noted I am talking principally about writing CRAFT here. (There are also lots of format niggly pet peeves that really wind script readers up, which is why I list them all HERE). But what do I mean when I say writers need to reader-proof their script? More, next. STEP 1) Wanted: Good Stories, Well Told First things first. If we want to beat the gatekeepers, it’s very simple. We have to give the… Read More »3 Steps To Reader Proof Your Screenplay

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On Writing: Why Planning Beats Seat-Of-Your-Pants Every Time

I’ve worked with a lot of writers Most of them hate planning. Most of them want to dive head-long into a draft. They don’t want to think about target audience. OR to road test their concepts. They don’t want to write outlines, beat sheets or treatments. And they certainly don’t want to write novel pitches! But what if I told you that planning could not only help you avoid a world of pain … it could help you write a BETTER DRAFT?? Yup!!! Read on … I get it, I really do There’s something quite thrilling about writing by the… Read More »On Writing: Why Planning Beats Seat-Of-Your-Pants Every Time

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8 Things Script Readers Want From Your Screenplay

What Script Readers Want Script readers often get a raw deal. Writers frequently assume script readers don’t really care about the scripts they read … but in my experience this is NOT true. Fact is, script readers WANT every script they open to be AWESOME. When I find a script that truly impresses me, I am always overjoyed. My script reading colleagues are the same, too. Honest guv! But what does ‘awesome’ mean? Well obviously that’s a ‘piece of string’-type question, but I’ve managed to boil it down to 8 craft-related elements I want from a great script. Ready? Let’s… Read More »8 Things Script Readers Want From Your Screenplay

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10 Female Characters Who Stirred Up The World

Female Characters Finding stories with great female characters can be difficult. All too often they are written only to supplement a male character. However, all is not lost. There are female characters in modern writing who are strong and compelling in their own right. They are well-written, independent and have something to say! Here are ten female characters that really stand out for their strength and intelligence … 1) Lisbeth Salander (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) Highly introverted and antisocial as the result of a rough childhood, Lisbeth is described as “insane” by the men in her life, which… Read More »10 Female Characters Who Stirred Up The World

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Question: Has the standard of screenwriting improved? REVISITED

Many thanks to longterm Bang2writer James DeMarco, aka @jazadal, who asks this in The B2W Facebook group: I’d like to revisit a question I asked you a few years ago. With the plethora of info available to aspiring screenwriters via internet + classes, festivals, seminars, etc. these days, have you, as a reader, noticed any improvement in the quality of submissions you receive? An UPDATE please, if you can. Thanks! I answered James’ original question back in 2012. You can see the original post, here: Have Script Levels Improved Over The Last Decade? So, as requested by James, here’s my updated answer for… Read More »Question: Has the standard of screenwriting improved? REVISITED

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21 Famous Filmmakers’ Genre Secrets

 Sign up for the B2W Mailing List, HERE! Genre gets a bad rap when it comes to movies and television, but these are the facts: writing good genre is REALLY DIFFICULT. Every bit as difficult as writing good drama! Check out the famous filmmakers’ quotes below and see how many touch on the same things, including: Why various genres appeal to certain audiences How mixing up different ideas, threads, characters, plots can really help Why genre does not automatically mean “dumb” How zeitgeists can really affect the popularity of certain genres Why you need to know what goes into various… Read More »21 Famous Filmmakers’ Genre Secrets

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Course Success! All About My Script Reading Class

Script reading course success ‘Lucy is a total rock star, down to earth, fun but highly knowledgeable.’ Philip Lawrence, Writer Delighted to say my recent workshop for LondonSWF, BREAKING INTO SCRIPT READING was a huuuuge success! Unbelievably, 100+ delegates turned up and I had a blast teaching the course. Everyone was so switched on, asking brilliant questions and taking to the exercises with such enthusiasm, sharing their insights and POVs with the class. More new script readers already ‘Potential Script Readers can’t afford to not attend this course. Lucy gives a great but realistic view of the script reading/editing world… Read More »Course Success! All About My Script Reading Class

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