What’s My Line?

How do you create your log lines? Do you have a ‘formula’? A technique that always gives you the one great log line? No, I guess not. Of course there are no formulas. No fool proof techniques. But here’s how I do it.

First, start with a ‘What If’ question. Example: What if a cynical American discovers the real tomb and body of Christ?

Now, change that to a statement: A cynical American discovers the real tomb and body of Christ.

Then add any particulars: A cynical American, searching for his brother’s killers, discovers the real tomb and body of Christ.

How do you go about creating log lines? Let me know.  And….

Keep Writing.

 

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Just thought I would recommend a great book on screenwriting. I must give props to Julie Gray (The Script Whisperer) for clueing me in on this tome. The book is called, Inside Story by Dara Marks:

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Story-Power-Transformational-Arc/dp/0978812905/ref=sr_1_1/105-0298381-9715666?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193863841&sr=1-1

Get it. Read it. Devour it. You won’t be sorry.

Now, have you read any good books lately?

Keep writing.

Regards,

Way to go Kelly!

I’d like to give a great big CONGRATS! to writing friend Kelly Gay for capturing her first novel sale. Kelly is a wonderful writer and former screenwriting buddy here in the Raleigh area. Here’s a short blurb from Kelly’s blog:

I believe the first book will be released sometime next summer. And here’s a little blurb if anyone is interested: THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS is the story of Charlie Madigan, a divorced mother of one and law enforcement officer for the ITF (Integration Task Force). Her job: to patrol Underground Atlanta, a place where the beings of heaven and hell have come out of the closet and they aren’t the things of Sunday school lessons and Hallmark figurines.

Great job, Kelly!

 

The Four Act Structure

Over the past five years I have read dozens of books on screenwriting, searched hundreds of Web pages for tips and techniques, and spent a lot of time just plain THINKING (another excuse not to write). I have looked at the three, four, and nine act structures. Sequencing methods (anywhere from 8 to 16). The Hero’s Journey. Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheet, et-cetera, et-cetera, et-cetera.

What I have settled on, and what works for me, is a hybrid of the Four Act Structure and the Sequence Method. The template I use follows:

ACT I – The Loner
Sequence #1 ( 01-10) Setup: Protagonist In The Ordinary World
Sequence #2 ( 11-20) Call to Adventure / Predicament / Inciting Incident
Sequence #3 (21-30) Turing Point: Change Of Plans / New Lower Obstacles

ACT II – The Wanderer
Sequence #4 ( 31-40) Elaborating on the Dilemma and The World of Story
Sequence #5 ( 41-50) Hero encounters TESTS, ALLIES, and ENEMIES.
Sequence #6 (51-60) Point Of No Return / Discovery Of False Goal

ACT III – Towards The True Goal: The Warrior Phase
Sequence #7 ( 61-70) Complications, Higher Stakes, And Subplots
Sequence #8 ( 71-80) Culmination Toward The Main Plot
Sequence #9 (81-90 ) All Hope Is Lost

ACT IV – Result Of The Action: The Martyr
Sequence #10 ( 91-95 ) Final Push Toward The Main Plot
Sequence #11 ( 96-100) False Resolution (The Twist)
Sequence #12 (101-105) Final Test of Character and True Resolution
Sequence #13 (106-110) Final Confrontation
Sequence #14 (111-115) Climax

That’s it. Comments?

Keep Writing.