Advice — expert series

When The Writers Store asked me to write a "missing chapter" for my book, I immediately knew what I wanted to cover! You see, in Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know, I focus on the minute-by-minute beats that all successful movies utilize. The examples we couldn't fit into the book, however, was how the minute-by-minute beats work equally as well for successful TV shows, too! It’s a universal story rhythm that unites all great stories, whether they’re on the big screen or small.  To prove my point, I busted out my faithful stopwatch and...

The 15 beats to the Disney Pixar hit are provided by Master Cat! Ben Frahm. Printed with the Permission of Blake Snyder Enterprises, LLC.Opening Image (1) We’re reintroduced to all of our favorite characters, Woody, Buzz, and friends, in an action-packed, train-robbery, chase sequence. We’re dropped into this world quickly… and it’s not until after we have some fun and adventure… that we quickly PULL BACK and: Realize… we’re remembering a PLAY EPISODE that Andy had years ago. REVEAL: We’re watching a VCR recording of Andy as a young child… when he loved nothing more than to play with his favorite...

Aspiring comedy writers spend years grinding away as P.A.s, pounding out spec script after spec script and dreaming of TV’s holy grail: a staff writing job. Then finally, they get the job! On staff of a prime time TV show. And something happens. They do the craziest, boneheaded things. One can only wonder… What are they thinking? Do they want to get fired? Is it too much pressure? Are they looking for a way out before anyone discovers they’re a fraud? Here’s 10 surefire ways to "Make a Big Impression in the Writers Room and Lose That Plum TV Writing...

You’ve been practicing your pitch for weeks: You’ve established a unique protagonist, given him a something he wants with a passion and even better, you’ve created a compelling antagonist. You’ve practiced making eye contact. You know this story backwards and forwards. You are ready to face anyone across the desk.As soon as you open your mouth one of the executives asks if you’re married to it being aliens. They tell you they’ve had twelve pitches this week about aliens. They want to do westerns. Have you got a western? Or she picks up her cell phone and makes an appointment...

Writing a first draft all the way through to the end gives you knowledge about the climax of the story. The climax is the point of highest drama in your story, the crowning moment when the thematic significance or deeper meaning becomes clear to the reader. Just as it looks as if all is permanently lost for the protagonist, at the climax she delivers the gift. The climax generally hits a chapter or scene before the final page.The climax determines many of the earlier decisions you need to make in your novel, memoir, and screenplay. The action the protagonist takes...