“The easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place someone is going to attempt something that in the event of failure will result in sudden death.”
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
Simple rules for better writing: Most important word at the end of the sentence. Most important sentence at the end of the paragraph. I could hear the whistle of the axe already. I could already hear the whistle of the axe. The power in a sentence comes at the end.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
You’ll be able to concentrate on her world, her problems, her diction, her speech patterns — all the way to the bottom of the scene. When you’re done, print it.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
And you write and write and write — only Character A’s dialogue. You don’t have to write the other person’s dialogue yet, so don’t worry about it. Just be a guy from Brooklyn, and let ‘er rip.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
“Take an object. Do something to it. Do something else
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
Did your character do ____________ that was unexpected? Did the new situation bring something out in your character that you didn’t intend? Cool!
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
Get into the scene as late as possible, get out as early as possible.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
Make sure the set up and pay off are far enough apart for it to really work.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
The best description of Act Two is “things get worse.” In a well-structured second act, YOUR second act, things get much, much worse, and faster and faster.
Илья Гущинhas quoted9 years ago
Dostoyevsky supposedly said there are only two stories in all of literature, “A man goes on a journey and a stranger comes to town.” The Inciting Incident is when the man starts his journey or the stranger comes to town.