That sounds very Zen of me, doesn't it? Weird.
Many of you know I have been working on a novel since last February, entitled The Destruction of an Honor Student. I love this book, I've loved writing it and I'm very positive about its future. Using tips from Kelly L. Stone's Time to Write, I set out a master goal to have the book written by September 1, rewritten by October 15 and finished by December 1. I met the first two deadlines with ferocity. I haven't edited my book since October.
What happened?
In a word: school. I'm taking four AP classes, two instruments with a performing ensemble and honors orchestra, applying to seven colleges (which takes MUCH longer than you'd think), going to see Twilight, participating in a thousand different clubs... I'm not complaining, and as hectic as life is, I love what I'm doing. But when I'm writing and re-writing essays every night, I don't have time to be working on a book.
At least in November I didn't.
So, I changed my schedule from Gabrielle-whining to Gabrielle-being-deliberate. I chose to take November off from novel-writing (and freelancing, but that's another story.) When I go back to my book on December 1 (and finish by midnight on New Years'), I will look at it with googly eyes and a fair amount of disgust. December will see the end of college applications and my life-in-bondage to College Board.* December will see Destruction finished.
Recycle the calendar that you have been given. Life will never stoop to accomodate writing, and sometimes writing can't happen because other things are more important. Just don't forget you're a writer. Look at the world with a writer's eyes. Journal every night. Check out books from your school library and read them in between classes. Then, when you go back to work with a sigh and a skip and a little tear, you will be a better writer for it.
*After December 6th, I will no longer be taking College Board tests. I have promised to burn my big blue book. If I can find a safe place to do so, I will burn the $%@! thing and take pictures to prove it.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
That Sarah Dessen Mood
I have resisted Sarah Dessen for about three years. My friend Rachel once said that authors who write a lot of the same kind of books are not very good, and said this while looking at Sarah Dessen's newest release. I agreed with her.
Yet one weekend this fall, I was exhausted and frustrated and low. This happens when my normal schedule (creature of habit, what can I say?) is thwonked and I have too much or too little going on. I needed a book that wouldn't require too much higher thought, that was well-written enough not to annoy me and that would convince me that true love and fulfillment are possible. I picked up Keeping the Moon, since I mistakenly thought this was her best one (it's not.)
I liked it.
I'm in the middle of This Lullaby right now (which I adore.) That's the thing about her books, I'm predicting: they're adorable. They won't rock your worldview or make you cry too hard or persuade you to join the Peace Corps, but they rock you to sleep when you're tired and change your mood from I am Cranky and Disillusioned to Maybe The World Can Be Beautiful.
To a Sarah Dessen mood.
Yet one weekend this fall, I was exhausted and frustrated and low. This happens when my normal schedule (creature of habit, what can I say?) is thwonked and I have too much or too little going on. I needed a book that wouldn't require too much higher thought, that was well-written enough not to annoy me and that would convince me that true love and fulfillment are possible. I picked up Keeping the Moon, since I mistakenly thought this was her best one (it's not.)
I liked it.
I'm in the middle of This Lullaby right now (which I adore.) That's the thing about her books, I'm predicting: they're adorable. They won't rock your worldview or make you cry too hard or persuade you to join the Peace Corps, but they rock you to sleep when you're tired and change your mood from I am Cranky and Disillusioned to Maybe The World Can Be Beautiful.
To a Sarah Dessen mood.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Quick Thoughts on College Essay Editing
- At this point, I'm thrilled if my parents tell me that a part of it is "good."
- At this point, I'm not emotionally attached to my essays (which is really good.)
- I've edited several of my friends' essays and learn more about my own writing in the process.
- Always use active verbs.
- Always put the focus on YOU and not the college/hero/school/toy in question.
- Don't be trite.
- Write like you talk to grown-ups and you'll be fine.
- It's a little unnerving to write an essay that may be worth more than $50,000 for merit scholarships.
- If I edited my freelance stuff as intensely as these college essays, I'd be the Writer of the Year. They don't even have that award but I'd win it.
- You learn a lot.
- At this point, I'm not emotionally attached to my essays (which is really good.)
- I've edited several of my friends' essays and learn more about my own writing in the process.
- Always use active verbs.
- Always put the focus on YOU and not the college/hero/school/toy in question.
- Don't be trite.
- Write like you talk to grown-ups and you'll be fine.
- It's a little unnerving to write an essay that may be worth more than $50,000 for merit scholarships.
- If I edited my freelance stuff as intensely as these college essays, I'd be the Writer of the Year. They don't even have that award but I'd win it.
- You learn a lot.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Peace and E. Lockhart
It's strange.
After figuring out the college deadline I (almost) missed, after handing in a trillion assignments, after preparing for an all-day field trip and then Thanksgiving, after writing multiple college essays and re-writing and re-writing (about which I'll write more later), after surviving cold temperatures, after worrying and worrying and worrying and fixing a Physics lab, I'm feeling like there's not a heck of a lot to worry about right now.
Strange.
Oh. And the fact that the title of E. Lockhart's third Ruby novel is The Treasure Map of Boys. She is writing. The third. Ruby Oliver. Novel. By the time I read it, I'll almost be at college.
Wow.
After figuring out the college deadline I (almost) missed, after handing in a trillion assignments, after preparing for an all-day field trip and then Thanksgiving, after writing multiple college essays and re-writing and re-writing (about which I'll write more later), after surviving cold temperatures, after worrying and worrying and worrying and fixing a Physics lab, I'm feeling like there's not a heck of a lot to worry about right now.
Strange.
Oh. And the fact that the title of E. Lockhart's third Ruby novel is The Treasure Map of Boys. She is writing. The third. Ruby Oliver. Novel. By the time I read it, I'll almost be at college.
Wow.
______ of the Week
Gabriellism of the Week
For writers in the college application process
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Applying to college is like cheating on your boyfriend. You spend 500 words telling College X that they're the love of your life and press "submit." Then you write another 500 words naughtily describing to a second college how good it's going to be when you get together, while tearfully explaining to number three that their existence prevented you from committing suicide. Like all cheating, it's stressful.
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- Gabrielle Linnell
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Bookshelf: Hello to Jay Asher!!
13 Reasons Why was one of those books everyone kept recommending and I never could find the time to read. I finally did this summer, and was blown away. If I had done a 2007 Best Books of the Year list, Jay Asher's debut would be on it. This book is so appealing to both super-readers and non-readers and so accurate about teen life and struggle with depression. I could go on for hours and hours, but instead I am so happy to present Mr. Jay Asher.
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INN: Why did you start writing?
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JA: I've enjoyed writing ever since I learned how to write. I was never great at drawing or music, so writing was the one creative outlet where I felt somewhat confident. After I took a college class on the history of children's literature, I finally discovered the type of writing I wanted to pursue. But I was only writing on humorous books for younger children until I began working on Thirteen Reasons Why.
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INN: Thirteen Reasons Why combines the tapes of Hannah's narration with Clay's "real time" thoughts and actions. When you wrote, what was it like combining the two?
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JA: It was fairly easy once I got going. At first, I tried writing their stories exactly as they are now, with Hannah saying something and then Clay reacting. But it became difficult to keep their voices distinct. So I spent about a year-and-a-half writing Hannah's story all the way through. And then I went back and added Clay's story. By the time I began writing from Clay's perspective, I'd forgotten many of the things that happened to Hannah, which actually helped me capture some of Clay's tension while he listened to the tapes...because I felt tense, too!
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INN: Which character resembles you the most? The least?
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JA: Clay resembles me the most, especially when I was in high school. He's a good guy overall, but sometimes he has trouble standing up for what's right. And I hope I'm the least like Bryce. From what we know about him in the story, he completely lacks any concern for others.
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INN: Your book has received universally outstanding reviews, by everyone from aged librarians to teens to critics. What has it been like to receive such recognition?
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JA: When they praise the writing itself, I feel very satisfied because I worked hard at that. But when someone tells me the stories of Clay and Hannah meant so much to them and made them a better person, I definitely glow inside, but I also get a little shy. This was a very personal story for me, and when someone really understands and appreciates what I was trying to say, there's an odd sense of being emotionally exposed.
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INN: What's up next in your writing career?
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JA: I'm working on my next book for teens, which you'll hopefully also enjoy. And then I'll write another one. And another. But someday I'd love to see those humorous books for younger children I've written sitting on bookshelves rather than just in my computer.
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INN: Any advice for teen writers?
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JA: The best thing anyone can do to improve their writing is join a critique group. It's one thing to write for yourself, but it's something else to write with the goal of having other people read your words. And the only way to make sure your words reflect exactly what you meant to say is to have someone else give you an honest critique.
-I've been in groups where about ten writers met every-other-week to discuss what each other was working on, and I'm now in a group with only two other writers. As long as your group is honest and tells you your strengths and weaknesses...and as long as you're willing to honestly consider their suggestions...your writing will improve dramatically.
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
One of Them
I finished the essay about 1 hour and 20 minutes after starting, with several interruptions, so I think that's pretty good. I'll let you know how I do. Meanwhile, anyone up for a fabulous Chicken Soup: Teens Talk Relationships? Look on the sidebar. And, um, yeah. The most amazing debut author of 2007 is coming. To this. Blog. On. Saturday.
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I'm a little psyched, and not just because I wrote 720 words in about an hour.
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I'm a little psyched, and not just because I wrote 720 words in about an hour.
One of Those
To write a 700-word essay in 1 hour (not entirely from scratch, mind you, but the original copy was left at school with several original thoughts) it is best to follow to schedule below.
0-15mins: Write 250 words
15-30mins: Write 250 words
30-45mins: Write 250 words
45-58mins: Edit
58-60mins: Polish format and submit
Let's see if I can do it. Will report in approximately 1.1 hours.
0-15mins: Write 250 words
15-30mins: Write 250 words
30-45mins: Write 250 words
45-58mins: Edit
58-60mins: Polish format and submit
Let's see if I can do it. Will report in approximately 1.1 hours.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Save Yourself Freelance Worries
I recently submitted an article and after I sent it, realized I had failed to check whether a magazine was still in print. Checked it out and, sure enough, they had gone out of print several months ago. This was a classic example of a blonde moment (err- a dumb moment, anyway) that does no good for anybody. I've done this a few times throughout my 3+ years of freelancing and it's always embarrassing, though editors are very kind about it.
How can you save yourself from this?
Check and cite even the most well-known facts. Check to make sure pi is 3.14. That the world is round. That Columbus sailed it in 1492. That the ocean is blue. Worst case scenario, you lose fifteen minutes to confirming your own knowledge. Best case, you save yourself a lot of time and trouble.
Do the whole read-aloud thing. I'm much more of a fan of reading aloud short pieces because I don't get laryngitis as a result. Reading aloud can help you catch silly errors that otherwise your tired eyes glaze over.
Make a checklist of submission guidelines. Sometimes bloopers come in the form of forgetting to include your address, or formatting, or something that's a forgettable quick-fix. When you find magazine guidelines, make a brief Word checklist of how to submit the article so you don't get rejected on a stupid little thing like email attachments.
Any other tips for preventing silly preventable mistakes? Dying your hair brown might work, but then again, I've had auburn hair for my whole life.
How can you save yourself from this?
Check and cite even the most well-known facts. Check to make sure pi is 3.14. That the world is round. That Columbus sailed it in 1492. That the ocean is blue. Worst case scenario, you lose fifteen minutes to confirming your own knowledge. Best case, you save yourself a lot of time and trouble.
Do the whole read-aloud thing. I'm much more of a fan of reading aloud short pieces because I don't get laryngitis as a result. Reading aloud can help you catch silly errors that otherwise your tired eyes glaze over.
Make a checklist of submission guidelines. Sometimes bloopers come in the form of forgetting to include your address, or formatting, or something that's a forgettable quick-fix. When you find magazine guidelines, make a brief Word checklist of how to submit the article so you don't get rejected on a stupid little thing like email attachments.
Any other tips for preventing silly preventable mistakes? Dying your hair brown might work, but then again, I've had auburn hair for my whole life.
______ of the Week
Lyrics of the Week
Relient K: In Love with the 80s
...When you're the president of the breakfast club
And you're not hesitant to fall in love
To fall in love with the eighties, to fall away
To fall in love with the eighties.
I am going to wear a pink tux to the prom
Live without a care, what can possibly go wrong
I am going to wear a pink tux to the prom
Live without a care cause you threw it away to fall in love,
with the eighties
Sunday, November 16, 2008
WORD: Impetus
This is brief because I've got an impetus of my own and need to master it.
Impetus:
1. a force that moves something along [syn: drift]
2. the act of applying force suddenly; "the impulse knocked him over"
- www.dictionary.com
Impetus is what propels you, when you get that feeling that blows you away, when the plot problem finally makes sense and makes great art, the song that brings dance back, the ambition bright in the early morning when the world is possible.
Don't wait for the impetus to write, because you won't write much. But when you get it-- some way, some how-- take it and run.
Impetus:
1. a force that moves something along [syn: drift]
2. the act of applying force suddenly; "the impulse knocked him over"
- www.dictionary.com
Impetus is what propels you, when you get that feeling that blows you away, when the plot problem finally makes sense and makes great art, the song that brings dance back, the ambition bright in the early morning when the world is possible.
Don't wait for the impetus to write, because you won't write much. But when you get it-- some way, some how-- take it and run.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Bookshelf: This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous
by Nina Beck
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I picked this one up because I'm interested in books about weight, especially non-diet books about such topics. Riley sounded awesome and she was: this snarky, mean size 14/16 who gets around and doesn't let anybody tell her what to do. The last line doesn't work with Dad, though, so she gets shipped off to fat camp... though not before making out with her BFF's crush and lying to the other BFF about where she's going.
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The book was fun and there were some awesome one-liners. I appreciated how Beck pointed out the obvious problems in any Riley-D romance and Eric can pretty much take me to prom right now. Howevah, darlings, I was disappointed by the ending. Why, you ask? Wasn't it a super happy ending?
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Exactly. I'm becoming a miser, ever since Breaking Dawn unleashed its venom on the world. I hate perfectly happy endings and This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous had a perfectly happy ending. I wish Riley had had some serious consequences, or choices or decisions to make. The ending also felt badly plotted, and for me-who-hates-plot-in-all-its-forms to say this, it was badly plotted.
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Overall, characterization brilliant but I wish the characters had made difficult decisions, and that the ending was a tad more bittersweet than ultra milk chocolate. I want to see Riley play a butt-kicking plus-size Ophelia.
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I picked this one up because I'm interested in books about weight, especially non-diet books about such topics. Riley sounded awesome and she was: this snarky, mean size 14/16 who gets around and doesn't let anybody tell her what to do. The last line doesn't work with Dad, though, so she gets shipped off to fat camp... though not before making out with her BFF's crush and lying to the other BFF about where she's going.
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The book was fun and there were some awesome one-liners. I appreciated how Beck pointed out the obvious problems in any Riley-D romance and Eric can pretty much take me to prom right now. Howevah, darlings, I was disappointed by the ending. Why, you ask? Wasn't it a super happy ending?
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Exactly. I'm becoming a miser, ever since Breaking Dawn unleashed its venom on the world. I hate perfectly happy endings and This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous had a perfectly happy ending. I wish Riley had had some serious consequences, or choices or decisions to make. The ending also felt badly plotted, and for me-who-hates-plot-in-all-its-forms to say this, it was badly plotted.
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Overall, characterization brilliant but I wish the characters had made difficult decisions, and that the ending was a tad more bittersweet than ultra milk chocolate. I want to see Riley play a butt-kicking plus-size Ophelia.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Some Notes on Selling Books
I want to sell books in a bookstore. Not somebody else's; mine. I want to have the throngs of bubbling fans, gasping with love for their idol, swooning over the magnificence of literary prose and the author's extreme good looks and oh-how-much-they-think-she-rocks and maybe nominate her for the Entertainer of the Year award just like Stephenie Meyer...
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I'm not completely clueless, but I will sell my books one day. I met one author selling her books at B&N this week who got me thinking about the Dos and Don'ts of hand-selling in person. I'm a millenial, perpetually frightened of human-human interaction and much more comfortable on the Internet, so authors and will-be authors, pay attention.
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Big shiny things help. Author X had two great blow-up billboard things of her covers that were professional and bling-like. It drew attention to her books and reinforced that she was a Published Author.
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Push back a little. This author talked us the moment we walked in from the cold outside because she was right there. I didn't know what she was talking about till I put two and two together. Authors, please put yourself in the Correct Section or at least a little more into the store. In-your-face, not digging it.
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Be hip, cool, attractive. The "young" thing is hard to pull off when you're 65. But if you're selling to teens, I'll be honest: it helps to be a twenty or thirtysomething. I have serious ageism problems when it comes to trusting a fifty-six-year-old in a knitted vest with $8.99 about a rocker/model/Judy Blume deal.
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If you are an older author marketing to teen readers, dress well and age-appropriate, and bring along a team of drama kids. I'm not kidding. Find a group of drama nerds, pay them $20 to stand with you for two hours and do skits, hand out fliers, prank the bookstore people and act like monkeys because then I will believe you know something about teen life.
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Don't love your book. I know your book is the next Big Thing, but book-love comes off as excessive narcissism. Be friendly, ask about me and my interests, tease me about my ugly sweater, flirt with me if it's legal, find appropriate jokes or inappropriate ones that you can pan off as "so dumb," be interesting. If you are, then your book will be.
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I'm resisting the temptation that Facebook is, calling my name, promising me that it's so easy to sign up and that it's a social utility that connects you to the people around you... must not click, must not click, must not click or those Ivy League applications might as well be kerfluffel. And the fact that I'm on page 167 of Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel and the whole internet social thing isn't looking good. Nor is Marc, though I can't figure out whether I like him or not. (WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?)
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I'm not completely clueless, but I will sell my books one day. I met one author selling her books at B&N this week who got me thinking about the Dos and Don'ts of hand-selling in person. I'm a millenial, perpetually frightened of human-human interaction and much more comfortable on the Internet, so authors and will-be authors, pay attention.
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Big shiny things help. Author X had two great blow-up billboard things of her covers that were professional and bling-like. It drew attention to her books and reinforced that she was a Published Author.
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Push back a little. This author talked us the moment we walked in from the cold outside because she was right there. I didn't know what she was talking about till I put two and two together. Authors, please put yourself in the Correct Section or at least a little more into the store. In-your-face, not digging it.
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Be hip, cool, attractive. The "young" thing is hard to pull off when you're 65. But if you're selling to teens, I'll be honest: it helps to be a twenty or thirtysomething. I have serious ageism problems when it comes to trusting a fifty-six-year-old in a knitted vest with $8.99 about a rocker/model/Judy Blume deal.
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If you are an older author marketing to teen readers, dress well and age-appropriate, and bring along a team of drama kids. I'm not kidding. Find a group of drama nerds, pay them $20 to stand with you for two hours and do skits, hand out fliers, prank the bookstore people and act like monkeys because then I will believe you know something about teen life.
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Don't love your book. I know your book is the next Big Thing, but book-love comes off as excessive narcissism. Be friendly, ask about me and my interests, tease me about my ugly sweater, flirt with me if it's legal, find appropriate jokes or inappropriate ones that you can pan off as "so dumb," be interesting. If you are, then your book will be.
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I'm resisting the temptation that Facebook is, calling my name, promising me that it's so easy to sign up and that it's a social utility that connects you to the people around you... must not click, must not click, must not click or those Ivy League applications might as well be kerfluffel. And the fact that I'm on page 167 of Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel and the whole internet social thing isn't looking good. Nor is Marc, though I can't figure out whether I like him or not. (WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Teens Talk Relationships, Gabrielle Talks Reviews
Sibling #2 is screaming, "Thief! Thief! Sock thief!" at Sibling #3 who is conveniently deaf (and didn't know about the socks' origins.) Relationships are funny things, and all the funny, sad and romantic parts of our human-human connections are explored in Chicken Soup's compilation, Teens Talk Relationships.
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I haven't read as many Chicken Soup books as I'd like, but I love this one. If anything, the franchise is incredible because it lives up to its name: the stories are comforting, often sweet, sometimes sad. I love the story of Michelle and the rose, the stories of first love and almost love and love lost. I'm not a huge fan of the poetry bits and some of the stories are not well-written. Overall, I'm impressed with the honesty of people sharing their stories, with the challenge to risk everything to gain a good relationship, with Chicken Soup for delivering another winner.
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Look at the thingie on the right sidebar to win a copy of Chicken Soup.
Monday, November 10, 2008
______ of the Week
Welcome the weekly feature, _____ of the Week, where Gabrielle spotlights a random WriTeenlike thing of the week. If you want to nominate a book/blog/barette for ____ of the Week, leave a comment.
Disney Product of the Week:
The Little Mermaid Broadway Pen
For writing your way out of the sea
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Bookshelf: Hello to Blake Snyder!
In his 20-year career as a screenwriter and producer, Blake Snyder has sold dozens of scripts, including co-writing Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg -- both million-dollar sales. Named "one of Hollywood's most successful spec screenwriters," Blake continues to write and sell screenplays, most recently a 2006 sale of a horror-comedy. His book, Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need was published in May 2005, and is now in its thirteenth printing, having sold over 50,000 copies. Blake has a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and lives in Beverly Hills, California. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, west. INN: When you were a teen, did you know you wanted to be a screenwriter?
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BS: Yes! My father was a TV producer. I was in "the business" from a very early age. He put me to work doing voices for his cartoon series like "Roger Ramjet" and "The Big Blue Marble." When I visited my Dad at his office, he always parked me in the "writers room." I got to hang out with the guys who wrote Roger Ramjet -- Jim Thurman and Gene Moss -- and I thought they had the greatest job ever! So when it came time to sit down and write anything, "Fade In" was the first thing I ever wrote.
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My first script was a comedy and I wrote it when I was 17 or I should say, I almost wrote it. I did not finish that script! I didn't finish it primarily because I did not know anything about how to structure a story. At the time it was very frustrating! I wanted to write a screenplay, I had read a few screenplays so I knew the secret meaning of what "INT." and "EXT." mean (these stand for INTERIOR and EXTERIOR the indiciation of whether a scene being shot is outdoors or indoors).
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I had a lot of wonderful ideas and pictures and characters in my head, but I could not finish that script because I did not know what was expected of me. It's one of the reasons I wrote Save the Cat! Now as a successful screenwriter for many years, with million dollar sales to the likes of Steven Spielberg, and getting to write fun movies like Blank Check for Disney, I want everyone with a "great idea" to not have that frustrating experience of "running out of gas" and only being able to write "half a script."
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INN: Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies, your second book to Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need is a guide for all writers to the basic nature of stories. Why do you think that, as people, we still like to hear the same stories over and over again?
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BS: Well, I agree we like to hear the same story.... only different! Here's an example of a type of movie I talk about in that book called "Monster in the House" that we've all seen a million versions of, but it goes back to a very primal, very old story type we've been telling for centuries. I can tell you the Greek myth of the Minotaur and the Maze. It's scary! There's this really cool monster -- a half man/half bull! And there's this really scary place our hero is sent to do battle with this monster -- a maze. I can see it in my mind, it's dark and spooky in there, with lots of twists and turns, maybe a few survivors trapped in its dark corners, waiting for our hero to come free them and kill the monster. Great story.
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Now flash forward to the movie “Alien.” You have the same elements: a very scary monster -- a space creature that keeps morphing into a bigger and scarier creature; you have the twists and turns of the spaceship The Nostromo where the "monster" is running amok killing all on board. And you have a new kind of hero for our age -- a woman -- Sigourney Weaver. We love this story! And the lesson, the moral of the story is the same as the Minotaur in the Maze: don't... get... EATEN! And yet “Alien” resonates with us and this era -- relatively speaking -- because to us it's a slightly different version.
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Now flash forward a little more. The movie “Saw.” Same set up. Same lesson. You may think it's brand new -- but it's not. It's just the same story told for a new age. The trick for writers is to learn why certain stories, and certain elements in them, will always attract us, and learn how to tweak any story to make it relevant to a new generation. To me, this is the coolest aspect of being a writer, learning a craft that has a long and honorable tradition.
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INN: You've been involved with a project in the LA school system, helping seniors write an industry-standard screenplay as their final paper. Why did you get involved, and what was that experience like? ( http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-draft12-2008may12,0,3848254.story )
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INN: You've been involved with a project in the LA school system, helping seniors write an industry-standard screenplay as their final paper. Why did you get involved, and what was that experience like? ( http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-draft12-2008may12,0,3848254.story )
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BS: I love writers. I love working with writers to help them formulate their ideas into stories that resonate. I love making it as simple as possible to jump in and play with these very powerful storytelling tools. Save the Cat! is the book that does this and has broken open the seemingly impossible to break into movie industry. This book fell into the hands of Peter Cook, a veteran high school teaacher who thought he could use it to teach screenwriting to his senior class. Peter contacted me, and I was thrilled to particpate along with our software partners Final Draft (the only screenwriting formatting software to use in my opinion). Well, would you believe it -- every one of the students in that class wrote a full, perfectly structured screenplay.
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But we had even greater success there! One of those projects, a zombie movie called “Dead Halls,” was actually optioned by a major Hollywood producer. I am now working with Peter and with Final Draft to bring out a version of Save the Cat! specifically designed for a high school curriculum and I couldn't be more exicted. Again, my goal is to help everyone who want to write, do so.
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INN: Apart from being all dialogue, what makes screenwriting different from other writing genres?
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BS: I don't know if it is. Story is story. That's my favorite motto. In my book, I have something called the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (named after someone we all know and love!) It has 15 key plot points that occur in EVERY story. No, it's not a "formula" and no, it's not a strait jacket to make you feel confined into having to tell a story with certain beats happening at certain times, but it IS a guide, a map, a loose organization to help anyone who wants to tell a story. You will find these 15 beats in a 30 second commmercial on TV, you will find them in a novel, a musical, even in a speech by a politician.
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Why? For the same reason we like to hear similar stories over and over again -- because it works. The only real difference I see in screenwriting is that the finished product -- an actual script -- is not a finished product. Unlike a a book that is in itself complete, a screenplay is only a blueprint for further action. Someone must take it, invest in the possibility that it will be a successful final product, and use it to do something else -- use it for the basis of a film.
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This is why it's so important for screenwriters to ask key questions that other writers don't have to ask, namely, who is this for? Will anyone else be interested in seeing this besides me? And is this easy to understand and attractive on its face? Can I get you interested in my script just based on its concept? All these considerations are talked about in my books, and I think it's what makes Save the Cat! readers the smartest and best prepared writers out there -- no matter what type of story they are telling!
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INN: What's the coolest thing about writing in Hollywood?
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BS: I had an office in Santa Barbara, (California) across the street from a movie theater. I wrote a script. Sold it. And a year or so later it was playing across the street from me. I kept thinking to myself: "I write it here, it comes out there!" (a paraphrase of Albert Brooks’ line in the movie, “Broadcast News”) but that was maybe the coolest thing about being a Hollywood writer. When your work actually shows up on screen for others to enjoy, it's an extremely rewarding feeling.
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INN: Any advice for teen writers?
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BS: Try every kind of writing there is. In my career I have been the editor of my high school and college newspapers, been a rock critic, a movie critic, written ads for a real estate magazine, been the poetry editor of my college literary journal and also worked in theater, radio and TV as an actor, editor and producer. Every experience in communication is valuable, and there really is no such thing as a small job, or a small part, they are all helping form your skills and your experience. Do it all! And mostly, have FUN doing it!
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Thank you so much, Blake! Visit Blake's website at http://www.blakesnyder.com/ and buy Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies here http://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Goes-Movies-Screenwriters/dp/1932907351.
WORD: Read to a Friend
I am not the biggest fan of reading work aloud. I hate reading out loud, I don't have time to do it and have said so. But a late-night experience proved disastrous for my ego and fabulous for my novel, and I should eat my humble pie before it gets cold.
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My best friend was over and we were eating candy at 2 or 3 in the morning when I had the brilliant idea to read sections of my novel out to her. She was somewhat familiar with the story and I filled in whatever plot points we missed. And learned a few things.
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1. Stark writing, anyone? I'm a huge fan of both stark, to-the-point writing and writing a la E. Lockhart and John Green, full of witty repartee. Reading my novel out loud, I realized it failed to do either. There were so many distracting comments that served to make me feel smarter and the reader more confused.
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2. Funny bits are strange. She laughed at the parts I didn't think were especially funny. As in: my grand opinion of my own humor was way off. One of Jessica's authors recently posted about humor and voice (www.bookendslitagency.blogspot.com) and I recommend reading it.
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3. Don't think so much of yourself. I realized how much of my novel was pretentious, more like a girl writing for The New York Times rather than a girl writing a good book. Don't write for critics. Write for yourself, and then your friends, who don't put up with any bull and deserve a story as straightforward as a phone call.
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I have a lot of revising to do before my December 1st deadline, and I'm submitting three college applications today (eek!). But reading my novel aloud to a live human being helps a lot. If I read to myself, I'm not thinking as deeply as I should about what's wrong. So find a friend and subject them to some novel reading and promise to acknowledge them in the back of your book. I will.
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My best friend was over and we were eating candy at 2 or 3 in the morning when I had the brilliant idea to read sections of my novel out to her. She was somewhat familiar with the story and I filled in whatever plot points we missed. And learned a few things.
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1. Stark writing, anyone? I'm a huge fan of both stark, to-the-point writing and writing a la E. Lockhart and John Green, full of witty repartee. Reading my novel out loud, I realized it failed to do either. There were so many distracting comments that served to make me feel smarter and the reader more confused.
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2. Funny bits are strange. She laughed at the parts I didn't think were especially funny. As in: my grand opinion of my own humor was way off. One of Jessica's authors recently posted about humor and voice (www.bookendslitagency.blogspot.com) and I recommend reading it.
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3. Don't think so much of yourself. I realized how much of my novel was pretentious, more like a girl writing for The New York Times rather than a girl writing a good book. Don't write for critics. Write for yourself, and then your friends, who don't put up with any bull and deserve a story as straightforward as a phone call.
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I have a lot of revising to do before my December 1st deadline, and I'm submitting three college applications today (eek!). But reading my novel aloud to a live human being helps a lot. If I read to myself, I'm not thinking as deeply as I should about what's wrong. So find a friend and subject them to some novel reading and promise to acknowledge them in the back of your book. I will.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Write Your Butts Off
I never blog about politics. Ever. I feel I don't know enough to make an intelligent contribution, and too much of political discussion is people getting mad without making points. I'm making an exception.
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I can't pretend that I've always been on the Obama bandwagon. I've had my doubts about economic and foreign policy, about experience, and about the validity of my own views. But I was excited by his acceptance speech; I'm excited about the potential new direction of the country. And, in an opportunistic way, thrilled because if you're not writing about being a teenager in this kind of history, you're stupid. I'll get to it this weekend.
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Write for your newspapers, for big magazines, little magazines, for anyone and everyone. Your thoughts right now matter so much- share them.
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I can't pretend that I've always been on the Obama bandwagon. I've had my doubts about economic and foreign policy, about experience, and about the validity of my own views. But I was excited by his acceptance speech; I'm excited about the potential new direction of the country. And, in an opportunistic way, thrilled because if you're not writing about being a teenager in this kind of history, you're stupid. I'll get to it this weekend.
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Write for your newspapers, for big magazines, little magazines, for anyone and everyone. Your thoughts right now matter so much- share them.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Giveaway! Giveaway! Give-a-What?!
Thanks to all who have become followers of the blog; the less I blog, the more people read me... is this a sign?
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A publicist for Chicken Soup has generously donated a copy of Chicken Soup: Teens Talk Relationships for an Innovative giveaway. I picked this one because a) I'm a huge romantic and b) relationships interest me more than any other category or topic. I'll be reviewing the book in a few days, but we can start the giveaway process right here.
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RULES (Very Simple)
1. Comment on this post with a 2-3 sentence anecdote about a relationship you have. Whether with S.O. or parent or puppy, I do not care. Do you have a relationship? Then you can comment!
2. All comments are counted equally toward an out-of-the-hat drawing on December 1.
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Extra Points! (Very Simple)
Extra credit has saved my butt so many times, I'll lend you some.
1. If you commented on Susan Johnston's "Comment for a Cure," you get 3 chances to win.
2. If you become a follower of this blog or have been a follower of this blog, you get 3 chances to win.
3. If you did both, you get 4 chances to win. Don't yell at me, I'm bad at math.
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You have till December 1 to win a brand spanking new copy of this anticipated anthology that promises to be the perfect book for when you feel like escaping your own relationships and learning about someone else's.
Monday, November 3, 2008
I'm BACK!
I have survived the first marking period of my senior year and the Week of Horrors ended, leaving me with straight As and an 80 in Physics (sigh.) This means, apart from a few odds and ends, an election project, the actual election, college applications and orchestra and CD deadlines, I have loads of free time. At least enough for Innovative.
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Thanks for putting up with the dearth of posts. It's my time for penance to the WriTeen community, so what do I have planned?
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Of the Weeks: I'm starting a regular feature every Monday called Of the Week. This will be a word/post/book/toothbrush/random object of the week that will relate to WriTeenism.
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Blake Snyder This Saturday! Blake Snyder is a screenwriter and author of books about screenwriting, including Save the Cat! The Last Book On Screenwriting You'll Ever Need. He'll be chatting with us about his involvement with inner city schools in LA, how he got started as a screenwriter and his advice for y'all. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0811414/
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Writing Career Week I'd hope to have done this earlier, but I am beginning to put together a Career Week. This will be done in a similar format to Behind the Blog, but focusing on different careers available for teens interested in publishing. No date as yet. If you're a writing professional who's interested in being interviewed, send me an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com with "Career Week" in the subject line.
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We're back in Kansas, people.
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Thanks for putting up with the dearth of posts. It's my time for penance to the WriTeen community, so what do I have planned?
-
Of the Weeks: I'm starting a regular feature every Monday called Of the Week. This will be a word/post/book/toothbrush/random object of the week that will relate to WriTeenism.
-
Blake Snyder This Saturday! Blake Snyder is a screenwriter and author of books about screenwriting, including Save the Cat! The Last Book On Screenwriting You'll Ever Need. He'll be chatting with us about his involvement with inner city schools in LA, how he got started as a screenwriter and his advice for y'all. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0811414/
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Writing Career Week I'd hope to have done this earlier, but I am beginning to put together a Career Week. This will be done in a similar format to Behind the Blog, but focusing on different careers available for teens interested in publishing. No date as yet. If you're a writing professional who's interested in being interviewed, send me an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com with "Career Week" in the subject line.
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We're back in Kansas, people.
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