Reddit reviews Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting
We found 28 Reddit comments about Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
> So I recently got the idea that I wanted to create a website and figured with little to no experience I would start a blog of sorts. I want to create it mainly because I want the experience and I plan to make more website in the future.
I have a few questions regarding the process and mainly looking for tips. I do not feel as if I am an amazing writer nor am I super creative, so I figured this would be a good way to help me improve in those areas. And also not being either of those should I toss the idea of a blog out? I came up with a website name and made a page but then it all stopped, every idea I had just went blank I was overwhelmed with what was in front of me.
So I guess my first question would be when creating a new website what do I do first? I made the page cleaned it up a bit but now its just plain and empty. I wrote a quick intro piece but now I find myself going to other blogs trying to see what to do.
When creating my website I also realized I have no pictures of anything and I was reading its not good to go to google for that. Which obviously I do not want to use some one else photos but I also feel like I need a starting point.
Again I am extremely new to this but it is something I would like to invest myself in. If anyone has any tips or references that would be great. Sorry if this isnt the right place to be.
First, I'd just start with Medium. It's a great first step so you stop worrying about the design and just start focusing on learning to write.
Even if your blog takes off years from now, you might still find yourself coming back to Medium. Look at Signal v. Noise. One of the first companies to take vlogging seriously in the early 2000s. http://signalvnoise.com/ (I write there) And we moved it all to Medium.
Images? If you need images in a post use Unsplash.com. License free. Gorgeous pics of almost everything.
Really don't overthink this. Just start writing something. It's not going to be very good at first I bet.
Just get yourself to commit to publishing something once a week. And it'll get better, I promise.
References? I'd just learn to tell good stories. Here's one of my favs:
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493417056&sr=8-1&keywords=story
Biggest lesson from the book is lead people from one "charge" of an important emotion to another. Show my sadness turning into happiness, depression to joy, broke to not-broke, frustrated trying to start a business to not ---- you get the point.
Show me the mountain and how you got over it. Or someone else. It doesn't have to be about you. Interview people. Tell their stories if you get stuck on you.
Getting interviews is pretty easy. Just email a bunch of folks that like to talk about themselves and promote themselves :)
There are ton of VIP type people who'd love to do an interview even on new sites with little traction.
Just send someone less than 5 questions and have them fill it out over email, and you can publish that. Or do a 15 minute phone call. Keep the time commitments light. (Someone just asked me to spend "a couple hours" with them on their podcast. I do not have a "couple hours" to do anything)
Just start. Stop thinking about this. :)
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder - usually criticized for taking a one mind ultimate approach to structure. He provides basically qa formula for screenwriting which people often say is the completely wrong way to go about it.
Story by Robert Mckee - a book that delves into a little bit of everything.
Syd Field - A well known author with a fairly large catalog.
The issue a lot of people have with these books is that they often preach a step by step or formulaic process for writing a screenplay. Something people argue kills the art/creativity of it and makes it boring. Personally, I don't they will hurt you much. I'd advise if you read anything don't take it as rules, just what works for someone else and might help you some along the way. Don't read Save the Cat and feel like you have to hit every mark on the exact page. Like you probably want to have an act 1 break into act 2 but don't force it to land exactly on p30. Look at everything you read as basic guidelines, the great thing about writing is there are NO rules.
As for formatting, don't worry about it. If you aren't yet, use screenwriting software. Use SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE. USE SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE. It does everything for you and there are a lot of great free alternatives(I really like Fade In right now). Seriously these days formatting should be at the bottom of what you are worrying about.
Since format is not cut-and-dry- you may read five scripts that handle the same thing five different ways- the best education is to just read a whole lot of screenplays.
However, you'll want to pay special attention to those featured on the annual Black List, as most of them originated as 'specs'; such scripts are often a writer's first introduction to the professional side of the business, earning them their first manager and/or agent.
Here is a link to 2014's Black List scripts; this document details their ranking and provides a logline of each so you know what you're getting into. I'd recommend you read ALL of them- yes, all 71- because they run the gambit from bizarre yet captivating concepts to simple yet well-executed stories. You'll likely encounter something from every genre and will get a taste for what "voice" is (re: Brian Duffield's THE BABYSITTER).
In terms of books, a couple of stand-bys are Robert McKee's Story and Blake Snyder's Save the Cat.
Sori na kasnom odgovoru. Za fotografiju je najbolje potražiiti sadržaj o kompoziciji i boji. Iskreno, radije bi ti preporučio knjige od Burne Hogartha, pogotovo Dynamic Light and Shade. Knjige iz likovnih umjetnosti će ti daleko više pomoći oko fotografije nego knjige o fotografiji.
Što se tiče režije, scenaristike i montaže - najbolje je to skupno gledati kao jedno širinu, ali i cjelinu. Da bi se bavio režijom moraš poznavati scenaristiku i scenarističke tehnike, a da bi se bavio montažom moraš razumjeti režiju koja podrazumijeva razumijevanje scenaristike - i tako u krug. Fora kod filma/TV-a je da svi "zanati" postoje negdje drugdje osim montaže. Gluma postoji izvan Filma i TV-a, fotografija također, scenaristika također... jedino je montaža jedinstven zanat svojstven filmu i tv-u. Gledaj na montažu kao na ključni dio u procesu proizvodnje za koji izrađuješ sav materijal. Stoga podijeli učenje na pet cjelina: Fotografija, Montaža, Storytelling, Režija, Gluma.
Fotografija
Montaža
Storytelling
Režija
Gluma
Ima tu još dosta sadržaja kojeg bi bilo dobro spomenuti (recimo Sanford Meisnerova nadogradnja Stanislavskove škole glume i sl. ), ali ovo je već više nego dovoljno za dobar, široki, uvod u temu. Sve navedene knjige (osim za fotografiju) se koriste kao štivo na Columbiji i na Chapmanu i ostalim top filmskim školama. Razlika između čitanja štiva i učestvovanja na nastavi je što imaju i radionice - koje su iznimno bitne kod glume zbog glumačkih vježbi i redateljskih uputa. Kod nas nažalost ne postoji neka radionica i/ili glumačka škola koja radi po punom i ispravnom sustavu Stanislavskog, a kamoli po Meisneru, tako da ćeš i za to morati van.
Typically it's best to start with an idea of what you want to do, after you finish building the world, but usually you will want to start with characters. The reason for this is that you don't want to have characters that just fill roles for your story. That's not to say that you can't do it the other way around, but from everything I've heard from experienced writers, and from my own experience, character first then the plot.
What I mean by an idea is, you should know what sort of story you want to tell. Since you have a futuristic world based around a Science Fiction setting, think about what sorts of stories you love in that genre. Do you like Star Wars? Maybe you could write a Space Opera. Do you like very accurate stories based in real science? Maybe you could write Hard Science Fiction. Figure out what sort of story you want to tell before you begin plotting and coming up with characters.
After you've done this you need a main character who has needs and desires, and the plot will be based around him not getting what he wants. This is one of the basics of plotting. You need an initial inciting incident to set up something that he wants, and you need him to not be able to get it without trials, tribulations, sacrifices, and the kitchen sink coming to life to eat him.
The resource I always send people to is Brandon Sanderson's Writing Excuses. He does a much better job of explaining this sort of thing than I can in a few paragraphs. Another good resource is Story by Robert McKee. This book is more focused on Screenwriting, but he delves into story, plotting, and things that every writer should know.
Hopefully this can get you started. Good Luck!
Some of the best I've used:
Story by Robert McKee -- As its title indicates, this book takes a look at story construction from a more theoretical perspective. McKee works mostly in the realm of screenplays but the ideas he puts forth are universally applicable and have already helped my writing immensely -- story itself was one of the big areas where I was struggling, and after reading through this book I'm able to much better conceptualize and plan out thoughtful stories.
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein -- if McKee's book is written from a theoretical perspective, Stein's takes a practical look at how to improve writing and editing skills. The mechanics of my writing have improved after reading this book; his examples are numerous and accessible. His tone may come off as a bit elitist but that doesn't mean he doesn't have things to teach us!
On Writing by Stephen King -- A perennial favorite and one I'm sure you've already received numerous suggestions for. Kind of a mix of McKee and Stein in terms of approach, and a great place to start when studying the craft itself.
Elements of Style by Strunk & White -- King swears by this book, and although I've bought it, the spine still looks brand new. I would recommend getting this in paperback format, though, as it's truly meant to be used as a reference.
Writing Excuses Podcast -- HIGHLY recommended place to start. Led by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells and Mary Robinette Kowal, this is one of the places I really started to dig into craft. They're at Season 13.5 now but new listeners can jump in on Season 10, where they focus on a specific writing process in each episode (everything from coming up with ideas to characterization and world building and more). Each episode is only 15(ish) minutes long. Listening to the whole series (or even the condensed version) is like going through a master class in genre fiction.
Brandon Sanderson 318R Playlist -- Professional recordings of Brandon Sanderson's BU writing class. Great stuff in here -- some crossover topics with Writing Excuses, but he is a wealth of information on genre fiction and great writing in general. Covers some of the business of writing too, but mostly focuses on craft.
Love this idea - hopefully I've sent a couple you haven't received yet!
There were many books before Save the Cat (which is an OK book for screenwriting and/or storytelling technique).
The earliest writings on story structure, though, go back right to Aristotle in Poetics.
Humans have been telling stories ever since speech had developed.
There are two kinds of storytelling books. Snyder's method is a perscriptive method. He gives you a formula and tells you that the only way to a good story is to fill those beats. Syd Field does this too in his extensive bibliography on the subject of screenwriting.
On the other hand, Robert McKee gives a more descriptive method in Story and explains the process of "writing" as opposed to "filling a beat sheet".
The best book on writing (that is, the one which gives out the greatest tips on actually taking your own ideas and putting them into a coherent story) is Stephen King's On Writing. It has nothing to do with movies, and everything to do with stories, which is exactly what great screenwriting should do.
Nevertheless all writing books give out tips, tricks and cheat sheets. Good writing comes from within the writer and, as many "gurus" insist, you cannot become a good writer, you have to be born one and get training.
Source: Screenwriter/Writer here.
I believe that it's Screenplay by Syd Field. I read it but it doesn't hold a candle to Robert McKee's Story or John Truby's The Anatomy of Story. Field's reliance on 3-act structure is problematic for me, while Truby's 22 steps are a lifesaver.
CYA: No, these are not affiliate links, and no I am not being paid to sell you stuff. I'm currently reading McKee's Story and currently it's my favorite book on storytelling in general.
I'm reading Robert McKee's "Story", and he pretty much says that people enjoy screenplays because they feel extreme. They allow people to feel and explore emotions they normally wouldn't be dealing with from the day-to-day. In a way, television and movies are caricatures of mundane reality. They serve a purpose, but modelling real life isn't one of them.
The book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
Note: Obviously this list is incomplete, if anyone has suggestions please add to this. Also this list is not specifically for kevleemur, but for anyone looking to learn about movie stuffs
Online material is nice, but there are many great and more reliable resources that come in these old fashioned book things.
General
Shot by Shot
MasterShots
The Visual Story
Directing
On Screen Directing
(may be hard to find)
On Directing Film by David Manet
Cinematography/ Lighting/ Camera/ On Set Learning
The ASC Manual (some earlier editions come in one volume which is nice)
Creative Control by Michael Hofstein
The Set Lighting Technicians Handbook
Painting With Light (John Alton's book. A little outdated but still a good read).
Reflections
The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel (very simple, a good start)
The Grip Book
The Camera Assistant's Manual
Cinematography: Theory and Practice
Producing
Creative Producing From A to Z by Myrl A Schreibman
Scheduling and Budgeting Your Film by Paula Landry
Editing
In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch (Sound designer and editor from Apocalypse Now----EXCELLENT)
Screenwriting
Story
Screenplay the Foundations of Screenwriting
ONLINE RESOURCES:
http://www.rondexter.com/
http://cinematography.net/
http://www.rogerdeakins.com/
http://www.arri.com/
http://www.mole.com/
http://www.panavision.com/home
http://www.filmtools.com/
Aside from familiarizing yourself with knowledge and technique the best you can without being involved on set, one of the best things you can do is read up and become as knowledgeable as you can with gear that you will eventually encounter, which is why I listed the last four links. Even if you do plan on going into producing or directing, it is always helpful to understand lighting and camera and why the people working with you need the things they do.
GO LEARN THINGS!
Michael Bay, is that you? huehuehue
As far as format goes, The Complete Screenwriter's Manual covers everything. I mean, you say you know format. Everyone says they know format. A fraction of those claimants actually have command of format, though. This book covers just about everything.
Read/watch anything you can find on storytelling in general; not just movies. Structure, theme, the writing process, whatever. You'll find that the authors, writers of tips and lists, etc., are repeating each other and drawing from the same sources.
Much/most of modern screenwriting is informed by the works of mythologist Joseph Campbell. George Lucas was a student of his, and Robert McKee (book here) relies heavily on Campbell, as well.
Truby's 22 Steps is much the same, but he goes back to Lord Raglan's Hero Scale--Lord Raglan was one of Campbell's predecessors/influences--and secularized/generalized it, since it had been focused mostly on divine/mythological figures like Jesus and Krishna. He basically just reworded it to have an Everyman bent.
Pick up A Brief History of the Movies, and watch the films as you go through it. That'll give you a primer on the development of the artform.
Do you have a buddy to tackle all this writing bidness? Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg had their first draft of Superbad done at your age. Kenny and Spenny wrote an episode of Ninja Turtles when they were, like, 11 or 12.
Oh, as for actually getting gear and filming stuff: if you're in a bigger city, there might be a film/TV co-op or a filmmaking camp for the teenagers...with the hippin n the hoppin n the bippin n the boppin...
I really think the best practical material on narrative was written for screenplays. There are many great books, such as The Screenwriters Bible, Story and The Foundations of Screenwriting. Just be careful not to become too indoctrinated: rules are good, but if you worry too much about them you might forget to write a story that is actually good.
Check this out
No it's not.
Just buy this. Good enough to get started then read scripts and write:
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
Robert McKee's Story is considered a good guide to screenwriting and can assist with the format and standardization. For advice on derivative work and finding agents, I'm not sure if Story itself dives into that, but would be a good starting point.
this one. It's for screenwriters, originally. But, 95% of the advice is not screen specific. This book is gold.
Screenwriter's Bible: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1879505843?pc_redir=1408078109&robot_redir=1
Story, McKee: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0042FZVOY?pc_redir=1408254965&robot_redir=1
Godspeed.
You should jump right into the "inciting incident" (the event that propels the protagonist(s) on their journey) as soon as you have properly setup the stakes. If the incident is something most people will get, a loved one killed themselves for example, it doesn't take much for the reader to understand that this would be hard. You can start there and develop the character more thoroughly afterwards. If instead it is something like the character got a new job, you will probably want to setup more context around why this is a particularly important event.
For more info, I recommend reading Robert McKee's book Story. It is focused on screenwriting but is generally applicable to all story creation.
STORY by Robert McKee is a great resource.
Buy a copy of Syd Field's Screenplay or Robert McKee's Story and learn the basics of story construction. While they're written assuming movie screenplays, the principles apply just as well to adventure games.
I'd recommend something different. There's a lot about DMing that relates to creative writing and screen writing.
With that in mind, try reading the classic book "Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee. Try browsing tvtropes.org, it's an absolutely phenomenal resource. Try the YouTube channels Every Frame A Painting, Now You See It, Channel Criswell, and Lessons from the Screenplay. They're all excellent.
This is the kind of stuff that bugs me. Campbell did a lot of research before he wrote The Hero's Journey. Robert McKee also did a lot of research before writing "STORY". There are so many people today who think they just read something and watch a dozen movies and "break the code" but they're just finding commonalities. Then I hear people say that McKee and Campbell are just "pointing out the obvious" because so many people have referenced them in their own half-assed attempts as sounding smart.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
I'm reading this one. It helps for any kind of story telling not just screenplays.
In your free time try reading Robert McKee's Story. Then try writing a screenplay or a short.
Regardless of how good or bad it is I guarantee you will not feel like you're wasting your days.
Plus the one thing that makes a writers work better is owning a cat.
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I don't find my list derivative and pedantic. But you're very well entitled to your thoughts.
If you haven't yet read Robert McKee's "Story", you probably should.
The way I go about it, is to set out some very basic general plot lines.
Problem = She can't enjoy/have great sex because (insert reason)
Solution = whom ever she meets provides her with the means to great sex (insert how)
Then I take that to another minimal step process.
What kinks am I using? What location? Add that to the two above.
From there I write even more - Girl a has this life problem that affects her sex life so she isn't satisfied with it, now she has a plan to improve her life or sex life by doing (insert) so she sets out to her plan, like much of life things rarely go according to plan so insert some changes or upsets - then those get fixed by character overcoming whatever obstacle and getting to the sex that will change the situation for her. - Now that is the basics for erotica in how I write it.
A great read if you looking for a book that can give you a lot of story development insight is Story by Robert Mckee He is talking from the perspective of script writing but it is incredibly easy to translate the style into book writing. The major difference in the two is that movie scripts work in 3 acts and books can have many more than 3 acts. Short stories though, likely work well in the 3 act set up. I couldn't recommend this book enough for anyone in writing, it is usually considered required reading for writers at film school and doesn't have an over the board textbook feel either.
Read this book