scriptwriting
How to develop your writing voice
Your unique writing voice is your best asset as an author, but how do you develop it? It’s widely agreed that a vivid, compelling writing voice sets you apart. Publishers and creative writing tutors say a fresh voice makes them sit up. They’re far more likely to read on. But a vivid writing voice is…
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Writing tips from improv theatre – offers and deadballs
Improv comedy has some great techniques for writers. Flow and momentum are crucial in improv, just as in writing. Here are some *gold* writing and editing tips taken from improv and drama. I’m so in awe of improv artists. It’s such a risky, pressurised performance, and you’re horribly exposed if things go wrong. I know…
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Character motivation – wants and stakes
Character motivation, wants, burning desires… they help to drive characters through your story. Creative writers use them to create powerful dramatic action and the momentum and tension that readers enjoy. But what about the shadow side of motivation – what characters don’t want? These negative drives are called stakes, and they’re just as powerful. With…
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Exposition as ammunition – how to transform flat dialogue
Have you discovered exposition as ammunition? It’s one of the most powerful exposition techniques in creative writing, and is often used in dialogue. Here’s the lowdown and how to use it. Exposition as ammunition examples I first came across exposition as ammunition during drama rehearsals. A director used the phrase to describe a line of…
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Writing technique – secrets of dramatic action
Why are car chases boring? Because they’re undramatic! In dramatic writing, “dramatic action” has a particular definition. It means action with a clear, urgent motivation behind it. Action that lacks intention is simply movement, and scenes without it turn out somehow flat, even if they’re full of energy on the surface. Once you’ve grasped the…
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Writing technique – 5 tips on the ticking time bomb
Ten, nine, eight… the ticking time bomb and countdown clock are a familiar technique in creative writing. You’ll find them everywhere – in films, fiction, copywriting, setting in motion a high-stakes race against the clock. These writing devices aren’t always literal, of course – they’re often metaphorical. So, what are ticking clocks used for, and…
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