Writing a Screenplay

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A place to share the agony and ecstasy of creating an outstanding screenplay.

And, maybe, along the way, discover ways this can help with other forms of writing like novels, short stories and poetry.

Website: http://www.unique-screenwriting.com
Location: #TV/Theater/Film, Fiction
Members: 43
Latest Activity: on Monday

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I thought I'd set up this group because it seems to me that writing a screenplay can be a lot scarier than other forms of writing. We don't (usually) learn to write scripts or even plays at school, and although we may have watched hundreds of movies, most people still believe writing a dramatic script for the screen is really 'just dialogue'.

So the hope is that the whole experience will be a little less scary when we share whatever we want... to share.

But I also thought it could be for She Writers who write novels, poetry, short stories and memoirs, because over the years I've found that the disciplines needed to write a screenplay can be a huge help for all writing forms. Approaching a scene in a novel as a cinematic storyteller, say, can take your descriptive prose to greater, more vividly felt heights. Finding a way to stop yourself over-delivering on the exposition helps if you've been creating evocative, precise detail in a script's action lines, or using subtle subtext in your dialogue there.

So, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about yourself.

Discussion Forum

WRITING THE SHOTS

Started by Pauline Frederica Kiernan. Last reply by Christine Koehler Dec 20, 2012. 3 Replies 1 Like

Writing the shots was something I had quite a lot of problems with when I started writing screenplays. What helped was when I started to imagine my script as a living, breathing organism, but also how important it is to imagine the industry reader…Continue

Tags: action lines, pauline kiernan, screenplays, screenwriting

Introductions

Started by Pauline Frederica Kiernan. Last reply by Catherine Chisnall Nov 5, 2011. 9 Replies 1 Like

OK, I'll go first.I'm a screenwriter, author, creative writing coach and Shakespeare scholar. I've been a journalist, an Oxford don and an agony aunt for teens.I was commissioned to write a historical epic/love tragedy by an independent Hollywood…Continue

Tags: writing, poetry, novels, paulinekiernan, screenplays

BEST DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES

Started by Pauline Frederica Kiernan Jul 24, 2011. 0 Replies 1 Like

Hi to you all. I'm afraid I've been neglecting this forum lately. I've been polishing a new script and trying to resist going online! One aspect of screenwriting I've been thinking a lot about lately is dialogue. In my last book, I strongly…Continue

The CInematic Power of Visuals

Started by Pauline Frederica Kiernan. Last reply by Pauline Frederica Kiernan May 8, 2011. 2 Replies 1 Like

Barbara's question about how to turn her stage play into a screenplay got me thinking about the difference between the two. And for me, the most important thing to focus on is the visuals. This is so neglected in the screenwriting manuals it's…Continue

Tags: scriptwriting, screenwriting they cant resist, screenplays, screenwriting

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Comment by Marian Evans on June 3, 2013 at 11:58pm: Hi Mia I've been writing my first play after lots of screenplays, the other way around from you. There are lots of similarities because of the demands of structure and character. But I'm enjoying being more 'talky' and the physical limits of the stage. I think that if I were going the other way I'd have to be careful about avoiding exposition which isn't such a no-no onstage. Look forward to hearing more about your progress!

Comment by Mia Stephanie Howard on June 3, 2013 at 8:47am: I am writing a play for the stage. I think it would make a great movie. How can I transform the play into a screenplay? One of my playwriting teachers said that imagery is key....any suggestions?

Comment by Julija Sukys on March 20, 2012 at 11:17am: HI all -- does anyone know anything about Rights Center? It appears to be a database of books and other sources for TV and Film adaptations.

http://www.rightscenter.com/offer.html

Comment by Julija Sukys on January 8, 2012 at 3:37am: Happy New Year! Here's a new post reflecting back on 2011: http://julijasukys.com/?p=2664

Comment by Julija Sukys on December 19, 2011 at 6:03am: Cove Park (Scotland) offers what look to be fantastic residency opportunities to international artists and writers of all levels of experience. If you're in the market for some time away, here are the details as to how to apply.

Comment by Julija Sukys on September 26, 2011 at 11:26am: CNF Conversations: Send Me Your Titles and Come by for a Chat

Please come visit my site, where I give an update an my author interview feature called CNF Conversations. In a few weeks I'll be posting an interview with Nancy K. Miller, a founding member of SheWrites. http://julijasukys.com

If you have a recent book of creative nonfiction you'd like me to consider for my CNF Conversations series, please contact me through SheWrites or through my site.

Comment by Pauline Frederica Kiernan on May 8, 2011 at 5:46am: My new book Screenwriting They Can't Resist is #9 on Amazonuk bestsellers Screenwriting.

If anyone has read the book and like it, and can spare a moment to post up a review on Amazon, I'd be so grateful.

Hope you're all writing up a storm.

Comment by Pauline Frederica Kiernan on May 8, 2011 at 5:44am: Welcome Justine,

Please tell us about yourself on the Introductions thread.

Look forward to sharing.

Comment by Pauline Frederica Kiernan on April 30, 2011 at 2:15am: Welcome Barbara.

Great to hear you're starting to write a screenplay from your stage play. There are certainly big differences. I've done this twice myself. What I decided early on was to keep concentrating on the thought that I'm telling a story, this is still storytelling, but it's cinematic storytelling. I couldn't find any gudiance really about visuals in the screenwriting books.

And that's why with my website and book I devote a good deal of the advice and suggestions on the cinematic power of visuals.

I'm starting a new thread for Visuals in this group. And I'll post up an edited extract about this.

Good luck!

Comment by Pauline Frederica Kiernan on April 26, 2011 at 1:31am: I have just published three short Kindle ebooks on Screenwriting that are out now. They have prompts and workouts for writers while they're writing their screenplays.

I've taken material from my print book Screenwriting They Can't Resist for them.

In case you want to check them out:

Screenwriting They Can't Resist: EMOTIONAL PULL FOR CHARACTER

POWER UP YOUR SCREENWRITING DIALOGUE WORKOUTS

POWER UP YOUR SCREENWRITING STRUCTURE WORKOUTS

I've put up details on my website: www.unique-screenwriting-com

Hope your writing is going well, everyone.

Pauline