the formula has no clothes
November 20, 2008
I cringe - protect my head from falling debris. Several of you mentioned the “f” word so I’ll say it right back to you with feeling - FORMULA. It’s that popular group MYTH that hangs around like a ring of smog anywhere two or more writers are gathered together. Do this and do this and you’ll have that. sound easy? good luck with it. This is a post I started and never finished. It has a twinge of bitterness. N’est ce pas? This past semester at USC has been flacardenful of delobinous struden twilla - no need for a dictionary - I just use the word AMAZING to the point that it applies to everything. A great semester that ends soon. Next semester I’m teaching a course called WRITING THE SHORT FILM. So, for the next few days - I’m posting exercises that were fruitful these last couple of months. Then we’ll be caught up. I found this in Bill Roorbach’s book WRITING LIFE STORIES - really great book that will remind you of how much material you have in your own life - tune in to the way YOU tell stories. He’s a kick ass great writer. Buy his books and they will change your life. OK: Draw a map of the first neighborhood you can remember. Where did you live - where did you shop? - where did you ride your bicycle? Where were you afraid to ride your bicycle? OR draw the map of the story you’re working on - re energize your script - if you really focus on making this map as intricate as you can - the floods will come - ideas - stories - conflicts. Consider using glitter even.all for now.theprof
hi
glad you are back. i know that bill roorbach does consultations for writers. i was wondering if you do them as well?
hope all is well.
formulas are always good to know so that you can break the rules in order to write a great screenplay.
The map exercise is great! I printed out a street map (using google maps) and used that to spark memories. There were associations of colors and smells with particular buildings that I hadn’t remembered until I did this map exercise.
Thanks Coleman!