Marilyn Horowitz

Screenwriting Classes, Coaching, and Resources

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A Visual Technique to Speed Up Your Writing/The Latest Friday Funnys!

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Happy Friday!

The one good thing about cold-weather is that it keeps you inside. Hopefully writing.

This week brings the fourth edition of YourFridayFunny online newspaper.If you’re enjoying it, please subscribe-it’s 100% free! Tell your friends, and tell us what you like!
In  my private coaching, I worked with two students who had very different projects, but curiously, both needed the same solution! One is a novelist who’s now transforming her outline into a book, and the other is a first-time screenwriter trying to get his vision on the page. It’s interesting that until we make mental pictures of the scene that we’re writing, nothing good happens, regardless of the format we intend to write in.

Having studied the science of dreams for many years, I’ve developed a visual diagram that seems to solve the problem of getting the story out of your head and onto the page.

Here’s the technique:

1. Divide an 8 1/2 x 11“ piece of paper into four squares.

2. Repeat this process four times.

3. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

4. You are now going to design a series of shots and scenes for your story. Write by hand inside the squares.

5. In the first square, write the location where you think the scene takes place.

6. Continue writing in the same square, adding who the characters are and what the main action is. Once that action is complete in your mind, move on.

7. Now imagine what happens next, and where. Put that information in the second box, as well as characters and location.

8. Continue filling in the boxes, adding more if you need to, until you feel that you have laid out an entire scene. Put this away, until you’re ready to actually work on the scene.

9. When you sit down to write the scene, if you’re writing prose, use each box as a sentence or paragraph. If you’re writing a screenplay, use the information to create to create a slug line, action and dialogue.

10. Rinse and repeat for the entire project.

To recap: Whether you’re writing dramatic literature or prose, the discipline of visually creating action with characters and a setting will help you progress quickly. Remember that the goal of all writing is to get what’s in your head out onto the paper!

I also wanted to honor this day, January 24. It was my mother’s birthday when she was alive, and I wish her joy and happiness wherever she is. Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.

Here’s to your successful writing,

Professor Marilyn Horowitz