• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Marilyn Horowitz

Marilyn Horowitz

Screenwriting Classes, Coaching, and Resources

212-600-1115
  • Home
  • About
  • Writing Services
  • Writing Guidance
    • Writing Evaluation
    • Writing Guidance
    • Comprehensive Packages
    • Ongoing Coaching
  • Classes & Seminars
    • New York University Classes
    • Seminars
    • Free Video Tutorials
    • Movie Breakdowns
    • Online Stores
  • Books & Media
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Scripting
    • What is Scripting?
    • Scripting Cheat Sheet
    • Free Scripting Class

Valentine’s Day-Going Deeper

February 16, 2018 by Marilyn Horowitz

Happy Friday!

How did your Valentine’s Day go?

The 14th was also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which lasts for six weeks until Easter. Lent is about repentance, while Valentine’s Day celebrates love.  I saw a woman carrying a bouquet and a box of chocolates, and had a big cross made out of ash written on her forehead. The juxtaposition was amusing and I thought about what her story would be?  A Romantic Comedy about a woman who gives up romance for Lent? H’mmmn…

Then I remembered how many times I “repented” on Valentine’s Day, when the fellow I was with revealed his true colors, for better or worse, often worse.  Did he bring flowers and chocolates? Was there a card? A gift? Did he take me out? Wow, am I really that superficial?

Where did this checklist come from? More likely from Hallmark than the Bible. When did I start believing that following a formula meant authentic affection? Silly me! I realized the assumptions I’d made about Valentine’s Day, were part of my personal belief system.

The next thought was to explore how the characters in my current stories felt about Valentine’s Day and I used the exercise below to dig deeper into my character’s psyches.

Here’s the exercise:

For you:

  1. Set a timer for 5 minutes.
  2. Write about a Valentine’s Day experience – did you repent or celebrate?
  3. Rest the timer for 5 minutes.
  4. Describe your fantasy experience.
  5. Compare the two.

For Your Hero or Heroine:

  1. Set a timer for 5 minutes.
  2. Write about a Valentine’s Day experience – did he/she repent or celebrate?
  3. Rest the timer for 5 minutes.
  4. Describe their fantasy experience.
  5. Compare the two.

For your Villain or Obstacle:

  1. Set a timer for 5 minutes.
  2. Write about a Valentine’s Day experience – did he/she repent or celebrate?
  3. Rest the timer for 5 minutes.
  4. Describe their fantasy experience.
  5. Compare the two.

If you’re writing a Romantic Comedy, repeat the exercise for the Love Interest.

I found this very helpful and hope you will too.

Here’s to your successful writing!

Professor Marilyn Horowitz

empire State building The Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day.                                                        

 

Primary Sidebar

Sign Up

for our Screenwriting Newsletter and Receive Our FREE Gift How To Write a Treatment.

Testimonials

I’m very grateful to be able to learn from Marilyn, Her focus on the psychological and spiritual foundations necessary to… Read more ““…grateful to learn from Marilyn””

Marilyn’s techniques helped me stop overthinking and start writing! She gave me exercises to take the pressure off beginning a… Read more “The Scritping Writing Room”

You are always a light. Thank you.

Desiree

“Working with Marilyn Horowitz has challenged every aspect of my creative process from conception to preparation, and most importantly, execution.… Read more “– Larry Lowry”

- Larry Lowry
Writer/Producer, Nickelodeon

For the first time, in all my years of taking various classes, I feel like I have found “my teacher.”

Audrey M.
View All Testimonials

Television Writing Evaluation & Guidance

Screenwriting Evaluation & Guidance

Classes & Seminars

Footer

Connect

Contact

CLASSES

Contact the office at 212-600-1115

MEDIA & SPEAKING INQUIRIES

Contact Marilyn Horowitz at 212-600-1115

PUBLISHING & FILM INQUIRIES

Contact Koehler Books at 757-289-6006

  • Home
  • About
  • Writing Services
  • Writing Guidance
    • Writing Evaluation
    • Writing Guidance
    • Comprehensive Packages
    • Ongoing Coaching
  • Classes & Seminars
    • New York University Classes
    • Seminars
    • Free Video Tutorials
    • Movie Breakdowns
    • Online Stores
  • Books & Media
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Scripting
    • What is Scripting?
    • Scripting Cheat Sheet
    • Free Scripting Class
Copyright © 2022 · Marilyn Horowitz. All rights reserved.