Screenwriters Secrets of Storytelling Based on the book Screenwriters Tricks for Novels by Alexandra Sokoloff http://www.screenwritingtricks.com/

Master the Craft! break the rules with intention Learn your craft.

List 5 Favorite Movies, Shows, book Think of your WIP – list at lest 25 words that set the mood.

So, what’s your premise? So what’s your book about? Logline, one line, elevator pitch or TV Guide pitch…All mean the same thing A young, female FBI trainee must barter personal information with an imprisoned psychopathic genius in order to catch a serial killer who is skinning young women.

The Opening – Big Set Piece limitless budget! So make it big

Act One – Sequence 1 Set-up, Opening image, Meet the hero What they want (could be false) Scar/Ghost/ lie they believe Hope/Fears (the stakes) Inner and outer conflicts (desire/problem) Ordinary world (introduce Disturbance) Sequence 1 climax- can be the call to adventure – Inciting Incident

Act 1 sequence 2 They have a plan State the theme Introduce all the characters Mentor/ love interest/allies/antagonist Plants/payoffs (set ups and payoffs) The glimpse of the essence Plan –central story question Crossing the Threshold

Act I Climax Crossing the Threshold – No going back– New information – New twist

Quick Note on Antagonist They need to believe it is their story – Strong, smart, motivation needs to be real – not just because they are evil.

Act Two – They can’t get what they want Act Two A Attacks by the Antagonist END of Act Two Part A – MIDPOINT First Plan is falling apart! Look in the Mirror Moment – Y in the road - Disappointments Crossing the threshold/ Into the special world (may occur in Act One) Threshold Guardian/Guardian (maybe) Hero & Antagonist’ plan – remember the plan! Genre beats –Training sequence Series of test Assembling the team

Act Two – The plan has fallen apart Act Two B –more disappointment! Loss of Key Allies (could be because of the hero’s obsessive action or through death or injury by the antagonist). A ticking clock (can happen anywhere in the story) Reversals and Revelations/new twist The long dark night of the soul and or Visit to Death also known as ALL IS LOST…THE Black moment. HELP! Recalibrating – after the shock or defeat of the game-changer in the mid-point, the hero/ine must Revamp THE PLAN and try a new Mode of Attack. Escalating Actions / Obsessive Drive Hard choices and crossing the Line (immoral action by the main character to get what s/he wants)

Act Three - They get what they need Final Battle & Resolution final showdown between protagonist and antagonist HELP! (Storming the Castle)

Act Three - They get what they need The final battle itself Thematic Location often a visual and literal representation of the hero - Greatest Nightmare The protagonist character change (overhaul) Gaining of desire Possibly a huge final reversal or reveal (twist) or even a whole series of payoffs (Back to the future and It’s a Wonderful Life) (twist) or even a whole series of payoffs (Back to the future and It’s a Wonderful Life)

Huge final reversal or reveal

New Way of Life Resolution: A glimpse into the New Way of LIFE – the hero will be living after this whole ordeal and all they learned from it. Closing image

Now that I understand the element, where do I start? Get to know your character. Let them drive your story What motivates them? What is their greatest fear? I’ll do anything for you but, don’t ask me to……. Ghost from the past/scar What is the lie he believes Greatest Dream? Purpose? What is he good at?

People and Books that influenced me Christopher Vogler Michael Hauge The Late Blake Snyder Joseph Cambell – Hero’s Journey Susan May Warren- My Book Therapy Deb Dixion - GMC (Goals, Motivation & Conflict) Stephen King – On Writing Groups – SARA – San Antonio Romance Writers http://www.screenwritingtricks.com http://jolenenavarrowriter.com jnavarro32@gvtc.com