1. Screenwriters Secrets of Storytelling
Based on the book Screenwriters Tricks for Novels
by Alexandra Sokoloff

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

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

5. 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.

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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.

13. 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

14. 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)

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

16. 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)

17. Huge final reversal or reveal

18. 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

19. 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?

20. 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