screenwriter's toolkit creative screenwriting exercises (Get the book for all 101 exercises)

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Defense Against the Critics

12.28.2005 · Posted in Rewriting/Editing

Can you defend the choices you’ve made in your own writing? Try it. Your Task: Take a screenplay that you’ve written. Pick out the major plot points and defend your decisions for the way you’ve written them. Write a short essay detailing the decisions you’ve made for the plot of your story and defend these ...

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Practicing Writing Plots

05.13.2005 · Posted in Plot

Let’s practice developing plots. Your Task: Take a movie that you’re working on that uses the 3-act structure. If you don’t have one, download a screenplay online. Identify plot point 1 and brainstorm 25 other possible scenarios. ...

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Rule Breaking

10.19.2005 · Posted in Hal Ackerman

Written/Contributed by Hal Ackerman In a series of one-line (or at most, two lines) impressions, make a litany of all the times you “broke the rules,” Lied, cheated, stole, set fire, pilfered, prevaricated, deceived. (eg: Poisoned my sister’s gold fish. Enjoyed it. Took joy rides in the family car at age 14 while parents were ...

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In The Bedroom

10.19.2005 · Posted in Hal Ackerman, Scenes

Written/Contributed by Hal Ackerman Two people are in bed. A siren or alarm is heard. Or the phone rings. Or a doorbell. WRITE THE SCENE. You will have to ask yourself: Who are these people? Who are they to each other? What are the immediate circumstances? How does the alarm affect them? What do they ...

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Being The Writer I Want To Be

05.06.2005 · Posted in As A Writer

What internal or external forces impede your ability to write? Our capacity to understand and permeate these forces can build our power as a writer. The Exercise List 10 things that stop you from being the writer you want to be. Brainstorm three possible solutions for overcoming each obstacle on your list. Plan a date ...

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Place as Action

01.15.2006 · Posted in Place

Have you ever seen Ghost in the Shell? There’s a contemplative movement in the second act where the main character watches the city go by. It’s a perfect example of place as action. The pensive main character is taken away by place in a moment that gives the viewer a chance to reflect on the ...

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Writing Conditions

05.06.2005 · Posted in As A Writer

Set yourself up. Create the right conditions to write. Journal I work best when… ...

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A Series of…

05.06.2005 · Posted in Characters

Want to understand your character’s life? Create a timeline that details the major events in it. The Exercise Pick a character from something you’re writing. How old are they now? Make a timeline that spans from birth to their current age. Notate major positive or negative impacting events in their life. Write a sentence or ...

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What If?

05.06.2005 · Posted in The Idea

It’s been said that a writers’ main tool is the question, “What if?” With this simple query, we can explore any ordinary event’s limitless plot possibilities. Your task: Get a copy of today’s newspaper. Read 5 articles with our question in mind. What if she stole the money? What if those soldiers were plotting something? ...

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Depth & Balance

05.13.2005 · Posted in Characters

Adding depth and balance to your characters will create a richer story. The Exercise Write a one-page essay about the emotional life of an over-the-top character from a comedy that you’ve seen. Create a “Ten things I do for fun…” list for a character from a moving drama. ...

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