5 Actions Screenwriters Can Take To Get A Jump Start On The New Year

I wish all of our loyal fans a Happy Holiday Season, and hope that you find great inspiration for developing an exciting screenplay in 2014. A career in screenwriting can be a difficult path to take. Some screenwriters have ideas that just pop out of their heads, but have trouble honing them into a workable script. Others manage the finer points of scriptwriting, but can’t find the spark that makes their characters come to life. Bringing all of these writing skills together can be a challenge, but there are some steps you can take to give yourself the edge. Here are my five suggestions for actions you can take now that will help build your skills and get you started on the path to bringing your screenplay to life in 2014:

1. Be Observant: Some of the greatest characters on screen seem so realistic because of some unique personality quirk or heroic trait the screenwriter has given them. As you go about your daily life, be observant of the people around you, take note of their personality traits, and write down those characteristics which you think could help you develop the story line in your screenplay.
2. Learn The Basics: Since very few of us are born with the art of screenwriting inside our brain most of us need a little help to nurture our skills and build our creativity. Be aware of opportunities to build your skills, like those available through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. They offer online and onsite writing courses, master classes, screenwriting resources, and a Writers Studio.
3. Learn The Industry: Learn from those who have already achieved success in the industry you hope to pursue. There are TV writing consultants, screenplay consultants, and romantic comedy screenwriters who can all serve as a source of knowledge.
4. Use Your Resources: Many websites offer a list of screenwriting resources you can use to find additional information.
5. Read More: My book, The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, provides many insights aspiring screenwriters can use to hone their craft. I’ve provided the tools necessary for any writer to construct a forceful emotional ride in his or her storytelling.

As my holiday gift to you, download a chapter from my book, The Story Solution, so you can learn more about the HERO GOAL SEQUENCES that make compelling characters come to life. While at my website, also be sure to sign up for my newsletter which provides tips, resources, insider info, and news you can use.

Happy Holidays and here’s to your writing success in 2014!

About The Story Solution:  The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. Eric covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, and screenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page.

Top 10 Reasons Screenwriters Love The Story Solution

 

The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, by experienced screenwriter Eric Edson, is acclaimed as one of the best books on screenwriting available. Through his focus on heroes, actions and developing a story, Edson helps aspiring screenplay writers take their craft to the next level. Here are the top 10 reasons why screenwriters love The Story Solution: 

1. Innovation: Eric Edson uses The Story Solution to deliver a completely new approach to writing a screenplay that keeps producers, agents and audiences glued to their seats.
2. Education: Edson uses his many years of teaching experience to explain the basics of writing a movie script in clear, compelling language. He is Professor of Screenwriting and Director of the Master of Fine Arts Program in Screenwriting at California State University, Northridge.
3. Experience: Edson doesn’t just teach screenplay writing; he has real-life experience, having written seventeen feature screenplays on assignment for such companies as Sony, Warner Brothers, Disney, 20th Fox, ABC Motion Pictures, Lifetime, Showtime, NBC, and TNT.
4. Free Chapter: Subscribe to the informative newsletter and download a free sample chapter from one of the best screenwriting books on the market.
5. Actionable Insights: Edson reveals the 23 actions used in writing screenplays to create dynamic, three-dimensional heroes who link together all parts of an engaging screenplay from first page to last.
6. Ongoing Support: The art of scriptwriting can’t be simply picked up from one book, no matter how good it is. Edson stays engaged with upcoming screenwriters through his blog updates and Facebook postings. He is constantly providing tips and insider insights every young screenplay writer can use to achieve success.
7. Networking Opportunities:  Join any of these message boards and talk with other screenwriters about story lines and Eric’s Hero Goal Sequences concept.
8. Humor: The Story Solution is clear and fun to read, yet still brings to light an innovative way to insure effective plotlines for both screenplays and novels.
9. Motivation: Edson offers motivation to get started and get going again when new screenwriters are met by the challenge of writer’s block or other impediments that can stifle them or keep them from writing. In fact, one piece of advice he often offers scriptwriting students it to “Write Badly With Pride,” as long as you are writing. The rest will fall into place, but you have to make a start.
10. The Art of Storytelling: Screenwriting and creating heroes that an audience can engage with are true art forms. Edson knows that it may not be an easy path in life, but he helps writers understand why they feel the need to bring these characters to life, and Eric provides encouragement for the task of creation.

About The Story Solution:  The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. He also covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, andscreenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page or call (818) 677-6608 for more information.

Tags: best books on screenwriting, best screenwriting books, creative screenwriting, screenplay writer, screenplay writers, screenplay writing, screenwriters, screenwriting tips, scriptwriting, writing a movie script, writing a screenplay,writing screenplays

Eric Edson

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Eric Edson has written seventeen feature screenplays on assignment for such companies as Sony, Warner Brothers, Disney, 20th Fox, ABC Motion Pictures, Lifetime, Showtime, NBC, and TNT. He has also written for episodic television. He is Professor of Screenwriting and Director of the Graduate Program in Screenwriting at California State University, Northridge, and lectures through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, the largest screenwriter training center in the world. Eric holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting and Film Directing from The American Film Institute, and a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from UCLA. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at UCLA. Eric has been a member of The Writers Guild of America since 1981. He lives in Calabasas, California. Eric can be reached at: eric@thestorysolution.com

Top 10 Reasons Screenwriters Love The Story Solution

 

The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, by experienced screenwriter Eric Edson, is acclaimed as one of the best books on screenwriting available. Through his focus on heroes, actions and developing a story, Edson helps aspiring screenplay writers take their craft to the next level. Here are the top 10 reasons why screenwriters love The Story Solution: 

1. Innovation: Eric Edson uses The Story Solution to deliver a completely new approach to writing a screenplay that keeps producers, agents and audiences glued to their seats.
2. Education: Edson uses his many years of teaching experience to explain the basics of writing a movie script in clear, compelling language. He is Professor of Screenwriting and Director of the Master of Fine Arts Program in Screenwriting at California State University, Northridge.
3. Experience: Edson doesn’t just teach screenplay writing; he has real-life experience, having written seventeen feature screenplays on assignment for such companies as Sony, Warner Brothers, Disney, 20th Fox, ABC Motion Pictures, Lifetime, Showtime, NBC, and TNT.
4. Free Chapter: Subscribe to the informative newsletter and download a free sample chapter from one of the best screenwriting books on the market.
5. Actionable Insights: Edson reveals the 23 actions used in writing screenplays to create dynamic, three-dimensional heroes who link together all parts of an engaging screenplay from first page to last.
6. Ongoing Support: The art of scriptwriting can’t be simply picked up from one book, no matter how good it is. Edson stays engaged with upcoming screenwriters through his blog updates and Facebook postings. He is constantly providing tips and insider insights every young screenplay writer can use to achieve success.
7. Networking Opportunities:  Join any of these message boards and talk with other screenwriters about story lines and Eric’s Hero Goal Sequences concept.
8. Humor: The Story Solution is clear and fun to read, yet still brings to light an innovative way to insure effective plotlines for both screenplays and novels.
9. Motivation: Edson offers motivation to get started and get going again when new screenwriters are met by the challenge of writer’s block or other impediments that can stifle them or keep them from writing. In fact, one piece of advice he often offers scriptwriting students it to “Write Badly With Pride,” as long as you are writing. The rest will fall into place, but you have to make a start.
10. The Art of Storytelling: Screenwriting and creating heroes that an audience can engage with are true art forms. Edson knows that it may not be an easy path in life, but he helps writers understand why they feel the need to bring these characters to life, and Eric provides encouragement for the task of creation.

About The Story Solution:  The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. He also covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, andscreenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page or call (818) 677-6608 for more information.

 

Eric Edson

Visit My Website / View My Other Posts

Eric Edson has written seventeen feature screenplays on assignment for such companies as Sony, Warner Brothers, Disney, 20th Fox, ABC Motion Pictures, Lifetime, Showtime, NBC, and TNT. He has also written for episodic television. He is Professor of Screenwriting and Director of the Graduate Program in Screenwriting at California State University, Northridge, and lectures through the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, the largest screenwriter training center in the world. Eric holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting and Film Directing from The American Film Institute, and a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from UCLA. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at UCLA. Eric has been a member of The Writers Guild of America since 1981. He lives in Calabasas, California. Eric can be reached at: eric@thestorysolution.com

STORY EXPO 2013 Recap

LOS ANGELES, CA – October 11th, 2013 – Eric Edson and The Story Solution team recently attended the largest expo in the screenwriting industry, STORY EXPO 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.

Starting this year, this expo brought together screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, journalists, graphic novelists, fiction writers, comic book writers and those who understand and appreciate the nuances that make a movie a box office success.

Derek Christopher’s STORY EXPO 2013 brought together over 60 Speakers, 100+ classes and 30+ exhibitors for attendees from all over the world, in what is being called the ‘screenwriting and scriptwriting event of the year.’  Screenwriter and university professor Eric Edson offered a completely new approach to writing powerful scripts to attendees.

The event had sell out numbers of both exhibitors and attendees this year, drawing industry members and exhibiting companies to the Westin LAX Hotel, September 6th-8th, 2013.

We embraced STORY EXPO as a perfect opportunity to share with many, many like-minded authors, students of screenwriting, members of the press, distributors, and retail book buyers. It was a place where connections were made, partnerships were forged, and brands were launched.

As we walked around the show and spoke with fellow authors about the current state of storytelling in the movie industry, a conversation we kept having at the event was how excited attendees were to be learning from so many masters in the field.

“It was just so much fun for both the presenters and the attendees to meet each other and discuss what we all love about writing, and to share insights in the creation of story,” said Eric Edson.

Syd Field delivered a poignant opening keyword speech about the writer’s development process. Syd is the author of 8 bestselling books on story and screenwriting, with sales topping 1.2 million.  Story Expo attendees were delighted to have such an inspirational and pivotal figure like Syd Field to open STORY EXPO.  Syd spoke about why we write stories, and the motivation behind why we try to change people’s lives with the stories we tell.

Michael Hauge and Chris Vogler delivered a Story Expo Exclusive! First time available anywhere. Christopher Vogler and Michael Hauge, creators of the iconic HERO’S 2 JOURNEYS course, explored THE ESSENCE OF THE HERO in this jam-packed, 90-minute session featuring the two legendary teachers.

The closing keynote was given by international known author and speaker Jen Grisanti, Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc.  Jen is also the Director for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former studio executive, a blogger for The Huffington Post and author of Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and her self-help book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life.  Jen Grisanti gave an empowering address about the importance of living the truth of your own personal story.

Eric Edson presented four seminars on two topics; “Cracking Screen Story Structure” and “14 Character Categories in All Successful Screen Stories.”  Each seminar was approximately an hour and a half. In these classes, Eric covered the 23 interlocking actions used in every successful movie to create dynamic heroes and emotion-filled plots, and the 14 character categories that are used by all successful authors.

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Other speakers included John Truby, Dov Simens, Steve Kaplan, Rex Pickett, Ellen Sandler, Arnold Shapiro, Jeremiah Comey, Pilar Alessandra, Father Steve, Richard Hatem, Chad Gervich, Leslie Lehr, Lee Jessup, Pamela Jaye Smith, Alejandro Seri, Troy Devolld and many others.

“This was an amazing event full of fun, networking and learning. Derek Christopher has created something of real value.  We’re already looking forward to next year and making more new friends,” said Eric Edson.

Also included in STORY EXPO was an exciting pitch room where attendees had an opportunity to pitch their ideas and stories to over 80 major companies.  Connections were made and deals were struck.

Everyone on the Story Solution team felt the show was a roaring success given the great education and new connections made at the event.  Eric will be teaching new classes at the 2014 STORY EXPO and the Story Solution team looks forward to seeing old friends made in 2013, and new friends yet to come.

That wraps up our summary of STORY EXPO 2013.   As always, we’ll be sure to keep everyone informed with our latest news and future presentations for the book.  Thank you for your support!

For more information about STORY EXPO 2013 visit the Facebook Page or web site athttp://www.StoryExpo.com or call 800-814-0544.

About The Story Solution: The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. He also covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, and screenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 818- 677-3192 for more information.

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