January 13, 2010

Wing Tip #6: Script Your Story


Today my tip comes from a thin but powerful little book called The Business of Writing for Children by Aaron Shepard.  It's a quick read but packed with information.  It walks you through formatting a manuscript, submitting, book publishers, words that make pictures, rhythm and much more.

Script Your Story
Mr. Shepard recommends trying your manuscript as a play. If acted out onstage would the characters be talking or doing something?  Scripting helps eliminate too much telling since you don't want a narrator drolling on.  It will bring out what readers want (action and dialogue), as well as reveal where the story drags.

While this idea might seem better suited for picture books; I think it could be done scene by scene in a novel.

Have you scripted or done something similar with one of your stories?

I can be a bit salesman-ish with my gushing over beloved How-To books so I wanted you to know no one's bribing me to do this.  All these reviews are from my own library.   Valerie at Something to Write About always puts a disclaimer and now I'm going to copy her (hope you don't mind Valerie).  Here it is:

(FTC disclaimer: Unless stated otherwise, the books reviewed have either been purchased from a bookstore or borrowed from the local library.)

15 comments :

  1. some bloggers seem to be prety good at painting word pictures. That is how movies are made too.
    everything is set out on a story-board (pictures of each scene)with dialog. Works every time.

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  2. I pretty much do this with every scene. I don't write out a script, but I try to run it through my head and act it out in my living room or backyard. It does help, and usually triggers new ideas or details to add in.

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  3. My husband sometimes comes into the room where I'm writing and wonders what the hell I'm doing because half the time I'm in the middle of acting out a scene to make sure it works... Glad to know I'm not crazy-- the pros do it too!

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  4. Don't mind at all...in fact, please use it! I would hate for you to get fined $11,000 or some nutso number...! Those feds are crazy! Uhoh... I think the FBI's at my door... eeeek. Nope. Just my cat. ;)

    But about script writing... I took a script writing class in college (it was one of the only creative writing classes available ... lame)and though I haven't written a script since, it helped me with focus and flow, action and dialogue. I don't know if I'd script a book though.... that sounds like a lot of work. Maybe a particularly difficult scene....

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  5. Interesting idea. I have acted out a few scenes just to get the positioning right.

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  6. Geoff, I like when they show the storyboard stage in the extras of movie DVDs.
    MeganRebekah, Ann and Patti, I'm so glad to know other people act out their stories! Maybe that's a writerly thing.
    Valerie, thanks for keeping me out of trouble. And yeah, it might be a lot of work. I've only done it for picture books.

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  7. This is a great idea. I'm definitely going to give it a try. Thanks, Catherine. :-)

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  8. I suppose I should do this, but I don't. I just try to do the best I can with my stories. Sometimes it's enough. Sometimes it's not. That's why I must revise until I feel like dying.

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  9. Shannon, hope you find it fun.
    Elana, hey you've got an agent. You're doing something right.

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  10. So that is why my writing son is always acting out the parts! Makes sense.

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  11. btw, LOVE your art at the top and the new front page look...you artist you!

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  12. I try to write my novels as if I'm watching it in a movie. When I write, I really feel like I see them. So, most of my stuff really feels more script-like. :)

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  13. This is a great idea. I love it. I think it could definitely work for novels as well as picture books. Excellent tip!

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  14. Heartsjoy, exactly the reason. And, thank you. ;)
    voidwalker, me too! I'll be "watching" the story and have to find a notebook to write it down.
    Susan, I had fun playing around with it. It does help you find those empty spaces.

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  15. I never thought of doing something like this, but I tend to think in dialogue anyway. Like a lot of other people I also try it outloud to see if works. One neighbor in our apartment building dropped by to borrow some quarters for the laundry while I was working out the dialogue for a big fight scene once. He looked a little afraid when I opened the door. LOL

    Aaron Shepherd is also a big self-publishing guru.

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