David’s answer to “I really like your work and your love for fantasy I'm 15 and writing a screenplay Called Natus info…” > Likes and Comments
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Hey, Blessing (actually, I think it's a good name). When I was younger than you are now, my grandmother, who wrote stories, encouraged me to write. So, in a sense I'm paying her kindness forward
I understand the whole brain vs writing speed problem, which is one reason I always wrote my 1st drafts by hand with a pen (yeah, it's seriously old school, but for me it works). I always had a short story or novel which I wrote the screenplay from, which to me was easier than writing the screenplay without it. So, it might be helpful to write out the story first. It doesn't have to be detailed; an outline will be fine, where you hit the major plot points and so on.
Next, decide whether it should be a movie or a series. With a movie, you have to seriously cut out everything except the essentials, while making it interesting and flowing smooth. A series gives you much more time to throw in subplots and details about the world.
As far as the characters go, while you'll want to make the protagonist character someone the audience can root for, you might want to show a harsh action in the beginning, but then soon after show the audience why she did that.
In the novel I just published, 'The Guardian of Xibalba', one major problem for the Eldarion race (similar to elves) is the slow poisoning of their race by the enchanted devices of the Koncava (basically industrialist dwarves). In the first chapter, the Eldarion Catherwood (based on the 19th century explorer) gets into an argument with a Koncava, practically screaming at him by the end of the chapter. It gives dramatic tension, but also explains a major plot point without doing an 'Info Dump'.
My advice would be to write out the entire story first, deciding along the way if the boring bits are needed, then getting a good screenwriting reference like 'Save the Cat', which shows you how screenplays have to be set up. It also covers how to write one in detail (if memory serves).
BTW, if you're interested in reading my latest novel (19th century Urban Fantasy/Eldritch Horror tale), it's free to download right now on many major sites except on Amazon, where it's 99cents.
Goodreads won't let me post the link, but you can find it on any major book retailer website, if you're interested.
Let me know if you've got other questions. Otherwise, I wish you the best of luck for your success.
David
Dear David,
Thank you so much for all the advice it's really helpful to have someone help me out with this. I'll definitely be reading your new book! Once again thank you so much for all the help I truly do appreciate it I'll definitely mention you if I ever get like really famous (I doubt it) anway thank you so much I'll definitely ask if I have anymore questions.
Greetings Blessing.
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Hey, Blessing (actually, I think it's a good name). When I was younger than you are now, my grandmother, who wrote stories, encouraged me to write. So, in a sense I'm paying her kindness forwardI understand the whole brain vs writing speed problem, which is one reason I always wrote my 1st drafts by hand with a pen (yeah, it's seriously old school, but for me it works). I always had a short story or novel which I wrote the screenplay from, which to me was easier than writing the screenplay without it. So, it might be helpful to write out the story first. It doesn't have to be detailed; an outline will be fine, where you hit the major plot points and so on.
Next, decide whether it should be a movie or a series. With a movie, you have to seriously cut out everything except the essentials, while making it interesting and flowing smooth. A series gives you much more time to throw in subplots and details about the world.
As far as the characters go, while you'll want to make the protagonist character someone the audience can root for, you might want to show a harsh action in the beginning, but then soon after show the audience why she did that.
In the novel I just published, 'The Guardian of Xibalba', one major problem for the Eldarion race (similar to elves) is the slow poisoning of their race by the enchanted devices of the Koncava (basically industrialist dwarves). In the first chapter, the Eldarion Catherwood (based on the 19th century explorer) gets into an argument with a Koncava, practically screaming at him by the end of the chapter. It gives dramatic tension, but also explains a major plot point without doing an 'Info Dump'.
My advice would be to write out the entire story first, deciding along the way if the boring bits are needed, then getting a good screenwriting reference like 'Save the Cat', which shows you how screenplays have to be set up. It also covers how to write one in detail (if memory serves).
BTW, if you're interested in reading my latest novel (19th century Urban Fantasy/Eldritch Horror tale), it's free to download right now on many major sites except on Amazon, where it's 99cents.
Goodreads won't let me post the link, but you can find it on any major book retailer website, if you're interested.
Let me know if you've got other questions. Otherwise, I wish you the best of luck for your success.
David
Dear David,Thank you so much for all the advice it's really helpful to have someone help me out with this. I'll definitely be reading your new book! Once again thank you so much for all the help I truly do appreciate it I'll definitely mention you if I ever get like really famous (I doubt it) anway thank you so much I'll definitely ask if I have anymore questions.
Greetings Blessing.
Thank you so much for responding! I really didn't expect a response because I'd emailed a bunch of people who ended up not responding. I do want my screenplay to become a movie/series and I'm willing to work hard for it. I right now have 22 pages fully done I stopped there because I wanted to change some things about the story itself mid-writing adding more fantasy. I thought it was becoming boring. I do not know what I'm doing so I'm just doing research while writing and waiting for someone to proofread it. I have writing experience and theater experience but no idea about screenplay so it's been hard but it's gone okay until now. I think the writing block is mostly because the first few scenes are really trying to explain the setting and history of Mirirna the place where Natus Infrotunatus is set. It also shows the dynamics between characters so we get who is who and what the different people want. It's needed so that the sometimes very harsh actions of the characters make sense but it's taking a really long time for me to do. Because of that my brain and my writing speed aren't on the same level. So while my brain has fully made out the ending the creatures and their names. As well as the love stories and the giant plot twist I'm still stuck on the more boring parts of the story which makes it hard for me to continue.
Greetings Blessing. (PS. My name is actually Blessing I know it's kinda odd.)