New writer, hoping for a little help

[Chuck58]

Focus on the subject. You know a good way to do it?

Run into the bathroom and rip the toilet paper from the roll. Take that roll and go into your back yard. Put it to your eye and look at something. You don't see the whole yard, do you? Go on over to that flower bed. Lots of pretty flowers. Put the roll to your eye. What's that? A butterfly at one of the flowers. There's your scene.

When you're writing a scene, generalize all but one part of it and describe that part.

I'm going to be a little arrogant here and suggest you go down to the Showcase thread near the bottom and read the couple of pages I have in the 'A few more pages on Dante' or something like that.

Dante goes to a mall. He starts in the large parking lot. Focus is on a bunch of kids near the entrance. Inside, he's in a 3 story mall. He sees some benches with kids planted on them. That's roughly what I'm talking about. A parking lot is just a parking lot, and a shopping center is a shopping center is a shopping center. BUT, there's always that one thing you can hone in on.

[uncle_al]

Yes, indeed.

And don't forget - we know what (and how) you feel.
We've Been There.

Keep on keepin' on...

Cheers!
Al B.

[padnar]

Hi,
Though I have so many limitations like being
an Indian English writer and telling more than showing
I will never consider myself bad and give up.
I am very fortunate to get help of Llo-Jo
and many others here has also given tips
Padma

[ScriptNurse]

Welcome!

Indeed, Uncle_Al's wisdom is true. We all start out bad and get better by trying again. I highly recommend reading some of the articles on screenwriting on the main site as there's some EXCELLENT advice there. Don't miss my wacky — BUT EFFECTIVE — how-to exercises. They're nutty, but they help.

If you've got questions, we've probably got answers.

[uncle_al]

Ya, so i have to write a screenplay for my Genre apps. class. Being a first time writer, and not a very good one at that. I was hoping for a few pointers.

You know, the bit about "not a very good one at that"... No one was good when they started.  Promising, maybe...  You get better by practice.  Write.  Write some more.  Finish something.  Rewrite it.  Have someone read it.  Take their notes.  Rewrite it again.  Polish.  Hone the edge.  Focus.  Narrow the beam like a tuned laser.  But, mostly, keep writing.

It usually doesn't come fast, nor does it usually come easy... but it's all the more satisfying for that.

Cheers!
Al B.

[stateboy]

 Ya, so i have to write a screenplay for my Genre apps. class. Being a first time writer, and not a very good one at that. I was hoping for a few pointers.