In a previous blog examining "Anatomy of Story:22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller," I noted author John Truby's rejection of Syd Field's widely adopted schematic approach, which prescribes placing plot points and act breaks at or near specific page numbers, as part of a screenplay's three act structure. I further noted that Truby's key concept is the "designing principle," the original way of organizing...
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Could you please tell me how to write a salable screenplay? I'm reading John Truby's "The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller," and I can tell you right now it's going to be no help at all. Did I mention there are 22 steps? Besides the 22 steps, there's an algebraic formula: W + A = C, where W=weakness, A=action and...
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I'm reading John Truby's "Anatomy of Story:22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller."

What attracted me to Truby is his rejection of Syd Field's mechanical, schematic approach: the set-up must occur by page 10, there must be a major plot point on page 30, at the close of Act I, etc. The advantage of Field's approach is that it's specific. It gives you a definite...
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Since only one person expressed interest in a SuicideGirls screenwriting group, I've decided to drop the idea.

Speaking of screenplays, I really need to get going on a new one. This time, I'm trying John Truby's 22 step method. Don't know if it'll work for me. Twenty-two--those sure are a whole lot of steps.

Oh well, it's worth a shot, I guess.

I'm thinking of starting a new SG group, one devoted to screenwriting.

The group's object would be to answer specific screenwriting questions, about such things as proper formating, and to discuss more general matters, like screenwriting approaches. Which approach makes the most sense—that advocated by Syd Field, John Truby, or Robert McKee? Or perhaps one advanced by someone else?

What about screenplay contests? Which is...
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Just finished "Ulysses." Don't think I'll be reading any 800-page Modernist novels for a while.

I've been getting a lot of script uploads on Inktip, a web site that tries to match screenwriters with agents and producers.

"Bordertown" was uploaded by different producers 3 times this month. "Jilted," the other screenplay I listed on the site, was uploaded once in late March. Also regarding "Jilted," I responded recently to leads in the Inktip newsletter and received 2 requests to upload...
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Poor Japanan earthquake, a tsunami, a nuclear reactor meltdown.

What's next? An attack from Godzilla?

I've been having computer problems, so haven't been on Suicidegirls lately.

I'm getting a new computera Mac this time. I hope I have better luck with it than I've had with my PCs.

Jets vs. Patriots, here we go again.

I hope the Jets are ready this time.

They were ready. Now it's on to Pittsburgh for the AFC championship game.