Writer’s Manifesto: E is for Exercise
Exercise more than your mind. Movement helps you to think… …and rouses the muse from sleep. >Writer’s Manifesto (pdf)
Category: Writing
Writer’s Manifesto: D is for Discipline
Writing is fun, but it’s also work. Without focus you go round in circles and end up with a mess of words and no story. Be disciplined. >Writer’s Manifesto (pdf)
Writer’s Manifesto: C is for Craft
Learn the rules of your craft. Only break the rules when you understand why not breaking them would ruin your story. >Writer’s Manifesto (pdf)
Writer’s Manifesto: B is for Beginner’s Mind
When you begin, you know nothing. When you think you know what you’re doing – you don’t. Beginner’s Mind keeps your writing alive. >Writer’s Manifesto (pdf)
Writer’s Manifesto: Why I Write
I am a writer. There – I said it. I forget sometimes, and it’s good to remember. When I get bogged down with worry about marketing and paying the bills, it’s good to take a step back and reconnect with my purpose. So I decided to create a Writer’s Manifesto – from A to Zen: 26 short… Continue reading Writer’s Manifesto: Why I Write
How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 4 – Final Notes
The Euroscript development process was coming to an end and I received my final report from Fenella Greenfield in March 2009. So far in this series I’ve been focusing on the problems I had with the screenplay, but it’s important to mention the positive feedback too. Alongside the notes written into the script were brief… Continue reading How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 4 – Final Notes
How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 3 – Tone and Theme
The Euroscript development process was going well and the second report from Fenella Greenfield arrived in November 2008. This was when things started to get tricky. Second Rewrite Many of the problems of the previous draft had been addressed. Calum’s character arc was now clearer, well written and more intriguing; the central relationship between the… Continue reading How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 3 – Tone and Theme
How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 2 – Deconstruction
Winning the Euroscript Competition was the easy part. Next came a string of rewrites and learning how to deal with an intensive development process which made me feel challenged, elated, baffled, and conflicted by turns. The first script report from Fenella Greenfield arrived in August 2008 and was a shattering experience. It consisted of a… Continue reading How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 2 – Deconstruction
How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 1 – Idea
In 2008 I had a stroke of beginner’s luck when I won a screenwriting competition. The prize involved developing three drafts with a script editor, and this short series explores that process. First posted on my old blog in 2010, this rewritten version now includes extracts to illustrate the development of the script as I… Continue reading How to Develop a Screenplay: Part 1 – Idea
Zen in the Art of Writing – according to Ray Bradbury
In this great essay, Ray Bradbury gives us four words of advice that are essential for writing, or any kind of creativity: WORK RELAXATION DON’T THINK! ‘Work’ is self-explanatory. ‘Relaxation’ means getting into the Zone and letting the writing write itself. And ‘Don’t Think!’ means not second guessing yourself or interrupting the flow of Relaxation.… Continue reading Zen in the Art of Writing – according to Ray Bradbury
Science Proves Writing Is Good For You!
Writers have always known this, but writing every day can improve your physical and emotional health, and even make wounds heal faster. A variety of studies have found that just 20 minutes writing each day could change your life – for the better. And you don’t even have to be any good at it. The… Continue reading Science Proves Writing Is Good For You!
The Creative Process: Sharing your masterpiece
If the creative process has gone well, you should now be ready to share your work in the final stage: SHOWING. The moment of truth! As you work, writing and rewriting, there’s a constant internal pressure to share what you’re doing with others. Especially these days, now that our lives are enhanced/blighted (delete as appropriate)… Continue reading The Creative Process: Sharing your masterpiece
Jessica Davidson 