Perspective – ETB

#WritingAdviceWednesday – Writing Exercises: What About You?

Laurie Hutzler — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 07:00:05 +0000

Writing Advice Wednesday

It’s exercises like the one below that form part of my One Hour Screenwriter course, which will help you write an entire feature film script in 22 weeks. You can purchase it at the shop here. You can also read testimonies here that show my methods have worked for a variety of writers.

This week, it’s time to take a long, hard look at yourself…

Learn to Write What You Can Write

There isn’t a writer anywhere in the world that hasn’t felt overwhelmed, paralyzed, stymied or stuck. This feeling is a natural part of the writing process. It is a signal to stop and let the creative unconscious do its work.

It’s like trying to forcefully recall the name of a song on the tip of your tongue. The harder you try to think of the name the further it recedes from your grasp. The same is true with writing.

Does that mean you should stop writing and wait for inspiration to strike? No! It means you should prime the pump to get the creative juices flowing. How do you do that?

Write what you can write. Don’t worry about what you can’t write. Do a writing exercise or start with yourself.

For example: Answer the following questions in as much detail as possible:

1) Aside from writing well, what is the one thing you would like to do before you die?

2) What is your favorite thing about the physical space in which you live? Why?

3) Aside from your writing tools, house or car, what is the one physical inanimate object you couldn’t live without? Why?

4) Aside from writing, what is the one subject you are most opinionated about or the most passionate about? Why?

5) What’s the best decision you ever made? Why?

6) If you unexpectedly won $500, what would you do with the money?

7) What’s the best thing you ever got as a present? Why?

8) What is your ideal vacation or holiday trip? Why?

9) What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to someone?

10) If you came back to life in a different career or profession, what would it be? Why?

11) What makes you feel in touch with your higher self? What makes you feel inspired or transcendent or moved in a profound way?

12) What is your lucky charm or talisman? Or has some object or item followed you around from place to place? It might be something silly you just like to have around? What is it?

Do you see any interesting patterns or recurring themes in your answers? What do your answers say about you? What themes, issues or words keep coming up? List these patterns and themes in your answers.

Now, answer the 12 questions for your main character.

Do you see patterns or themes you can explore?

What would drive your character crazy?

What would push your character outside his or her comfort zone?

What would make your character angry, upset or anxious?

What could you take away that would make your character miserable?

What would devastate or destroy your character?

What would make your character panic or lose control?

How many story events about those themes, patterns or situations can you create?

Add and embellish your notes. And keep writing!

Video Essay of the Week

I’m a huge fan of the most recent Planet of the Apes movies, and the second part of the trilogy, in particular, demonstrates the importance of perspective and thinking about the perspective of characters:

Let me know what you think of this week’s writing exercise by emailing me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you as we go forward with more of these writing exercises. We’ll be back in the New Year with more writing exercises. Time to enjoy the holidays!

Until next time, remember- all you need to do is Get Started and Keep Going! But perhaps take Christmas off- you’ve earned it.

– Laurie

Iron Lady

Laurie Hutzler — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:11:17 +0000

I saw IRON LADY and Meryl Streep does give a tremendous performance– but the film didn’t work for me because there was no point of view. The film is just a series of vignettes.

As a character she is looking back but there was no larger vision, greater perspective or sense of how that era should ultimately be judged. Lots of swirling riot scenes and flashing headlines but again vignettes. (Also no sense of what it costs the national soul to abandon those weakest and most vulnerable in favor a “self-reliance” not all can achieve– especially if they are very young children or very elderly).

When I was in London during that era she was called “Margret Thatcher the Milk Snatcher” because she cut nutritional programs in school for poor children).

Also the film has very little character development. She wants to get elected, her first campaign is a failure, she does get elected, she rules and then she is deposed. It’s very linear and episodic despite the fractured structure of the film.

We see clearly what she wants (and thinks) but we never see what she needs in the sense of a deeper human longing and we don’t ever see what it cost her to make the choices she does.

A small cost is hinted at in her absent son but she’s very comfortable, with a dutiful daughter (whom she mostly ignores) and she is unrepentant in all things. IMO The Queen was a much better movie with an equally strong female performance by Helen Mirren.

I saw IRON LADY at a WGA screening and Meryl Streep does give a tremendous performance– but the film ultimately didn’t work for me because it has no point of view. The narrative is just a series of personal and political vignettes.

As a character she is looking back but there is no larger vision, greater perspective or sense of how that era should ultimately be judged. There are lots of swirling riot scenes and flashing headlines about the times but again they are just visual vignettes.

The film provides no larger sense of what it costs the national soul to abandon those weakest and most vulnerable in favor a “self-reliance” not all can achieve– especially if they are very young children or very elderly. When I was in London during that era she was called “Maggie Thatcher the Milk Snatcher” because she cut nutritional programs in school for poor children.

Streep has very little character development to work with. Maggie wants to get elected, her first campaign is a failure, she does get elected, she rules and then she is deposed. It’s very linear and episodic narrative progression despite the fractured structure of the film. Streep’s performance is a brilliant impersonation but doesn’t rise beyond that because of the script’s limitations.

We see clearly what the main character wants (and thinks) but we never see what she needs in the sense of a deeper human longing and we don’t ever see what it cost her to make the choices she does. A small cost is hinted at in her absent son but she’s very comfortable, has the attention of a dutiful daughter (whom she mostly ignores) and she is unrepentant in all things.

The Queen is a much better movie with an equally strong female performance by Helen Mirren and a powerful narrative arc. See my analysis of that film here.

Why a Character’s Worldview is Important

Laurie Hutzler — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:48:51 +0000

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Anais Nin. That is an incredibly important concept in creating authentic characters. Understanding the very different World Views of the Nine Character Types can make an tremendous difference in clarifying and sharpening your writing.

A character’s World View is how the character believes the world works, his or her perceived role in the world, the character’s philosophy of life and love and a definition of what constitutes a personal goal worth pursuing.

It is impossible for a character to act inconsistently with how the character sees him or herself. For example, a Power of Truth character believes the world is full of hidden pitfalls and secret agendas while a Power of Excitement character sees the world as as a grand playground filled with unlimited opportunities. A Power of Conscience character sees the world as a moral proving ground while a Power of Ambition character sees the world as a ladder of status, success and achievement. A Power of Idealism character sees the world a canvass on which to make a personal mark, unique statement or work of art while a Power of Imagination character sees the world as an opportunity to collaborate and build a community with others. A Power of Reason character sees the world as a logical puzzle to be solved with intelligence and factual expertise while a Power of Love character sees the world as an opportunity to love and be loved. A Power of Will character simply sees the world as a battle ground or jungle divided into predators and prey.

Each of these Character Types will react very differently to any challenge, opportunity or threat that comes across their path.