STORYBOARD CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRODUCING EFFECTIVE SCENES
by Michael Neff
If you're working on a commercial fiction or narrative non-fiction manuscript, you will benefit if you view your project as possessing three layers of increasing complexity:
Layer I: Overall story premise and plot. These
involve top level decisions regarding major characters, the ove… Read all
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Literary Comparisons to Demonstrate The Creation of Competitive Fiction Narrative
Nabokov Defeats the Quiet, And Graves Conquers the Brits
Using Nabokov (Lolita) and Graves (Claudius The God) we examine a quiet setting and circumstance made lively, and a lively circumstance and setting made cinematic and engaging, respectively. First, the quiet made lively. Nabokov’s narrative pushes forward due to his gift for discerning meaning and detail in everyday l… Read all |
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"A Study in Third Person Point of View in Fiction and Novel Writing" by Michael Neff
A STUDY IN THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Lessons and Readings Necessary To The Creation of a Competitive Commercial Manuscript By Michael Neff Let's get right to the point on this issue. Yes, we know that CATCHER IN THE RYE and HUCKLEBERRY FINN could never have been the famous novels they were without the engaging first person voice … Read all |
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Strong Narrative Through Synergy: Samples of Powerful Fiction Narrative
Strong Narrative Through Synergy : Examples of Powerful Fiction Narrative
The art of great fiction writing (and why shouldn't we be great?) demands the writer must produce powerful, energetic narrative, and not just occasionally, but throughout the novel. Each narrative block is the result of a synergistic effect, i.e., multiple elements working together to create a totality of vivid and … Read all |
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"Writing The Six Act Two-Goal Novel" by Michael Neff
Author Salon has developed the Six Act Two-Goal novel structure
for writers of book-length fiction and nonfiction. We expect further
refinements to the outline, but the point here is to understand and
utilize a tightly plotted act structure,
similar to that used by screenplay writers, to effectively brainstorm
and outline a very competitive and suspenseful plot for the genre novel,
i.e… Read all
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"Author Salon Reviews Craft Points and Epiphany" by Michael Neff
AUTHOR SALON REVIEWS CRAFT POINTS AND EPIPHANY
Lessons and Readings Necessary To The Creation of a Competitive Commercial Manuscript By Michael Neff As noted in our piece on scene storyboards, if you're working on a commercial fiction or narrative non-fiction manuscript, you will benefit if you view your project as possessing thr… Read all |
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ENERGY IN OPPOSITION : THE FORCES WITHIN STRONG SCENES
THE FORCES NECESSARY TO PRODUCE EFFECTIVE SCENES
by Barbara Kyle Electricity. Magnetism. Every writer has a visceral understanding of those words applied to drama. We call a dynamic scene "electric"; a compelling character "magnetic." But that's the response of a consumer of art. As writers we need to be producers of artistic effects. We do it by bringing human relationships to… Read all |
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"Author Salon Plot Outline Guide" by Michael Neff: Story Acts and Briefs
"Plot Briefs," Glossary and Chart For the Six Act Two-Goal
by Michael Neff The Six Act Two-Goal Novel http://www.authorsalon.com/page/general/sixact/ The Plot, Setting and Conflict Outline (PSCO): http://authorconnect.authorsalon.com/uploads/PSCOguide.pdf The Plot, Setting and Conflict Outline (PSCO) Chart: by Kari Pilgrim with Assist by Joan Koster<… Read all |
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"The Novel Setting : Maximizing Opportunities For Verve and Uniqueness" by Michael Neff
THE ROLE OF ENERGETIC AND UNIQUE SETTINGS IN THE STORY
by Michael Neff When considering your novel, whether taking place in a contemporary urban world or on a distant magical planet in Andromeda, you must first sketch the best overall setting and sub-settings for your story. Consider: the more unique and intriguing (or quirky) your setting, the more easily you're able to create … Read all |
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"Whether Film Script or Fiction MS, Coverage Counts" by Michael Neff
FOUR CATEGORIES THAT DEFINE "COVERAGE"
by Michael Neff The below "coverage categories" are not always typical of what every agency uses, however, they are comprehensive and in use by several agencies. It provides a solid blueprint for dissection and discussion among professionals on staff. Each category is rated from Excellent to Good to Needs Work to Poor. Also, such c… Read all |