About Writing - Tags

This is an excerpt from an ABC Book Show interview between Jennifer Byrne and best-selling Welsh novelist, Ken Follett. I thought it was a great interview that captured the essence of what makes a successful novel and reflects many of the key principles we apply in our courses at the Writers’ Studio.

In her background briefing of Follett she said, “I think it’s fair to say you went somewhat slowly to the top. Ten books which went nowhere, then the eleventh – Eye Of The Needle, which sold over ten million copies.

Writing is an art and a craft. If you want to write a novel or screenplay that other people are going to want to read, you have to learn how to craft your story from beginning to end.

In this blog we are going to talk about the critical opening of your story.

John Truby is a Hollywood screenwriting teacher and story consultant who shares many of the beliefs we hold about the process of storytelling and structure.

One of the key lessons we took away from this interview with him is that a good story and good writing comes as a result of sound structure and a well thought out, step-by-step process. You cannot really judge your work until you’ve completed the process.

Writing a powerful story is a four part process – planning, writing, re-writing and editing.

In a recent interview, American screenwriting structure teacher, John Truby talks about the importance of structure and planning when writing a story.

Bob Mayer is the author of The Fiction Writers’ Toolkit.

He has published 30 fiction books and has two million books in print, translated into eight languages.

Daring is the X factor in creativity. That ability to take chances and explore the unknown. The American novelist, Eudora Welty said, “If you can’t be a genius, imitate the daring.”

Gore Verbinski, who directed the Pirates of the Carribean series and now the animated Western, Rango, gives some intriguing insights into his creative process in a recent interview.