Writing question from Curious Jane:

Q: What is the difference between writing story for film, novel, or stage?

A: For starters: The spine, heart, and soul of the story are the same for all three mediums. But the formatting is obviously different. A novel might be 108,000 words or 400 pages, with chapters. Each scene and chapter need to be structured to include the spine, heart, and soul. A film script will be approximately 110 pages of time, location, setting, and dialog, but must include the spine, heart, and soul for every scene. A stage play will be 105 pages of time, location, setting, and dialog, allowing for a 2-act structure with a 15-minute intermission, but again, must include the spine, heart, and soul for every scene.

Writing question from Hopelessly Unfocused:

Q: I completed ten chapters of my novel, but I’m stuck. The document has been sitting in my computer for six months. I keep going back to it because I do want to finish it, but I’m feeling that I have lost direction.

A: De-constructing a broken house is more difficult than razing it to the ground and starting from scratch with an outline which should include: Character web, premise line, designing principle, hero’s goal, opponents’ goals, genre beats, twelve sequences with story beats, and more. Without this advance work, the writer will be lost and directionless. It’s happened to so many writers! Like refusing to read the directions for a new t.v., or study the history of an ancient town, or walk the walk of characters before writing even one word…advance planning will make the writing so much easier!

Writing question from Pantser Pat:

Q: I like to sit and write from the heart and let the process flow. I don’t see the point of structuring a story when I have it formulated in my head.

A: With my method of taking a month or six months or however long it takes to do an outline and develop characters and get down the premise line and the designing principle, and the genre story beats, it will then free up all the creative juices and you will write from the heart. But there’s no point in satisfying your own desire to avoid structure and then have your readers totally lost and frustrated. You might be able to self-publish, but your audience will not appreciate your lack of attention to the spine, heart, and soul of your story.

Writing question from Late to the Party:

Q: I’m eighty-years old and have been putting off telling the story of my life, so my grandchildren will have some feeling of heritage and pride in our family struggles. Is it too late to write a novel, film, or stage play?

A: Writing is the one art that travels the time universe without complaint. If you have a family history to relate and want to turn it into a novel, you can fictionalize some events and yet, follow structure at the same time and end up with a readable, enjoyable treasure for your offspring. You can journal your experiences as well. In journaling, there is a format to follow so that your readers don’t get bored or off-focus. You can write a compelling stage play or screenplay for film. The sky is the limit! Age has nothing to do with writing success. Great writing transcends all time!