Writing Center Archives Vol. 1, Issue 8 at
Please note that this is an archival copy. It has not been changed from the original; as such, not all links will work properly! For the most up-to-date information, check out the Writing Center web site or associated Evergreen web sites.
Write On
Weekly writing information and resources from the Evergreen Writing Center
Vol. 1, Issue 8 [View Other Issues]
Visit the Writing Center's brand new Web site!
This week’s theme: Screenwriting
Quotation of the Week
"The challenge of screenwriting is to say much in little and then
take half of that little out and still preserve an effect of leisure and
natural movement."
-- Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)
Tip of the Week: Important Tips for Screenwriters
Written by Emily Dilling, Screenwriter and Writing Center Tutor
- Use more visuals and fewer words. We’ve all
heard the old writing maxim "show, don’t tell," and
nowhere does this apply more than in screenwriting. A wordy screenplay
is a bad sign; remember you are working in a visual medium.
- Avoid being too specific. If you are trying to sell
your screenplay, specific directions will be a major turn-off to potential
buyers. Those choices will be made by directors, costume designers,
set designers, and make-up artists.
- Focus on suspense and action. These two elements
drive your story. Focus on the question, "What does the main character
want?" The answer to that question will generate conflict, suspense,
and action, A.K.A. plot.
- Rewrite, rewrite, then rewrite more. A first draft is just a start, not a finished product. The last thing you want is to send off a sloppy screenplay. Assume your readers are educated and able to identify errors and style problems.
At the Writing Center, we have tutors that specialize in assisting screenwriters with their work. If you’d like a fresh pair of eyes on your screenplay, then come by and make an appointment. You can find us in Library 3407, or call 867- 6420 to make an appointment with a tutor.
Web Site Review – www.Script-O-Rama.com
For those screenwriters who learn best by example, Script-O-Rama is a dream come true. Here you will find links to hundreds of scripts, all in various forms. The collection includes completed scripts, unused drafts, and shooting drafts of a variety of films.
Script-O-Rama provides a screenwriter with sources from many different genres, from drama to horror to comedy. The polished screenplays found on this page are good examples of what a screenwriter should strive for.
We highly recommend www.Script-O-Rama.com to aspiring screenwriters and movie buffs, if for no other reason than to print out The Big Lebowski script and make sure you really do have all the lines memorized.
Writing Center News
**Summative Evaluations Workshop**
Wednesday, May 28th, 4:30-6:00pm, Library 3500
Summative evaluations are a valuable addition to your transcript. This workshop will help you understand what they are, how they function in your transcript, and how to write them.
This spring the Writing Center will present an entire series of open workshops, from "Avoiding Plagiarism" to "Writing Evaluations." For a complete list of workshops, check out the Workshop section of our Web site.
Stump the Tutors
Each week in this section we'll answer questions on various writing-related issues submitted by our readers. This week's question:
Q: What is the proper usage of the word "momentarily"?
A: We're glad you asked! Momentarily is one of the more frequently misused words in the English language. Although many of us have used it to mean "in a moment," the correct definition is "for a moment," as in, "Bruce Wayne paused momentarily to gaze upon the wonder of his Batman suit."
The sentence, "The commissioner will be in to see you momentarily," actually means, "The commissioner will come in and see you for a short time." Although it is clear the speaker of this sentence means, "The commissioner will see you in a moment," this usage is vastly disapproved of by grammarians and the American Heritage Usage Panel.