JOANNA ELM, Author, Journalist, Attorney
The Pleasures and Perils Of A Writing Life
Would you watch an online class if bestselling Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown was teaching how to write a thriller? If you’re trying to write one, my bet is you’d sign up pronto. I did. Yes, I did — even though you’d think I should have some idea of how to write one by now. After all, I’m just two weeks away from submitting a revised manuscript for Book3 to my editor. Continue reading “So You Want To Write A Thriller? Watch Dan Brown in MasterClass: Here’s Why”
If you are working on — or worse, thinking about starting work on — a spec screenplay, stop right now. Continue reading “Still Struggling With Your Spec Screenplay? Stop Right Now.”
Behind the Scenes is a series of occasional posts about my efforts to write a new thriller (working title, Book 3) and about the challenges, setbacks — and perks — of returning to a writing life. Today, the first of two parts: What I Learned In 3 Days with Story Guru, Robert McKee
Plotting is my very favorite part of the creative process. I scribble. I doodle. I get to play God for a little while: I push the characters around, and have things happen to them, and have them do things to others. I jot down key bits of dialog. Usually, I know how it’s going to end for the main characters. I do all this with pen and paper.
But there comes a time when I have to go to my desktop and keyboard to start writing chapter by chapter, pecking away letter by letter. Faced with a blank screen, I usually do what all, most, many writers do. I procrastinate. This time was no different. I rearranged the spices in my spice cabinet; I checked the expiration dates on all the condiments in the refrigerator; I made a very, very detailed schedule for writing. And, then I picked up all my notes and jottings, and wondered if I even had a good story?
“Only one way to find out,” I told my husband one day last April. “Gotta book myself into one of those three-day writers’ seminars.” I cleared my throat nervously. “It costs $865. But, you know, the guy’s brilliant.” Continue reading “What Makes A Good Story? (Behind the Scenes#2)”