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EXPERT SERIES
by Michael Hauge Selling a screenplay or a novel is simple. It’s not easy, but it’s simple. First: write a great story. Then: get lots and lots of people to read it. You can have the greatest, most commercial, most brilliantly written screenplay or manuscript since The Godfather, but if you don’t get dozens of agents, managers, producers, editors and executives in the film or publishing industries to look at it, it’ll never get produced, and you’ll never reach the wide audience you long for. So how do you do that? How do you persuade all those powerful people that your work is worth their time, and is more likely to make them money, or fulfill their passion for storytelling, than the scores of other scripts and book proposals they already have to read? And how do you accomplish this seemingly impossible task when you have at best only a minute or two on the phone (or at a pitch fest), or maybe a half hour at a pitch meeting, before they hang up, turn away, or see you to the door? -- Continue Reading This Article >> Michael Hauge is a story consultant, author and lecturer who works with screenwriters, novelists, filmmakers and executives on their screenplays, film projects and development skills. His book Writing Screenplays That Sell, now in its thirtieth printing for HarperCollins, is a definitive reference book for the film and television industries. Michael has presented seminars and lectures to more than 35,000 participants throughout the US, Canada and Europe. One-on-One Coaching from Michael Hauge! Enjoyed the excerpt from the bestselling book, Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read? Want to know how you can receive personal coaching directly from Michael Hauge? The Writers Store is proud to offer a series of personal coaching packages - at surprisingly affordable prices - with Michael that will truly advance your pitching skills. Take this important step in your screenwriting career. To learn more about private sessions with pitch expert Michael Hauge, please click here. Michael Hauge - Half Hour Pitch Coaching by Michael Hauge Our Price: $100.00 Whether by phone, at a pitch mart, or in a formal pitch meeting, the way you talk about your project will make the difference between immediate rejection and quickly advancing your screenwriting, producing, or directing career. This package offers a half hour of coaching with Michael Hauge on your 60-second pitch. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Michael Hauge Our Price: In this highly-anticipated book, best-selling author Michael Hauge reveals how to design, practice, and present the 60-Second Pitch, a necessity for anyone trying to connect with Hollywood’s players. Also included are the 10 key components of a commercial story, the cardinal rule of pitching, and how to target your buyers. A must-read for all writers looking to market and sell a script or novel! -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Michael Hauge Our Price: Michael Hauge's DVD shows you how to guarantee that the people in power will read your screenplay. Learn the best way to begin your pitch, how to avoid the 5 biggest pitching mistakes, and much more! -- Place Your Order Here >> [ back to top ] THE TOP FIVE TOOLS Keep your Writing Resolution A new year brings a new opportunity to stick to a solid writing schedule. If you need a little help making sure you stay on track (and who doesn't?), these books, software programs and DVDs are sure to keep you motivated and inspired throughout 2007.
by Sherry Ellis Our Price: The exercises in Now Write! are practical and hands-on. By encouraging writers to employ proven techniques that have yielded books which have won National Book Awards, Pulitzers, and Guggenheim grants, Now Write! inspires the aspiring writer to write right now! -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Stephen King Our Price: Stephen King knows a lot about being a prolific writer - and he also knows what it's like to be utterly paralyzed by writer's block. This revealing and provocative book is presented on unabridged audio CD, and is read by the scare-meister himself. Listen to this expert guide to the writing craft before beginning any major creative project! -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Chris Baty Our Price: With a little determination and this high-octane kit to kick motivation into overdrive, writers can produce a 50,000-word book in an exhilarating, invigorating month long Noveling Adventure. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by LTW Productions Our Price: $39.95 Never get stuck wondering what comes next again. The TotallyWrite Development Suite features a structure paradigm developed by a working screenwriter, and includes a system for breaking down Act Two that is so ruthlessly easy, you will never get stuck on page 55 again. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Creative Screenwriting Our Price: A master class and a career seminar rolled into one, WORDPLAY is an entertaining and informative look at the art and business of screenwriting from the best of the best. This 10-hour DVD set will encourage career development and creativity for years to come. -- Place Your Order Here >> [ back to top ] EXPERT SERIES
by Dara Marks Growth is the by-product of a cycle that occurs in nature; that which flowers and fruits will also eventually wither and go to seed. The seed, of course, contains the potential for renewal, but does not guarantee it, nor does the seed instantly spring to new life. There is a necessary dormancy where the possibility of death holds life in suspended animation. In the cycles of our own lives, these near-death moments are rich with heightened dramatic possibilities that the writer wants to capitalize upon. These are the moments in the human drama where the stakes are the highest, where our choices matter the most: What's it going to be, life or death? For a story to be dramatically interesting and thematically important, the protagonist must be at the point of great internal combustibility, where the conflict in his or her outer life demands inner transformation if survival is to be achieved. This brings up the most essential demand for a well-dramatized script: In order to create a story that expresses the arc of transformation, a need for that transformation must be established. It is within this context that I can best define the fatal flaw of character. -- Continue Reading This Article >> Dara Marks, Ph.D., author of Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc, is a writer and leading international script consultant who has devoted the last twenty years to the development of a groundbreaking approach to the theory of the transformational arc and screenplay structure. Her unique method of story analysis has earned her top ratings by Creative Screenwriting Magazine as the best consultant in the business. She has worked with most major Hollywood studios and many independent filmmakers and has recently received a doctorate degree in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Meet Dara Marks at The Writers Store Join Dara Marks at The Writers Store on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. for a seminar and the launch of her first book, Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc. Following her stimulating lecture, join Dara for beverages and snacks and have your copy of this ground-breaking book signed by the author herself. Please RSVP by emailing us at RSVP@WritersStore.com, by calling one of our friendly product consultants at (800) 272-8927 or by coming in to the store at 2040 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
by Dara Marks Our Price: Whether you're a beginning screenwriter or an A-list Academy Award winner, all writers struggle with the same thing: to get to the great script inside. Through her new book, Inside Story, Dara Marks delivers what the name implies: the real inside scoop on how to write a great screenplay with depth, dimension, and substance. -- Place Your Order Here >> [ back to top ] EVERYDAY WRITING Create your Networking Profile with Help from The Writers Store Ask any Hollywood heavyweight to name the key to Industry success, and you'll likely hear the same response: Networking. In this town, it's not what you know, but who you know, and forging relationships is essential to making and sustaining a screenwriting or filmmaking career. A great place to start developing professional relationships is at the StoryLink.com website. The first step in starting your free StoryLink account is to create a personal profile. While writing about one's self can strike fear in the heart of even the most experienced writer, a winning professional profile is an important and powerful marketing tool. If you're ready to start connecting with other writers and filmmakers, follow The Writers Store's guide to profile creation and start networking on StoryLink.com today! 3 Easy Steps for Creating an Effective Professional Profile 1. Take Stock. Before you begin your profile, take inventory of your creative life and experience and think about what you can offer other writers and filmmakers, and what you're looking for in return. Here are some questions to ask yourself: What is my creative objective? What are my special creative skills and experience? What are my personal attributes, and how do they relate to the creative field? What is my educational experience and what are my accomplishments? What professional experience have I had? What am I looking to gain from a networking experience? 2. Sell Yourself. Once you've established your skills and experience, you can write a professional biography, or an "about me" section. Think of yourself as a product you're selling. Since you're looking to market you, why not incorporate a time-tested advertising principle – AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) – to attract potential networking contacts? A – Attention: Attract the attention of the reader with an interesting Headline or objective, indicating in a sentence who you are and what you seek. Some good examples from StoryLink.com that grab attention: -Action Screenwriter Seeking Likeminded Scribes for Writing Group -From Spanish Rock to Men's Mags, Looking for a New Subject -Writing Daily No Matter What -Helping Writers & Artists Take it to the Next Level! -Looking for New, Original Screenplays -Want to collaborate on a comedy script? -Established Screenwriter with Polished Scripts for Sale I - Interest: Raise reader interest by discussing qualities unique to you as a creative individual. The key here is to talk about what makes you stand out from the crowd. -"Karl Iglesias is a screenwriter and sought-after script doctor and consultant, specializing in the reader’s emotional response to the written page." -"My friends have always used my name as an adjective, i.e. 'That's so Dana' or 'You just pulled a Dana.' Hmm, could there be a story in that?" -"With a specialization in online communities, Shane has led the production of web sites, which have informed and entertained millions of people. D - Desire: Convince the reader that you make an attractive networking contact. Similar to a resume, you want to show your potential contact what you can offer. Read writer Richie Solomon's introduction, and see if you don't want to have him as a networking contact: -"Richie Solomon has appeared on numerous talk shows, including The Tonight Show and Larry King Live. He has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times and even inspired a classic episode of Seinfeld." A - Action: Lead readers towards taking action by contacting you. Be sure to close your profile with information on what type of contacts you seek, your website (if you have one) and any further information, such as groups you're part of, and contact details. 3. Check. Then Recheck. Sounds like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people don't take the time to read over their bio and resume before posting. Spell-check won't cut it, as it doesn't catch homophones - words pronounced alike, but spelled differently. If you don't know the difference between there, their and they're, get thee to an editor right away. Or better yet, why not search StoryLink for an experienced editor to read over your profile? What a great way to start networking now! Remember, the secret to a great profile is personality. Be sure to let your individuality shine through in your writing, and you're sure to gain both personal and professional contacts to help along your creative career. [ back to top ] WRITERS STORE PRESENTS FREE Events at The Writers Store in January and February 2007 brings another first-class line-up of writing and filmmaking speakers to The Writers Store. We invite you to join us to glean valuable insight into creativity from these experts of the craft. Remember - all of these incredible events are free, but advanced reservations are required. For more information on the events listed below, and to RSVP online, please visit the StoryLink.com Event Page. More Ways to Reserve your Spot at an Event Send an email to RSVP@WritersStore.com Call one of our friendly product consultants at (800) 272-8927 Stop by the store at 2040 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 See you there! FEATURED EVENT James Bonnet's "Story for Writers" Series Saturday, January 27, 2007 Time: 2:00 pm James Bonnet, internationally known writer, teacher, story consultant and author of Stealing Fire from the Gods, will talk about his new "Story for Writers" DVD Series, which unveils the mysteries of the Universal Story Structure and the secrets that drive all great stories and films. This extraordinary journey inside the process of storymaking reveals the mysteries that made fairy tales and all the great classics so powerful and enduring – the secrets that made the top grossing films so successful – and the principles that can guide you to a profound understanding of story and the creative process and a true mastery of the storymaker's art.
by James Bonnet Our Price: James Bonnet's eagerly awaited new DVD series guides you through the fundamentals that drive all great stories - including The Creative Unconscious, The Essence of Story, The Power of the Threat, The Character Archetypes, The Subject, The Golden Paradigm, The Storywheel and much, much more. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by James Bonnet Our Price: $350.00 Los Angeles, February 10-11, 2007 James Bonnet's students rave to The Writers Store about the priceless storytelling principles they learn in his live class. Storymaking is truly a life-changing course - take it live in Los Angeles in February! -- Place Your Order Here >> Storyboard like a Pro with FrameForge 3D Studio Thursday, January 18, 2007 Time: 6:00 pm Want to see what's possible in the insanely cool FrameForge 3D Studio 2? View a scene from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill created in FrameForge by one of our Team Members by clicking here. You won't believe your eyes! Learn the fundamentals of storyboarding – FrameForge style – with this unique demonstration of how you can use the ultimate previsualization tool to create dynamic presentations, lower production costs, and fine-tune your artistic vision. This free event will cover the NEW ADDITIONS TO VERSION 2.5! Learn about the following updates that even further set FrameForge apart from the competition: Tweening: Choose two frames in your Shot Manager and have FrameForge 3D create as many intermediary steps between them as you want. This can include moving objects, poses, and camera positions. Pose Intensity: Instead of just choosing a pose, choose exactly how much of the pose to apply on top of the current pose. Export to Quicktime: Now your slideshows can export to Quicktime for easier integration with Final Cut Pro. SPECIAL OFFER! Attendees who purchase a copy of FrameForge at the event receive a free book - "The Film Director Prepares" by UCLA film school professor Myrl Schreibman, featuring interactive storyboards using FrameForge! Also available is the FrameForge 3D Studio Essential Training For just $89, this guided tour shines a bright light into all major use and design features of this revolutionary previsualization software. Get up to speed in record time and be confident knowing every benefit your investment in FrameForge brings. To learn more about the course, please click here.
by Innoventive Software, LLC Our Price: Sit back in your Director's chair and watch as your script comes to life with FrameForge 3D Studio. Unlike the convoluted storyboarding software of the past, FrameForge makes it effortless to plan and present your screenplay like never before. -- Place Your Order Here >> The Writer's Creativity Cure You Need to Succeed with Dr. Rachel Ballon Thursday, January 25 Time: 6:00 pm Noted Creativity Coach, writing teacher and licensed Psychotherapist in Private Practice, Dr. Rachel Ballon - aka "Doc Hollywood" - will help you realize your professional dreams and share her one-of-a kind creativity counseling and coaching secrets to shed light on a different aspect of the writing life. From conquering "Page Fright" and procrastination to tapping in to your subconscious and nurturing the writer within, Dr. Ballon invites you to sit down on the couch and charge up your creativity, productivity and motivation.
by Rachel Ballon, Ph.D. Our Price: Complete with humorous yet prescriptive sample writer/shrink dialogues right from Doc Hollywood's case files, and full of practical strategies, The Writer's Portable Therapist is every writer's best friend, mother, and shrink - all rolled into one! -- Place Your Order Here >> Writers Discussion of DREAMGIRLS and THE GOOD GERMAN Saturday, January 27 Time: 11:00 am Writers Discussion Group Leader Dan Decker leads a discussion on the smash hits DREAMGIRLS and THE GOOD GERMAN from a writer's perspective. Topics range from story structure to character development within these blockbuster films already making a splash during this busy awards season.
by Bill Condon Our Price: The Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook of Dreamgirls features over 150 full-color photographs, the complete screenplay, and lyrics to all the unforgettable musical numbers from the original show as well as new songs written especially for the film. -- Place Your Order Here >> "Independent Filmmaking Using Gorilla 4" Tutorial DVD Premiere and Demonstration Thursday, February 8 Time: 6:00 pm The makers of Gorilla 4 are proud to present the new "Independent Filmmaking Using Gorilla 4" DVD tutorial. The first five people to RSVP for this event will receive the tutorial DVD absolutely FREE, courtesy of Jungle Software, the makers of Gorilla! Gorilla 4 has a fresh new look and feel, making the easiest production software even simpler. With a host of robust new features, G4 promises to deliver whether you're an independent or studio filmmaker. In this enlightening presentation, learn about G4's new features, including: Completely Updated Interface Over 3,000 up-to-date Labor Rates (Subscription-based) Element Linking and Blackout Dates Support for Exporting Payroll Information Automatically E-mail Cast and Crew Enhanced Shot Lists and Storyboard Module And much, much more!
by Jungle Software Our Price: Gorilla's DVD tutorial covers how to import your screenplay, breakdown your script, enter elements, link elements together, add blackout dates, schedule cast and crew, import a schedule directly into a budget, track expenses against budget, and much, much more. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Jungle Software Our Price: Completely updated, Gorilla 4 has been improved in every way. Over 70 new features give you everything you need to manage your entire production. From Pre-production through Production to Post Production, Gorilla contains everything the filmmaker or video maker needs to make a movie. -- Place Your Order Here >> Emotional Structure with Peter Dunne Saturday, February 10 Time: 11:00 am The Opening is hot. The Climax is fantastic. And everything in between is a mess. Welcome to the screenwriter’s worst nightmare. And welcome to the world of Peter Dunne’s Emotional Structure: Creating the Story Beneath the Plot as he offers solid, creative solutions to the problems inherent in the most misunderstood and feared element of a screenplay, that of the story’s underlying meaning. Learn the priciples of Emotional Structure directly with Peter Dunne at The Writers Store. Because without understanding Emotional Structure, the beginning, middle, and end most often become the beginning, the muddle, and the end. Turn your script’s puzzles into your script’s power!
by Peter Dunne Our Price: Peter Dunne takes the reader through a step-by-step process of creating a script that has plot structure, conflict and crisis, scene construction, dialogue, and special emphasis on the story's emerging internal energy as the connective tissue and driving force. -- Place Your Order Here >> [ back to top ] NEWS YOU CAN USE Novel Ideas with NPR Through Novel Ideas, National Public Radio (NPR) poses simple questions to today's popular fiction writers to explain the essence of creating a novel, from how they write to their approach to writer's block. New responses from authors are posted on a daily basis. To read the column, visit the NPR website. Want to read more tips from bestselling authors? The Writers Store has a wonderful collection of books that feature interviews and advice from top fiction writers. Learn from the best!
by Jon Winokur Our Price: In Advice to Writers, author Jon Winokur gathers the counsel of more than four hundred celebrated authors in a treasury on the world of writing. Here are literary lions on everything from the passive voice to promotion and publicity. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Janet Evanovich (with) Ina Yalof, Alex Evanovich Our Price: Successful novelist Janet Evanovich details the elements of writing and publishing a novel and addresses all categories of fiction, from mystery/thriller/action titles to romance, while offering practical and inspiring advice on such subjects as structuring a plot and handling rejection. -- Place Your Order Here >>
by Ann Rittenberg, Laura Whitcomb Our Price: A fresh look at a perennial topic, this book offers insider instruction on writing and publishing your first novel from the perspectives of a published author and an experienced agent. With advice from many successful authors, this guide will become an essential reference. -- Place Your Order Here >> [ back to top ] CONTACT US Drop Us a Line What would you like to see in the next eZine? The Writers Store aims to provide fascinating and motivating articles for writers of all genres, and now we want to hear from you! Let us know what kind of articles and features you enjoy and what you want to read about. Send us an email at eZine7@WritersStore.com. We look forward to hearing from you! [ back to top ] Quote Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. -- Joseph Pulitzer
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| All special pricing contained in this eZine will expire Tuesday, January 23, 2007. Please forward this eZine to your friends and colleagues. No permission required if forwarded intact. To speak directly with one of our knowledgeable product consultants please phone toll free 1-800-272-8927 from US or Canada. International callers dial 01-310-441-5151 Ext. 2. Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm. The opinions expressed in this eZine are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Writers Store(R). The Writers Store eZine may not be reproduced in whole or in part in print or posted on the Web or used in any other fashion without written permission from the Writers Store(R). Please visit other sites by The Writers Store: HollywoodGateway.com | Screenwriting.info | Playwriting101.com | WritersUniversity.com Copyright (c) 1996-2006 The Writers' Computer Store(r), LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
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