Every time that I'm stuck in my writing it's usually because I don't like what I've written and feel I can't go on without fixing it or I don't know what comes next and have to stop until I do figure out what comes next. I had a story where I knew I wanted a woman cornered by the two men in an alleyway with seemingly no escape but then something happens and she does escape and the men have to continue the chase. But I didn't know how.
Then I read about a writing technique from John Vorhaus, whose book
Creativity Rules, is full of such creative exercises, that seemed to help. The theory of the technique is that when your stuck it's because you don't have enough information about your story to figure out what comes next. So it recommends that you brainstorm a detailed list about the details in your story. Setting, characters, action beats. Anything to get your mind immersed in the moment of the story so you can hear, taste even touch that story moment in your minds eye.
So I did that. I brainstormed a list about the woman what she was wearing, what she was doing and the same for the two men. Then I began a list about the alleyway they were in and that's when I realized there were doors in the alleyway leading into the backs of stores on the main street. But I knew they were locked. She had probably tried a few while the men closed in on her. They knew she was trapped in that alleyway. They relaxed, maybe even grinned, happy the chase was over when suddenly one of the doors flew open. Someone was taking out the garbage. She did a beeline for the door and escaped into a laundry. It worked!
Two MEN follow close behind. The first man big and burly. The other short and mousy looking.
The WOMAN steps off the curb. A YELLOW TAXI CAB screeches to a hault almost hitting her. The women recoils in fright.
As she runs down it she comes to a dead end. All brick walls and locked doors. She
turns back. Only to see the two MEN enter the alleyway.
She begins to back down the alleyway again away from them. They close on
her each taking a side of the alleyway, blocking her escape.
The woman backpedals, Stepping over grabage, broken glass, bumping into a garbage can.
She begins to franticaly try the various doors on either side of the alleyway. Pulling on the doorhandles one after another, trying in vain to get one to open.
The MEN smile to one another. They know they have her cornered.
A CHINESE WORKER carries out a bundle of cotten linen.
The WOMAN flees into the LAUNDRY.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Using lists creatively
An explanation of sorts...
I'm currently an up and coming screenwriter looking for my first sale. What I wanted to do on this blog was document my writing process and collect all the random thoughts, ideas, exercises and experiences in one place that could serve as a road map of my creative/career progress.
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