Category Archives: writing

Scrivenings

. . . looking to maybe crank something out over the summer. Not talking the columned A/V stuff for commercials, but what’s the best software to write feature screenplays in? One that catches sentence-ending prepositions? I kid; I kid. Honestly, … Continue reading

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In Treatment

“There are way too many autobiographies. I mean, who cares?” – Paul Weston By now, you know the premise for this HBO series: one therapist sees five patients, each with their own half-hour session once a week, a new episode … Continue reading

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Perjiarism

She stole a piece of him. Now he wants it back. That’s the tagline to what is now my least-favorite movie, based on one of my all-time favorite novels. When you understand that the woman who “wrote” and directed it … Continue reading

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Book Learnin vs. Dirty Hands

I would love to hear, from your point of view, whether a fine arts degree worth its pursuit. Our province has many opportunities for folks in the creative community to work in the industry — both amateur and professional — … Continue reading

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Going on Location

Talking writing here. Location is not simply what “frames the picture.” As the scribe of your story, if you consider yourself its cinematographer or cameraman and the reader as projectionist, then location is your film stock. (Yeah, so it’s also … Continue reading

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Literary Ventriloquism

so what’s your take on how to write good, engaging, and realistic dialogue? i’ve heard some writers say that you should never use “he saids” and “she saids”. other writers say you HAVE to identify who’s talking at least every … Continue reading

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Dirty Words

Cover your virgin ears, we’re about to dive into the vile netherworld of profanity. This topic polarizes people. On one side are the folks who preface every decision with “is it good for the children?” On the other are the … Continue reading

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Manufacturing Fear

Depending on who you listen to, our greatest fears as humans are either: terrorists, spiders, and death; or loss of identity, rejection, and humiliation. There’s not much documentation to support a collective fear of Slovakian hostels, finger-knives, the undead, mechagodzillas, … Continue reading

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Red Zone Writing

It’s a great feeling when you can “see the light” at the end of a long-form work like a novel. A premature sense of accomplishment sets in, followed by the creeping dread of anxiety. But how the hell am I … Continue reading

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Theme vs. Plot

I haven’t really written anything yet because I’m struggling to come up with a theme for [the book]. Also, would you agree that all the stories have already been told before? Yes, there’s really nothing new under the sun from … Continue reading

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