Authoring & Playwriting

For all the authors and playwrights in our community, a place to discuss, share content and post tips and advice.

Leonardo Ramirez
FREE educational webinar on Netflix’s smash hit ADOLESCENCE!

Want a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most successful global streaming hits of all time?Stage 32 is hosting a FREE educational webinar on Netflix’s smash hit ADOLESCENCE, and it’s packed with invaluable insight for filmmakers, cinematographers, producers, actors, ADs, production managers—anyon...

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Maurice Vaughan

This webinar was incredible, Sarah Lucas! Thanks for taking the time to host the webinar and answer our questions!

Mark Deuce

This is going to be epic!!

Maurice Vaughan

The recording is up! If anyone missed the webinar or want to rewatch it, here's the link: www.stage32.com/education/products/filming-adolescence-how-the-ad-team-m......

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Chiara Torrisi
When the story asks to change the setting

The blog post about locations in movies (https://www.stage32.com/blog/coffee-content-making-movie-magic-with-smar...) offers interesting food for thought, sharing a video about Why Your Favorite Movies Fake Their Locations.

It applies to novels too: even if writing doesn't have budget constraints, s...

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Leonardo Ramirez

Definitely Chiara Torrisi. I like the idea behind fictional settings so I changed the setting for "Haven of Dante" from Chicago to "Charity Vane". The idea was that the city was a character all its ow...

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Chiara Torrisi

Oh I like the idea to turn the city into a character, @Leonardo Ramirez! And it suits perfectly your story, since Dante's poetry is full of allegories. Great idea

Chiara Torrisi

I see, Maurice Vaughan, sometimes real places just feel too limiting. I think it applies especially to stories where mood and atmosphere are fundamental, like horror and mystery....

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Maurice Vaughan

You're right, Chiara Torrisi. Sometimes real places feel too limiting. Yeah, it applies especially to stories where mood and atmosphere are fundamental, like Horror and Mystery. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and A...

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Kat Spencer
A little inspiration for your weekend...

What's one creative goal you have for this weekend?

Kat Spencer

Maurice Vaughan How is that going? I am helping an author finish their book and revamping my websites. Tomorrow . . . I shall take the day off :D

Kat Spencer

Debra Holland Good luck!!

Jon Shallit

Trying to keep the thumbs busy on a video game script. It is the most difficult things you can imagine. Now at 62500 words (3 full features length). And you have to be creative in showing scene change...

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Maurice Vaughan

It's going great, Kat Spencer. I'm thinking of exciting ideas for my script. Looking forward to seeing your revamped websites.

Ashley Renee Smith
Let’s Talk Editing: What Comes After the Rough Draft?

You’ve typed “The End” on your manuscript… now what?

For many authors, the real work begins after the rough draft is done. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to even begin shaping your story, this video from author Sarra Cannon breaks down her editing process step-by-step:

“How To Edit A...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Leonardo Ramirez, You know a love for pie is something we share, my friend! I think there’s something powerful about pairing that celebratory moment with giving yourself a bit of space before diving b...

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Leonardo Ramirez

You know it my friend Ashley Renee Smith!

Chiara Torrisi

Good question, Ashley Renee Smith. While editing, I've never suggested a whole rewrite because I edit only ready stories. Before taking a job, I offer a free sample: this way, the author sees how I wo...

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Debra Holland

I edit and flesh out as I go, so when I'm finished with the book I'm basically done. I have a final edit where the computer reads the book to me. Then it's off to the developmental editor. After those...

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Leonardo Ramirez

Debra Holland Is there a program that you use for the computer to read back to you? So sorry to hear about your mom. Mine has dementia and my dad passed from Alzheimer’s.

Chiara Torrisi
Writing prompts to fuel creativity

Among the random ones that appeared to me, I wou...

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Opening Line Generator
Opening Line Generator
Automatic opening line generator tool. Choose some keywords and we will automatically create an opening line in seconds.
Ashley Renee Smith

Chiara Torrisi This is such a fun tool, thank you for sharing it! Prompts like these are great creative jumpstarts, especially on days when the ideas aren’t flowing as easily.

Chiara Torrisi

That's true, it's a funny way to practise, Ashley Renee Smith! Also on the go, on the subway or during a short flight.

Ashley Renee Smith
Practical Advice for Authors on Selling Their First Book

If you’re preparing to publish your first book, or looking for ways to better market your existing titles, this interview is packed with gems.

Desireé Duffy is the founder of Black Château, the award-winning Books That Make You brand, and The B...

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Geoff Hall
5 Writing Tips from C.S. Lewis

Who’da thought CS Lewis would be giving us 5 tips for writing? Well, he first gave them to a young girl from Florida, named Jane.

Beyond the five basic tips, there’s a good video to watch as well.

I love the thought that Lewis took the time to respond to his young correspondent.

What are your takeaway...

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5 Writing Tips from C.S. Lewis
5 Writing Tips from C.S. Lewis
What are some writing lessons you can learn from C.S. Lewis?
Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Geoff Hall. One of my takeaways/reminders is "Lewis was so precise on the page, there was never a question about what he was talking about or who he was talking to." I remember times when I though...

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Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan thanks, Maurice. I tend to do the visualising when I’m writing the scene. Especially action sequences; they have to make sense on the page for it to make sense on the screen....

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Geoff Hall. You're right. Jason Hellerman said in the article, "The ask to be plain and concrete is not an excuse to be boring. You still need to be interesting on the page. Engage the...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Geoff Hall, I love this! His advice is refreshingly straightforward but incredibly relevant, even now.

Leonardo Ramirez
Announcing More Access & Opportunities with Executives on Stage 32!

As of yesterday, Monday, May 5th, we have officially migrated all of our consultations, which include Pitch Sessions, Consultation Calls, and Career Development Sessions, to Zoom.

Check out the details in today's blog post here: https://www.stage32.com/blog/announcing-more-access-opportunities-with-e...

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Suzanne Bronson
Phoenix Metro Area Authors!

In person meetup this month

RSVP below:

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/2030

Chiara Torrisi
Your first book on writing

What was the first book you read on creative writing?

For me, it was “The Screenwriter Workbook” by Syd Field. Even if now I'm a book editor and I've always been more into novels, this book was mind-blowing. It really helped me to realize what a story is and why so many don't work.

I remember a pas...

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Chiara Torrisi

"On Writing" influenced a lot of writers, I think Eli Huggins

Ashley Renee Smith

Chiara Torrisi, it definitely did! The first book I read on writing was also On Writing by Stephen King. I picked it up in high school thinking it would just be about horror, but it obviously surprise...

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Chiara Torrisi

That's so important, Ashley Renee Smith

Pat Alexander

Not the first book, but one book that really opened my mind on process was CJ Walley's "Turn and Burn." There's a chapter called "My Mistakes with Happiness & Creativity" that truly is a gift to any w...

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Chiara Torrisi

Thanks for the suggestion, Pat Alexander: I'll add it to my wishlist! It seems an amazing reading. I love it when technical tips are mixed with emotional storytelling.

Geoff Hall
Ursula K. Le Guin on Art, Storytelling, and the Power of Language to Transform and Redeem

Maria Popova’s The Marginalian blog, has been on my radar for a number of years and she posts such perceptive content.

This article focuses on Ursula K Le Guin’s thoughts concerning the role of the writer and the arts. She has this to say…

“The daily routine of most adults is so heavy and artificial t...

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Ursula K. Le Guin on Art, Storytelling, and the Power of Language to Transform and Redeem
Ursula K. Le Guin on Art, Storytelling, and the Power of Language to Transform and Redeem
"One of the functions of art is to give people the words to know their own experience... Storytelling is a tool for knowing who we are and what we want."
Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan thank you, Maurice. That is greatly appreciated.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Geoff Hall.

Geoff Hall

Chiara Torrisi hi Chiara. My morning practice is 20 minutes silent meditation. Exercises followed by a 30 meditation walk, when I attempt to close off internal traffic and any external stimuli. If I h...

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Chiara Torrisi

For me, the best music is movie soundtracks, Geoff Hall: they usually don't have lyrics, and I can pick the tracks according to the mood of the piece I'm writing (or editing). It's perfect for brainst...

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Geoff Hall

Chiara Torrisi that’s a great way of not having lyrics buzzing around your head, so I’ll work on that - otherwise my characters may start quoting Radiohead!

Chiara Torrisi
Using exposition to recreate the historical setting

Portraying the historical context is hard, so better to use every tool you have to give details about it. A great way to do it is to take advantage of the exposition.

Especially when a story is told in first person, the language should reflect the culture and the mindset of the time. It doesn't mea...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for the advice, Chiara Torrisi. I haven't written that many Historical stories. This will come in handy when I write another one.

Chiara Torrisi

You're welcome, Maurice Vaughan

Ashley Renee Smith

Chiara Torrisi, this is such a great point! Two that come to mind for me are Shōgun by James Clavell and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. They’re incredibly different in tone and scope, but both use expos...

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Chiara Torrisi

And you're right: exposition helps a lot to convey mood and deta...

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