Authoring & Playwriting

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

Julia Warren
Quote for the day....

Does this feel familiar? What do you do if/when ideas bubble over the edge of the plot?

Marian Betts

Such an apt description! Still trying to figure out which "rabbit" to hang on to!

Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Julia Warren. Hope you had a great Christmas. Can you explain what you mean by "What do you do if/when ideas bubble over the edge of the plot?" Thanks.

Morgan Aitken

Bunnies! Oooo, cute. Maybe kittens, or puppies -- funny little puppies next -- I just wuv witty bitty puppies. Yeah, festive season makes meeting posting minimums a real bitch. ;-)

Daniel Stuelpnagel

2023 Lunar New Year begins in late January it's The Year of the Rabbit !!

Shellie Schmals

This happens for me with events, I want to keep adding on to make it extraextra but at some point, I kill the darlings and bank the ideas for next time! Love the rabbit analogy!

Chiron Scott
Looking For Industry Allies

Hi, I'm in developmental mode as a screenwriter and in need of a team of likeminded individuals and creative intellectuals to help build a supportive network. I am serious about building a network of opportunity and turn it into an unimaginable career. Fellow writers for sure, as well as agents, cre...

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D.E. White

Stage 32 crew so technically shouldn't reply BUT like Morgan Aitken says, you got everybody right here and waiting so start networking. What stage are you at with your novel and who are you looking fo...

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D.E. White

Also to add, the creative industries can be super tough (and I've definitely had 'one of those' years,) but this is the place to find others in exactly the same position, which I find kind of reassuring...

Leonardo Ramirez

Be the person you are in need of. Love (support) with no shoestrings attached and it WILL come back to you.

Olena Chepurna

I would like to help. I am an aspiring screenwriter

Gabriel Pereyra Nogueira

Let's imagine I'm a creative writer, unless some unundestandabe poetry in spanish and other love songs that are forguetable have been wroten by myself. Two weeks have passed since I joined Stage32 so I would like to contribute to start working at this huge world of creation.

Character driven or plot driven?

Just interested. Any genre and screenwriting or novels. Watching The OA atm...

Shellie Schmals

For me, it's character-driven. Interested to hear your thoughts on The OA. I'll save mine for when you've finished the show!

Geoff Hall

D.E. White for me, there’s no need to have a plot if you don’t have characters.

I watched the OA a while back and for me it just petered out. It was almost like the story-world expanded beyond its mea...

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Geoff Hall

D.E. White or to put it another way, characters are the flesh and bones of plot…

Terrence Sellers

I prefer plot driven, because I think the human condition is fairly limited. Real people are mostly boring until they're made to respond to out of the ordinary situations. So for me the plot is most i...

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Ciro Morgan
Writing a Sci-Fi/fantasy book

I have 8 chapters of my light novel, “Starseed” written, should I finish the novel completely before I can pitch it or bring it to a director or literary agent. My thought process is that if they like the idea, they will work with me as I produce each chapter.

Leonardo Ramirez

Morgan Aitken I hear what you're saying and I know it's hard. But I've not quit my job yet I'm enjoying the journey because even when you've written that book, screenplay or whatever and it's done wel...

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D.E. White

Well done on your writing journey so far, but I would echo what others have said, for a lit agent for fiction, it must be finished and polished before you pitch. The agents will be spending a lot of t...

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Geoff Hall

Morgan Aitken and if you don’t have a day job?

Morgan Aitken

and if you don't have a day job? Ah Geoff Hall ... you caught me with my bahookie hanging out the window on that one. I've never had a job, and I've never really been famous (except for that CC TV foo...

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Geoff Hall

Morgan Aitken so, if you don't have a day job to give up. Just give up? Or listen to The Postal Service's Album 'Give Up'. I prefer the latter. Hehe!

Morgan Aitken
Author Websites -- Let's Be Honest

Has anyone ever visited one?

And no: checking out your own site doesn't count (or spying on the competition).

Morgan Aitken

Cool Debbie Croysdale ! Script to novel, and jumping in and out of characters' heads. Living many lives in a flash of time, or being a director, actors, and stage manager of a play in your own head.

I...

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Elena Vaytsel

I did, to see how the sites look and what's there. Honestly, I think people are delusional. Everyone is a writer nowadays. Everyone has written books. There is just not enough readers. And I doubt they'll be interested in the authors who aren't professionally published.

D.E. White

I spy on loads of authors via websites lol. No, seriously, it's just a tool, and if you are hoping to get booked for speaking/panels they always ask to see your website. Journalists too, and bookshops...

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D.E. White

Just realised spying is discounted, so call it mild interest...

Morgan Aitken

Yup, spying is discounted: a blue-light special at Walmart. Get it now! (Sorry, sorry, sorry.... too much black Friday for me ;-))

Frank Van Der Meijden
Writing isn't available for everyone

Writing really is a profession.

We as writers could be (sometimes) more proud of that. (Even though I am additionally engaged as a director, for me writing is an essential start to directing.)

Last week I received a question from a dramaturg of one of the national Dutch television broadcasters. She...

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David E. Gates

I'm a writer but it's not my profession. If it earnt me enough, it would be. But, alas, it doesn't. So I have to rely on my other career for income.

Eric Sollars

I haven't made a nickle writing.

Debbie Elicksen

Writing is hard work. One of my favorite quotes is from Ernest Hemingway about "writing is easy." He said: There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.

Frank Van Der Meijden

It is hard work, indeed, Debbie. One important note,: I'm earning money with writing for 20 years now, but for the most part it is with commercial and business-like tasks. As a ghostwriter, speechwrit...

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Evelyn von Warnitz

Great post. So agree. But somehow is bleeding is a sweet thing for my opinion.

End of Year Reset?

We always do this on our writing retreats, so I thought it might be a good time to do one on here too!

What have you achieved as part of your writing goals this year?

What do you hope to achieve in 2023?

Mine are:

Another book out in my crime series, a standalone written and delivered to my agent (out o...

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Leonardo Ramirez

This year, I was able to write a number of treatments, create a pitch deck for one of them and I'm almost finished with the pilot episode for a kids animated project. I'd love a social media makeover...

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Morgan Aitken

Crikey! Another year? I've gotten nothing but older, gone further through the cracks, deeper into hiding and a lot poorer with book adverts that did embarrassingly nothing. I have, mind you, made a fu...

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Cee Whirx
Writer wanted for new graphic novel

Hey there, authors and playwrights, my name is Cee. I am working on a brand new holiday-themed graphic novel based on my "Ryder & The Deer Guardians" idea, but I do need help writing dialogue according to the story.

Abraham Steven

Wow, this is awesome, I can help you out in writing each character's backstory and the dialogues. If you're interested, I have sent you an invitation. Let's chat, hope to hear from you soon. Thanks

Morgan Aitken

I've been trying to figure out how a graphic novel is different from a comic book, or a storyboard, for that matter.

Josiah Bhola Hillaire

Hi Cee Whirx I hope I can be of help to you. And thanks Shellie Schmals for this....

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Josiah Bhola Hillaire

Cee Whirx what is your story about?

William Schumpert

Morgan Aitken a graphic novel is a comic book. The first graphic novel ‘Watchmen’ was originally sold as 9 or 10 issues. But since it all told one story then they released it in one book. Thus coining...

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Julia Warren
Quote for the Day ....

I thought this was a fun one - do you find it relatable? Would you agree with this?

#quoteoftheday #quotesonwriting #writing #writerslife #authors

Maurice Vaughan

I agree, Julia Warren. I like to outline an idea before writing the script, but sometimes I just have to step aside and let my intuition (or story and characters) lead. :)

Terrence Sellers
Finally Settled on a Cover!

I can't share it yet, because of an NDA, but the cover for the sci-fi novel I've posted about previously is finally settled on. The image, layout, and everything else is approved by all the important people. And I'm happy with the way it turned out. I actually did some of the graphic design work mys...

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GiGi Raines

Congratulations! Can’t wait to see it! That’s a hard decision, and I’m sure a great relief to check off the list.

D.E. White

Fabulous!

Mei Lin Tong

Excellent

Terrence Sellers

Morgan Aitken I can share the major concept of the novel. I just can't share the cover or assets from the novel. Originally I was contracted to write an animated series, which I have posted about in t...

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Mei Lin Tong

I am watching the original pilot episode now. Love it!

I like the image of the rose losing its color, "The little prince" reference.

Julia Warren
Quote of the Day

They quoted Chekhov in Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein as well. Apparently he said it in 1883 (it was noted down by Ilya Gurliand); there is a longer quote from his book on writing:

‘If you say in the first chapter that a rifle is hanging on the wall, then in the second or third chapte...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Julia Warren! I think about this quote when I write scripts, but I couldn't remember who said it.

Julia Warren

It's a handy one, isn't it? I saw his Fortune's Fool at the Old Vic - amazing stuff; loved the set, the lighting and the play with shadows. He was an avid chess player, and chess seems to pop up quite...

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Maurice Vaughan

I'm terrible at chess, Julia Warren. Haha Craig D Griffiths made a video about plot holes I think ties in with Chekhov's quote (https://www.stage32.com/media/3154588592005718763)....

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Morgan Aitken

I love seagulls. Hate Checkov, though.

William Schumpert
Thanksgiving update

Catching up on writing and audiobooks today. Didn’t think I’d be able to write 2k words in one session. Also converting some narrations I got done. Digital Marketing is also doing better- hundreds of engagements on my end. And should be hearing back soon on being an Amazon Affiliate.

Happy Thanksgiving!

William Schumpert

Morgan Aitken it’s a way for marketing. I have my social media viewed everyday (over 100 engagements per day). Signing up with Amazon Affiliate means they get paid from the traffic (clicks). I get pai...

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D.E. White

Congratulations!

Morgan Aitken

William Schumpert -- re Amazon Affiliate: you put their adverts on your site. If someone clicks on one of the Amazon adverts you get paid. Have I got that right? And if so, how much do you tend to mak...

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William Schumpert

Not too sure. I’m looking into it in the next few days.

Morgan Aitken

Grand, @William. It'll be nice to know just how much Amazon Hoovers up.

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