Screenwriting : Today's Wish and Creative Tip by Laurie Ashbourne

Be Shameless Writers are often told not to be afraid of putting their characters through Hell because when they emerge it will be that much more satisfying. While this can be true, what is overlooked in this blanket statement is that sometimes character transformation can be just as satisfying, if not more, when the characters do something that so off the wall, that we as the audience wish we had the nerve or could live in their shoes for that moment. The beauty of this is, that it works no matter what the genre is: Horror – the character overcomes fear by doing something even the monster fears Romance – the character acts on their desires regardless of what others think Drama – any number of things can happen but the most universal is probably when a character puts someone in their place with a fantastic monologue. Action Adventure – the character goes out on a limb or lets loose with a wild pummeling of the antagonist. Comedy – comedy can take any of the above and make it fun, it just depends on the story angle Think about the best moments on screen, when everyone in the audience is engaged – maybe even cheering. These are moments when the main characters had no shame. What is shame other than a fear of what others think, fear of rejection, or fear of the fallout? So while you apply what you know to your stories, step inside your characters’ shoes and face your own fears. Think, ‘what can he/she do to turn their life around that I would never do?’ Life is not a rehearsal, give yourself permission to do at least one shameless thing in the new year and feel how liberating it is. Happy 2016 to you all.