Hi screenwriters! How's your creative week been?
I thought we'd try to flex our writing muscles a bit and play a game.
Write a sentence in the voice of one of your characters. The sentence must sound believable and true, but be absolutely false.
Then write a short paragraph justifying your character's lie, backing it up with supporting statements, etc.
Share yours in the comments!
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The Lie: "I promise you, Aura, the Hive isn't moving to conquer the ocean; we’re moving to protect the only peace humanity has left."
The Justification: This is Commander Elias speaking. It’s a complete lie—he’s moving the city to seize a "Cymatic Key" that will give him absolute control over the tectonic plates. But he has to believe the lie himself to lead. He justifies it by telling his people (and himself) that a "controlled world" is the only safe world. He uses the language of protection to mask his own fear of the "Drift," because in his mind, if he isn't the one holding the compass, the world will swallow them all.
The Flex: Loved this prompt, Elle! It’s such a great way to find the "human truth" behind a character’s darkest motivations. My project, THE LAST CARTOGRAPHER, is all about these kinds of 'honest lies' we tell to survive a world that's literally shifting under our feet.
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Hi, Elle Bolan! I started outlining a new TV series, I worked on my vertical series, etc. this week. How's your creative week been?
Brian's the protagonist in my Horror Action feature script.
BRIAN: "Stick my neck out for them? Why? They don't mean sht to me.*"
He really doesn't stick his neck out for people, but it's not because he doesn't care about them. It's because he did it once and a lot of people died. He's afraid it'll happen again. It's easier for him to lie than tell the truth since it'll bring up memories of what happened.
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@Sailsu - good example! A man justifying his need for control. A man who is afraid to let go. Some good character work going on behind there.
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@Maurice - it's been a bit of a quieter week again this week. I am writing, but it's act 1. I hate act 1. Haha. I wish it would write itself so I can get to the fun part.
I love this example. A lie as armor against an old pain. That one is sharp!
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Congratulations on the progress, Elle Bolan! I know what you mean about wanting to get to the fun part. Thanks and thanks for the game. I'm thinking about using it for other characters.
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@Maurice, I learn a lot about my protagonists with this exercise. I have this weird tendency to focus on the negatives of my protagonists and the positives of my antagonists. I get some very good material fuel from it And thank you. It's been slow progress, but I'll take it!
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You're welcome, Elle Bolan. Slow is better sometimes.
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I'm working on my new feature screenplay. I had a screenwriting class last night & I'm now working on some character questions for my protagonist and then I have to write an introductory outline paragraph of the first scene for my screenwriting class.
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Elle Bolan This is fascinating, so: in the voice of Lenore, from '3 Days of AUM":
"I know you love me Bradley, and you don't have to worry about me, I will manage to run this party, you just stand there, apart from me, while I handle the artsy-fartsy people here...I got this."
This is a broadfaced lie. Lenore is desperate to feel and hear Bradley's warmth and support, but she always keeps him at arm's length, especially since the last few years of their marriage she had to deal with a miscarriage, and Bradley's assistant always flirting with him, she believes showing need, wanting affection, or support, is weak.
So, she is an ice queen, a marvelous pillar of beauty, poise...and inner turmoil.
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Spot on, Elle! You hit the nail on the head. In THE LAST CARTOGRAPHER, the greatest threat isn't the shifting ocean—it's the characters who are too terrified to let go of the old world to survive the new one.
Elias is convinced he's the hero of the story because he’s 'holding the line,' but his fear of chaos is exactly what makes him dangerous. Thanks for the encouragement on the character work; it really helps to know that the 'gritty truth' behind the lie is resonating!
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@Nicola, heavy workload, but you got this! Good luck on your assignments!
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@Juliana - ooooh. An ice queen. Untouchable by choice. She wears distance like a shield. Very juicy character. Makes me want to dig in the ice to find out more.
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@Salisu - isn't that the scary part about life? To us... We are always the hero. ;-)