Tuesday Tips–This Week (Writing) Conference Conversations

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Novels, screenwriting, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing conferences, writing goals, writing tips

Happy Tuesday Writers!

Here are some quick tips for conversations at conferences. It can be overwhelming talking to people you don’t know and some people aren’t great at small talk. It’s exhausting for everyone–even us extroverts. Trust me, it is. We just don’t struggle as much while doing in, but at the end of the day sometimes our room, a glass of wine and TV or a good book as all we want, crave and need. 

1. When asked about YOU, instead of telling your life story, your boyfriend/girlfriend, breakups, life’s story, tell them about your writing.                                                        Example. “Hi, I’m Stephanie, I’m a writer from SoCal focusing on YA at the moment and looking for a new agent. How about you?”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Here’s where you might say, “I’m from Minnesota and I am writing MG now but I used to be a reporter.” or whatever.                                                                                         You wouldn’t say. “I wish I lived in CA, it’s so cold in Minnesota, and my boyfriend always says that I complain too much but really? I hate snow.” etc.. it’s best to keep it professional unless there is a natural lead-in.                                                                 See the difference? If the person you just met is talking about something you have common ground with like they have a dog and you love dogs or have one, and or they went to the same college as you, or got married on the same island in Hawaii as you did, or they dream of climbing Mt. Everest and so do you,–that is when you can easily make small talk. It will flow because you are just being you, but if that’s not your thing–just engage about your writing (without pitching-unless asked)
2. Be confident. When someone asks you “why are you here? What do you write?” etc.. BE CONFIDENT. Don’t ever apologize or cut yourself down. Trust me, I hear these things a lot. Example. “I hope to be a writer someday. I never wrote anything. I’m not published. I just started writing. I love to read. I suck at grammar. I hope to get an agent if I get better. This is my first conference, I don’t know anything.”
3. Remember you are a writer. “Hi, I’m Stephanie. I write YA. This is my first SCBWI conference. I’m loving it so far.”
4. You are with colleagues not stars that you hold up high to some unreachable platform. They started out just like you. Everyone is a beginner until they aren’t. Everyone was once not published. And like the book says, “everybody poops” LOL but it’s true. You are with COLLEAGUES. Repeat this.

 

I hope these tips help you build confidence and have a great time when you are conferencing. I can be daunting when we build things up so much in our heads. We aren’t worthy thoughts (Wayne’s World reference) creep in and take over. Don’t let them. You are here because you are a writer! YOU ARE A WRITER. You got this!!

Feel free to share this, in fact, please do.

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Happy Writing! xo 

 

 

It’s Monday–Time For Writing Goals

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author, Film, Novels, storytelling, Television, travel, Writing

It’s Monday!!! Time to post your writing goals for the week!! Mine are:
1.Write every day
2. Plot out character arc
3. Go to the @scbwi Northern California #springspirit conference
#WritersLife #Writer #Author #Kidlit #Childrensbooks #novels #AuthorsLife #author 

#writerscommunity #amwriting #amrevising#ilovemondays #creative #creativeconsultant #judaniebean #goals#weeklygoals #writinggoals

www.judaniebean.com 

Tuesday Tips

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author, character, creating characters, fiction, Film, Novels, screenwriting, Television, TV writing, Writing, writing for teens, writing tips, YA fiction

You want to be a writer? Okay then, you need to write. It’s literally that simple.

People always ask me, “how do I become a writer?” I mean people I met on planes, at coffee shops, at the grocery store, while at malls/shopping centers, at events, dinner parties. “Oh, you’re a writer? Cool. I have an idea, how do I do that?”

WRITE, that’s how.

There is no other way to be a writer than to write.

The way you get good at it, write every day. You have to, there is no shortcut on this one. It takes time to learn your craft.

You also need to read-constantly. If you want to be a novelist, you have to read novels. It is best to read in your chosen genre. I met someone recently who said that she was writing YA and I asked her what she had read lately and she said, “Oh I hate books for teens.” I was so confused, why write YA then?

***don’t write to trends

If you want to be the next Cameron Crowe—watch a ton of films, study the characters, dialogue, story and to up this to the next level, get your hands on some shooting scripts. It’s important.

TV writers who don’t watch TV? What?? Yes, they exist. They often brag about how they don’t even own a TV and or waste their time, and then they are writing the next great sitcom or drama. That makes no sense to me.

You need to immerse yourself in whatever it is that you want to do. It’s important.

You can also get many TV scripts online. For TV writing it’s a bit more complicated because of formatting for cable, network, primetime, late night, half hour, single camera, multi-camera—-but first—get your characters and story down, then you will need to learn all the above to start submitting. Also in TV writing you must have spec scripts of existing shows—this is beyond important.

Okay, so what are you going to do today??? WRITE!!

If you don’t know how to start, how about at the beginning–get a blank sheet and just get some words down.

YOU CAN DO IT. I know you can!!!

www.judaniebean.com 

Story Concierge Signature Course launching this summer. Sign up for my VIP newsletter for a chance for a free spot as I will have scholarships available!

How Do I Love Thee? Dialogue Tips to Avoid Being Cheesy

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fiction, Film, Films, Novels, Television, Writing

Sometimes writers get into the habits of making their characters sound a bit too cheesy when writing romantic love interests in books, plays, films, etc. Now, I’m not saying this amazing line is cheesy because it’s not, but if you met a man/woman/guy/girl on the street had some coffee with them and then they said this to you, you’d be running for the hills, right? Er…I hope you would be.

Make your dialogue real.

Look I love Hallmark movies. I do, I love them. Especially at Christmas time. I can’t wait to watch them because they make me happy. They don’t even have the cheesy dialogue I am talking about. If they can do it, you can too.

My best advice is think about your own life. What did someone say to you that swept you off your feet? What is a cheesy line or was it sincere?

I find that the best way to be sincere in dialogue is to continue to always be thinking about what the character wants in every scene. Everything comes back to character–notice this theme. It’s important.

You can also read books that you love and look for the dialogue.

One love story that I read every year is the YA The Fault in Our Stars—Gus never drops a line on Hazel Grace–he is a real person. He isn’t cheesy in the least. Sure John Green could have loaded up the cheese factor but he kept it real and that’s why teens (and adults) all over the world fell in love with their story.

*Speaking of Gus—he has a very unique way of speaking (back to an earlier post)

In films.. Star Wars…

“I love you.”

“I know.”

No magical line was needed.

It is all real and the love story works.

This is important and I read work all the time from writers who make the mistake of trying too hard to be clever and it just comes off cheesy.

If you haven’t been in love like this yet or can’t honestly remember the dialogue you and yours exchanged read, read tons and watch films and TV.

You can do it. I know it!

To become a VIP head over to my new splash page and sign up now. You will be the first to know when new courses drop—this year. 

www.judaniebean.com 

Monday Goals April 15th

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author, Film, Novels, reading, Television, Writing

I just got back from the Iceland Writers Retreat and I was put down by a wicked bronchial thing that I got from a girl who sat down on the last day, coughed on me and then said, “don’t worry, I’m not going to lick you” SIGH

I’m behind in my writing so this week my goals are simple. I’m going to WRITE.

How about you??

What are your goals?

Happy writing

www.judaniebean.com

Tips for Tuesday–DIALOGUE TAGS

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dialogue, fiction, Film, Films, Novels, Story, Television, writers life, Writing, writing dialogue

Dialogue tags continue to stump many writers, new and experienced.

I’m not sure why this is, maybe it’s because we as writers feel the overwhelming need to paint a detailed picture. We want the reader to not miss even for a second what we mean—right?

She said angrily. She yelled with the noise of thunder. He howled like a wolf. –these are not needed.

My rule of thumb is when in doubt use SAID.

***The way a character speaks is so uniquely them that it should be obvious who is speaking but sometimes it’s not, so fine–use he said, she said, they said..

Don’t over think it.

In preparing for this blog, I found this article that does a great job of further explaining what I mean.

I have posted the link below. I hope you like it and I hope that it helps!

https://www.novel-writing-help.com/dialogue-tags.html

An exercise: tell your friend, spouse, neighbor, anyone a story about a conversation you had with someone else, do you ever overly describe the way they said it? HINT–you don’t. People don’t. Go do this and you’ll see what I mean.

If you do. If you are the type who uses adjectives to describe the way someone spoke–well that just might be YOU and the way you as a character speaks, but in books it pulls readers out. In screenplays and teleplays, it confuses the actors–or they will follow exactly instead of doing what comes naturally. I would say in scripts—NEVER qualify ever. Scripts don’t need tags.

Monday Writer Goals-Halló from Iceland

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am writing, fiction, Film, Films, Novels, reading, Television, writers life, Writing, writing goals

I’m in Iceland for the Iceland Writers Retreat which officially ended yesterday! It’s so amazing here. I love it. Today I have a free day and I’m planning to spend the day doing literary things.

The week is a lot for me to figure out this week because it will basically consist of traveling and readjusting back to California time, so here is what I will do TODAY.

Write because I’m super inspired after the past few days of workshops.

Read because I love getting lost in books.

Finally, explore the city a bit.

What are your goals for today or for the week??

**it’s okay to make daily goals when the week is too busy, unorganized or just too crazy. Be kind to yourself. 

Tip for Tuesday–DIALOGUE-Be UNIQUE

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dialogue, fiction, Film, Films, Novels, Story, Television, Writing, writing dialogue

I’m traveling to the Iceland Writers Retreat this week so this will be short but to the point.

Dialogue is so important in showing us who the character is. This is true for all writing. Screenplays and teleplays and stage plays rely so heavily on the way characters speak and what they say that it’s even more important to nail it.

This doesn’t mean being overly clever, it means being UNIQUE.

One example that I LOVE is the show, the GILMORE GIRLS. They have a very unique way of speaking. It’s very specific and so much that other characters in the show comment on the way that Rory and Lorelai speak. Watch it. You’ll love it, or hate it, either way, you will see what I mean.

Other shows that have GREAT & UNIQUE DIALOGUE ARE:

FRIENDS

THE BIG BANG THEORY (especially Sheldon)

FELICITY

GREY’S ANATOMY

Homework this week is to watch tons of TV and write down the names of shows that you love or hate because of the way they speak. Why do you feel that way?

Iceland Writers Retreat

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Film, Novels, reading, travel, Writer, writers life, Writing

Hello everyone!

I’m off to Iceland for the writing retreat so my goals are simple!

I hope you have a super week.

www.judaniebean.com to sign up for my VIP list & be the first to hear about new courses!

Be Fearless Today (and Every Day) THURSDAY

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fiction, Film, Novels, Story, story concierge, Television, Writing, writing goals

Happy Thursday!

So I asked over on Instagram how your writing week went.

I’d love to hear. I was inspired to write this today because so many of my FB friends have been posting about the fear of rejection, especially after getting rejected.

Please, friends, do NOT let fear stop you. 

We ALL get rejected all the time. Even when your book is a best seller someone will hate it. That’s just a fact.

When you are a top showrunner and your show is on HBO, or NBC or Netflix and is nominated and even won awards people will still hate it.

The life of a storyteller is not easy and I am cheering you all on for just being here and continuing to put your stories out there.

I hope that you had an amazing week and even if you didn’t, that’s okay.

What are you working on today?

xo 

Stephanie