• About

Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

~ I TEACH emerging female writers in tv/film & novels HOW to create stories to fall in love with✨© Stephanie Bourbon 2022

Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

Tag Archives: writing community

How To Write A Story That Works

27 Thursday May 2021

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Comedy, how to write, novel writing, romantic comedy, screenwriting, storytelling, TV writing, Writing, writing comedy, writing community, writing tips

Hello Writers, today I’m talking about writing a story that keeps the reader or audience invested, and evokes something to talk about after.

This is important. Many stories are just “meh” and they should have worked but didn’t.
I never want to cut any writers, cast, crew, directors, authors, publishers, or anyone who is working in a creative field down so please know that everything I write about I am only doing so to give you examples of things that didn’t work–and let’s be honest, everyone who worked on these projects knows that they didn’t go the way it was planned–box office & sales is usually a big indicator-not always because some great stories are never huge successes but you know what I mean. Stories that should have worked but didn’t.
ALEX & EMMA – rom-com film from 2003. About a writer who needs to finish a novel in 30 days or he’ll be murdered by loan sharks. The reason it didn’t work was both in the plot and the characters.
THE LOVE PUNCH – rom-com film from 2013. A divorced couple schemes to get back money that was stolen from them. The reason it didn’t work was really in the plotting and how everything just worked out for them, as well as many unbelievable things that happened.
JOEY – comedy television show spin-off of FRIENDS. Joey Tribbiani moves to Los Angeles from New York to pursue his acting career. Why it didn’t work? So many reasons, but the big one is that there was too much of the “wouldn’t it be funny if” and not enough character development and or reasons for anything.
PAN AM – drama television show. This show relied too heavily on nostalgia and not enough on character & plot. It could have been great but fell super flat.

Stories that WORKED and why

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY – rom-com film 1998. Two friends who are complete opposites can’t see what is right in front of them and continue to make mistakes with romantic relationships. Complete opposites who don’t even like each other at the beginning-but every single thing they say is there for a reason. The plot and story arcs progress in a natural manner and everything that happens moves the story forward. Everything, even the famous scene where she pretends to have an orgasm in the diner, that shows who she is, and also that Harry is often wrong about his assumptions about women. When they get together it messes up their friendship which shows us that they really love each other even if they won’t admit it. It’s real and nothing that happens is based on “wouldn’t it be funny if”.
IT’S COMPLICATED – rom-com film 2009 by Nancy Meyers. A divorced couple launch into an affair after their son’s graduation. I don’t know why this doesn’t have a higher score on IMDB because it’s completely brilliant. Here is a story about a couple who already know each other and have been divorced for some time, he is remarried to a younger woman and yet they have an affair. Why it works is because of character. Everything that is done is true to who they are as people. She wants her life back, or so she thinks, and he is having a later than a mid-life crisis with his new young wife wanting to have a baby. He wants to feel normal and she wants to feel desired so they fall back into bed, and comedy happens naturally. The plot also unfolds in a natural progression and there are some very funny scenes that move the story forward.
FRASIER – comedy television show-spin-off of CHEERS. 1993 Frasier moves back to Seattle to start his life over and ends up living with his father. This show works on every level and for a spin-off, it’s quite brilliant. We already knew Frasier but we didn’t know Marty (his father) or Niles (his brother). They could have failed so hard with this one by just having the same Frasier we met at the bar in Boston. High & mighty snob commenting on how everyone is below him, but that would have been boring so the writers introduced us into Frasier’s world with a father who is everything that Frasier thinks he is above. Marty is uncouth, blue-collar, beer drinking, rather watch a game at McGinty’s Pub & eat burgers that cost under $10 whereas Frasier & Niles wouldn’t be caught dead doing anything blue-collar or setting foot in a pub. The comedy writes itself. Every episode is riddled with juxtaposition in the characters. They never do anything just to be funny. Everything they do in every scene is to reach their own goals but their character is what makes it so funny. The show is also rounded out with Frasier’s job as a radio psychologist where Niles has his own practice. The secondary characters of Roz and Daphne bring even more layers into Frasier’s world. We also never meet Nile’s wife but his actions and dialogue make it clear who she is and it’s naturally funny.
DOWNTON ABBEY – drama television series 2010. A chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century.Oh Downton why are you so perfect? Character and plot/story arcs that work. From the very first scenes where you have the father of this rich family reading a paper and talking about people they knew on the Titanic and how this would affect their family in a way that would change everything to seeing the servants actions and reactions to the news and getting the day going, we are enticed to watch more. The first thing they got right was opening with a historical event that has a worldwide fascination, even now, 109 years after the sinking. Then they showed us who the characters were through dialogue and actions. There was never anything that told us who they were, they showed us. Through the years things that happened in real life like WW1 showed up and played a huge role on the show and that also came with the unexpected loss of favorite characters and like all great series ended every episode making us crave the next one. What will happen next?? I need to know. They rounded the show with characters who we loved to hate but also cared about like Thomas the footman turned valet turned second Butler turned Butler. The showed us human kindness and how we are all alike even when separated by class.

To craft a story that works you need two things.

Well, you need many but these are the two that you MUST have.

1) Great CHARACTERS-which means, your characters must have their own personality as well as wants and goals in every scene. Everything they do must happen for a reason. If you look at shows like FRIENDS or EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND you see that in every scene the characters’ intentions are for what they want the outcome to be. When you have a juxtaposition of characters’ wants and needs comedy happens. There is no reason to write a bunch of jokes for the purpose of being funny. For dramas, it’s basically the same principle. Take CHICAGO PD and GREY’S ANATOMY. Both are strong ensemble shows with characters who are very distinct and the way they act, speak, and do everything comes from WHO they are and nothing else. AND your character must be the author of their own destiny. Harry got help from his friends in all of the books/movies but it was because of what he did that it happened. (HAPPY POTTER) You can’t have things just work out or have someone else solve the problem or save your characters. In comedy as well, they are the master of their own disaster-always and then they realize some change they need to make, take responsibility and it works out. THE PROPOSAL Margaret realizes that she is doing the wrong thing so she takes action and leaves Andrew at the altar and faces the consequences.
2) Great PLOT/STORY ARCS-this means that your story must move along at a pace that keeps us interested and you must follow the format for what you are writing.Your story doesn’t have to be filled with action. Take DOWNTON ABBEY-it’s a bit slow sometimes but still we can’t look away. Look at SEINFELD or FRIENDS most of which takes place in apartments but we were excited every week to see what happened in their lives. The plotting worked always. When you are writing anything you have to think in terms of beginning, middle, and end. There has to be an end goal and then you must give the story ups and downs. Stories that work in a straight line or everything works out too conveniently fall flat and we stop reading or watching.
I know you can do it!

I recommend the following books to help you.

SAVE THE CAT THE HIDDEN TOOLS OF COMEDYTHE PLOT WHISPERER WRITE YOUR NOVEL FROM THE MIDDLE WIRED FOR STORY

Let’s connect on social media!

Instagram TikTokTwitter Facebook Pinterest

JOIN ME THIS SUMMER in my new course-

MAKE THEM SWOON~writing romantic comedies to fall in love with

CLICK HERE to find out more and sign up

Join my FREE FG group for female writers here

It’s Okay to Take A Day Off-what we learn from Ferris

29 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

am writijng, Ferris Bueller, writers life, Writing, writing community

Writers!! 

Some days it’s just too hard to do anything, especially in 2020. 

Last week I hit a wall, and thus I skipped everything-including my blog which is a day late this week too. This is a big no-no in the business world but I’m only one person. 

I felt guilty about it all last week, all weekend, and yesterday when I literally crashed out for 8 hours in the middle of the day. 

You see, in life “shit happens” and I am one of those, like the great Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy who always says “I’m fine” even when I’m not. I won’t bore you with the details but just apologize for being absent for these few days. I’m sorry, do you forgive me? 

NOW, let’s talk about the importance for creatives to take a day off! 

Please head over HERE and read all of this and STORY TIPS from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!

I loved this movie so much when I was a teen and I still love it now. I wrote a blog on the importance of taking time off AND I give story tips from this movie, so here over.

I have loved having this blog here but the other one is my new blog on my website where you can get HEAPS of FREEBIES

XO Stephanie

thanks for reading and being here for all these years!

How to Crush That Query

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

novel, novel writing, query letters, query tips, screenwriting, screenwriting tips, Writing, writing community, writing query leters, writing tips

wlogo

 

Hello, Writers & Storytellers,

so I have started a new blog that is attached to my course and membership site which is hosted on Kajabi and I’d love you to head over there and check out my blogs that post every #writerwednesday but it’s okay if you still love it here too!

This week I wrote about CRUSHING YOUR QUERY LETTER. 

Here is the link to the blog over there. TAKE ME THERE NOW

Now, I’ll write about queries here as well! 

It’s not a difficult task to talk about our stories, right? You love telling friends and family and co-workers all about your novel, screenplay, or new idea for a TV pilot–it flows easily but for some reason when we go to write that query letter we get completely locked and it never comes out right.

Why?

This is like playing golf or any sport really, it’s a MENTAL GAME. You psych yourself out that this query is the most important piece of writing and your life depends on the outcome and then you forget how to write and you forget how to talk about your manuscript in a way that draws people in.

The pressure is too much!

It shouldn’t be.

So what I want you to do is change the way you think about queries and trust me, they will get easier.

Also, it is not the end of the world, whomever you are sending it to may or may not be the agent for you, so stop pressuring yourself.

I want you to be successful and I know you can do it! You can, you just completed and revised your screenplay, your novel, your children’s picture book, your TV pilot so you can do this!

I want you to head up to the link I posted before and to make it easy, here it is again.

TAKE ME THERE 

And if you still need more help, I’m offering a FREE look at your query for the entire month of July–meaning you can email me your query and I will look at it and give you some general feedback to help you get it right!

You can get in touch by emailing me at Stephanie@judaniebean.com and put CRUSHINGMYQUERY in the subject line.

Okay, that’s it for this edition of #writerwednesday and I hope you have a super day, week, month, and get that query written!!

YOU GOT THIS! 

XO Stephanie

It’s Been A While & I’m Celebrating

15 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

screenwriting, TV writing, Writers, writers life, Writing, writing community

So I started a new blog that is on my website and I love this one so much that I promise not to go away forever but all my business coaches tell me that I need to focus on the one connected so I will do both!

Today I posted this

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/blog/i-m-celebrating-the-positives

And I’d LOVE you to hop over and read it!!

More tomorrow, I promised.

Meanwhile, I’d love for you to come check out all the new things I am offering for writers just like YOU HERE

and please make sure to choose one and sign up so you will be on my list to get all the specials early for being a VIP.

Thank you for reading and being with me all these years!!

I couldn’t do any of it without you!

celebrate the small things!

 

XO XO Stephanie

The Importance of Writing Goals for Writers

29 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dreams, goal setting, goals, making your goals, screenwriting, setting goals, Writing, writing community, writing goals, writing tips

67323196_10157515925713619_2730020563551518720_n

Good Morning Writers! 

Happy Monday, happy new week and new month coming soon!

I hate summer but I love August because it means that fall is coming-even though, August is always one of the hottest months of the year but there is hope. And HOPE is something that I can build my days around.

This brings me to goals and why they are so important.

Let’s use the example of summer and fall.

What is my goal? To be cooler and enjoy cooler days? Sadly, we are in summer so I can’t do anything about the weather, but I can have the goal to make the best out of it. Go to an air-conditioned coffee shop once a day, to hit the gym, go to a mall–anything to reach the goal of being cooler.

The point is that I can take small steps to reach that goal of cooling off.

So if your goal is to be Quentin Tarantino and have 9 films out? or 10–I think he once said that his goal is to do 10 and then stop. If this is your goal but you don’t have a screenplay finished, an agent, and don’t live in Los Angeles then you have to start making those goals smaller. Keep the big dream there, but make smaller more reachable goals.

  1. You need to move to Los Angeles–or want to–you should for anything in the film industry–but that’s another kettle of fish. You want to move here, so your goal could be saving money every week into a special bank account just for your big move.
  2. You want an agent? Your goal could be to research one agent every week while you are building a submission list. Or finding out which screenwriting conferences have agent guests and pitch sessions.
  3. You want to have 9+ films made and on the big screen? Well your immediate goal is to finish the one in front of you and how you do that is write every day. Even if just 10 minutes.

See how this works?

Dreams and goals are different.

Dreams are what we aspire to and goals are how we get there. 

If you are a novelist and you want a bestselling novel with a movie deal–you need to make daily goals to reach that. What are you doing today to make that happen?

Some things you can do.

  1. Write every day.
  2.  Share your work with your crit group.
  3. Submit to agents.

So your weekly goal can be, write for 1 hr a day, share 5 pages with my critique group, and research or send queries (only on finished polished work) to agents.

It’s important to have these goals to keep us grounded in our bigger dreams!

I know that you can do it.

One way that I have found useful for the last 12 years is having someone to keep me accountable. Some programs call it an accountability buddy, someone you check in with daily. And some just do it in groups. However you choose to do it, just find someone to check in with.

Drop in the comments below on how you are going to work on your goals this week?

I’ll tell you mine are to write for 30 minutes a day this week. I have a crazy busy workload and have massive videos to shoot so realistically more than 30 minutes isn’t going to happen, but I will put in 30 minutes.

Tell me your plan!!

And let’s have an amazing week!! 

XO~ Stephanie

https://www.judaniebean.com/

https://www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

What Do You Want to Know? (About Writing)

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

author, author life, author tube, Film, novel, screenwriting, screenwriting tips, story concierge, storyteller, storytelling, Television, writers life, Writing, writing coach, writing community, writing tips, you tube

what.jpg

Happy Tuesday Writers! 

I have decided a couple things about this blog! I love it, so don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere, but I may add the content from this blog to my new websites for my courses-both of my landing pages.

You can find them both in the links below

Judanie Bean presents STORY CONCIERGE  (this is still being built so this is a sneak preview just for you-my readers)

www.judaniebean.com  My writing website with links to my courses, YouTube, the Story Concierge Facebook Group and more!

The other thing is that since I’m posting videos on YouTube every week, I’d LOVE to get your input so if there is something you want to know about writing, working as a writer, publishing, getting an agent, story, writing queries—whatever it is and you want a video on it. Let me know!! 

You can comment here and or email me at stephanie@judaniebean.com 

I shoot the videos for YouTube 1-2 months in advance and will be shooting some later today and next week. I’m also BUILDING my Story Concierge Course as we speak–just for YOU, with YOU in mind so if there is something that you have been missing in courses LET ME KNOW!

I’ve been taking questions from writers and building from there but am super happy and open to suggestions.

Thank you so much for being here —- it’s GREAT to be back!

You can find me on YouTube every Wednesday and soon I will be doing two a week so please SUBSCRIBE

Cheers and happy writing!

    xo Stephanie

Writing Tip—JUST WRITE

11 Thursday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Just For Fun, My journey into Hollywood writing :0), Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Writing, writing coach, writing community, writing tips

writingadvice

www.judaniebean.com

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon 

Tips for Tuesdays

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

author, creative consulting, Story, story concierge, Writing, writing community, writing tips

66403207_10157444594668619_7646065848817287168_n.jpgHello Writers, this week has been a bear!! It’s July, it’s hot and nasty out AND my husband and my dog both need more of me than usual—that said, I’m happy to be there for them but it’s chipped into my mornings.

My little dog wouldn’t eat today so I went to the store and bought stuff to cook for him and he still wouldn’t eat but finally, he did and BOOM! It was noon.

AAAAARGH! 

So my writing TIPS for today are really just ONE. 

It’s OKAY to take a break when life gets crazy. I have been feeling guilty of not writing today but then, it’s 3:30 (pst) and I still have to work my dayjob.. so I’m giving myself permission to not write at the moment and get to the things that keep a roof over my head.

My tip, again, is to know that it’s okay when you have to take a break. 

Take that break.

Recharge.

Start over when you are ready.

When you write when you aren’t focused, you tend to make a lot more story, character and plot mistakes, and then you have to fix them later.

It’s okay to take a day off!!

www.judaniebean.com 

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

New Video How to Beat Writer’s Block

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

screenwriting, TV writing, writer's block, Writing, writing community, writing tips

Hello storytellers! Today I have a new video up tackling the dreaded writer’s block. Check it out, subscribe, share with your friends! And please comment here or there, so we can talk about it and help each other out!

#writingcommunity

Shooting Videos FOR WRITERS

31 Friday May 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels, Writing (film & television)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Film, novel, Story, story concierge, storytelling, Television, writers life, Writing, writing community, writing conferences, writing goals, writing tips

IMG_0536

Happy Friday writers!!!

Just a quick hello to announce that I have shot the first batch of videos for my new YouTube channel launching next week!

I hope you will subscribe, get involved in the conversation and share with friends!

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

and please sign up for my VIP list to find out how you could win a scholarship worth over $1000 and get a FREE seat in my upcoming course, or win a gift certificate to an amazing writing course, as well as other FREEBIES just for you!

www.judaniebean.com 

As always, happy writing!

xo 

← Older posts

Categories

  • Children's books
  • Just For Fun
  • My journey into Hollywood writing :0)
  • NEWS
  • Novels
  • Writing (film & television)
Follow Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach on WordPress.com

Blogroll

  • I'm Just Sayin'
  • My Website
  • Stephanie's Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Crushing Your Query Letter
  • Why Silicon Valley Has It All
  • Why Jerry Maguire Is The Perfect Bromance
  • How To Write A Story That Works
  • Romantic Comedy Character Archetypes & Who Needs To Be Included

Tweet tweet~

  • RT @NHLFlyers: It’s 2️⃣3️⃣’s night. #HockeyFightsCancer | @oskarlindblom https://t.co/YQiiZTUYt8 1 year ago
  • RT @frankolivieri40: gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of… 2 years ago

Older and more wiser. . .

  • July 2021 (2)
  • June 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (1)
  • February 2021 (2)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (2)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (3)
  • July 2019 (10)
  • June 2019 (9)
  • May 2019 (11)
  • April 2019 (15)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (2)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (3)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (2)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • July 2015 (1)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (1)
  • March 2015 (2)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • July 2014 (2)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • October 2013 (3)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • August 2013 (4)
  • July 2013 (3)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • October 2012 (3)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (15)
  • July 2012 (5)
  • June 2012 (3)
  • May 2012 (4)
  • April 2012 (5)
  • March 2012 (9)
  • February 2012 (6)
  • January 2012 (17)
  • December 2011 (6)
  • November 2011 (6)
  • July 2011 (1)
  • January 2011 (2)
  • November 2010 (1)
  • October 2010 (4)
  • September 2010 (16)
  • August 2010 (8)
  • July 2010 (14)
  • June 2010 (23)
  • May 2010 (16)
  • April 2010 (12)
  • March 2010 (1)
  • January 2010 (2)
  • December 2009 (3)
  • November 2009 (4)
  • October 2009 (14)
  • September 2009 (11)

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,602 other subscribers
January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Jul    

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach
    • Join 31 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...