I am sitting in a cozy cabin on the edge of some sort of body of water (lake? inlet?) but all I know is it’s beautiful! It’s about 55 degrees here in lush and lovely Maine, and I am one happpy guy.
David Lyman’s Film Workshop has invited me to teach the Cat! method for the week, and I will be staying on through June to work on my booooook, the much anticipated sequel Stop Talking About It And Write It, Blake.
I have just arrived from Chicago where I checked in with my seminar students who are closing in on a some very saleable scripts. Michelle Lawless is nearly done with her spec Family Tru$t, a very funny Golden Fleece, and I also met with writer Richie Najor who is using the structure beats of the BS2 to plot out his non-fiction memoir — but that just makes sense. All stories are about “transformation” I always say, and no story is more transforming than one’s life. Richie is a great guy! And I can’t wait to see the very successful finale of his effort.
We were also looking at some commercial space in downtown Chicago (just across from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions studios in the Fulton Fish Market area of town) with an eye toward opening a screenwriting school. The idea is to create a place where we can intensively train tomorrow’s working screenwriters. We want a true trade school, one which specializes in placing students in the business, an accredited school that is not so much theory-based, like so many colleges and universities, but results-based. It is one of many opportunities that have come our way from the success of the book and lectures.
I couldn’t be more pleased with all these developments.
For any question you have for me, please email me directly at [email protected] and please use the comments section below to let me know how your stories are coming along. My buddy Sarah Beach will be keeping an eye on this blog for me. Love you, Sarah!!
And just tell me to: keep writing, Blaker. 50 movies is quite a few! But I am loving every minute — and learning a lot that I can’t wait to share.
Blake Snyder
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I will? I mean, oh! I will! ;)
Because it will give me an excuse to take a break from the middle of my script.
Why do middles not behave the way they were beaten out? I was cranking along through the first act according to my BS2. But then I got into the Fun & Games section, and a couple of scenes reshuffled themselves (“No! I have to happen first!”). And then a scene that I didn’t even anticipate appeared (with a minor character, but it ups the emotional stakes).
Work, work, work.
But actually, I’m having fun with this script. And I think the clarity that came from using the BS2 has a lot to do with it.
HI
I’m glad to hear you’re having fun with your script into Blake’s BS2. Before BS2, I always felt like work and stress out. I used to envy someone who was having fun in writing. Until Blake’s cat came along I found my joy in writing instead of feeling work! Good luck in writing, Sarah!
Richie
the much anticipated sequel Stop Talking About It And Write It, Blake…
FUNNY
Why not open a school in LA or NYC? Chicago is too damn cold.
Oh! And Blake?
50 movies? 50? And you’re whining about watching/reviewing that many?
Remember, now, my list topped 125.
Heh. Keep writing Blaker!
;)
I am a VERY HAPPY reader of Save the Cat – but bummed that I missed the Rockport workshop and this website….until now! I’m knee deep in draft 2 – – unfortunately but fortunately I discovered the book after writing draft 1. The book has been very helpful in filling in the holes of the basic 3 act structure – especially for my act 2.
As for the school in Chicago – I’d sign up! My mother would be very happy if I was in the region again – and AMY, maybe the cold, long winters are there to keep us writing – oh wait, I’m remembering what happened to Jack in The Shining… hmmm….