Craft

Trying To Be More Productive

So, I began writing a new manuscript yesterday.

It had been ages, and I really mean a long long time, since I began a new project. Basically, I have been editing and revising for the last year and I am tired of it. Exhausted. So you can imagine my excitement—and nervousness— for starting something new after so long.

My enthusiasm wants me to write all the words in record time and to resist the siren call of the internet.

2k to 10k cover Related to this topic, I’m reading a book called 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron—you probably read the blog post she wrote about it in 2011 (though I only found out about it late 2012). It was very useful and inspirational. Right after the huge response her blog post caused, she wrote a short book, with more techniques and explaining her outline process, etc. So far, I highly recommend this book to any writer.

One of her tricks is to get out of home and go to a place without internet. Since I don’t really want to leave home to write, I installed an add on called Nanny on Chrome that won’t allow me to surf the net during “business” hours. I’ve came across this addon after my husband showed me a paragraph on the book he’s reading (The CEO Manual) where the writer of the book confesses he can get easily lost in the internet and wouldn’t have finished that book if he hadn’t installed that add on on his browser.

I know exactly of what he’s talking about. And I don’t want to be like that. I love writing, then why am I not writing?

Side note: though I’m trying to find another one add one/program that will let me cut the internet on a schedule I come up with—anyone knows of one like that?

So, yeah, you won’t (or shouldn’t) see me online much for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully. And by then I’ll have a first draft written. Hopefully.

And … if you’re curious about my new manuscript, come back here Thursday … I’ll do one of those The Next Big Thing posts about it ;)

Happy writing to us!

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

Prince of Persia in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Two things to keep in mind: I watch most of these with my kid and that means most of the movies will be kids’ movies and I’m not paying 100% attention to the movie. Second, I’m sorta new to the method and still struggle with the Theme, the All is Lost and Dark Night of the Soul beats. In case you have better suggestions, please do so on the comments. We can discuss the points and, if I end up agreeing with you, I’ll change my beats. Deal?

Prince of Persia in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: Sunrise with some wise words.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): Not sure. Something about how the king chose a common to be his son. Having a pure heart.

3. Set-Up (1-9%): Adoption. Princes and uncle looking at Alamut. Meeting to talk about intercepting stuff from Alamut. Inside Alamut, Princess Tamina is shown they are going to be attacked.

4. Catalyst (10%): They invade Alamut.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): They have to find proof of Alamut’s treachery. Dastan finds the dagger.

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): Dastan flees with Tamina because he’s accused of killing his father.

7. B Story (27%): Dastan and Tamina.

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Dastan finds out what the dagger does. Desert. Ostrich racing. Tamina and Dastan escape.

9. Midpoint (50%): Dastan talks to his uncle and finds out he was the one who killed his father.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Uncle goes to Hassassins. Dastan tracking Tamina. Sandstorm.

11. All Is Lost (68%): At temple, they are attacked. Dastan’s brother is killed. The dagger is gone.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): no dagger, no help, no brother.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Dastan and Tamina, and their new friends, go to Alamut.

14: Finale (77-100%): Final battle: the uncle kills Tus (Dastan’s brother), go to sand glass, booby traps, Tamina sacrifices herself.

15. Final Image (100%): Sunset with wise words.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

Happy Feet in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Happy Feet in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: Planet viewed from space, closing in South Pole. Norma Jean singing, looking for pair.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): You don’t need to be like the others to belong.

3. Set-Up (1-9%): Memphis and Norma Jean union. Egg. Norma Jean leaves to go fishing. Winter. Memphis drops egg. Eggs hatching. Moms are back.

4. Catalyst (10%): Mumble can not sing, but he taps his feet. Not like any other penguin.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): What to do with him? He can’t go to school. He wants to stop dancing, but can’t.

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): He’s “banished” from graduation party.

7. B Story (27%): Mumble and the amigos.

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Mumble meets Lovelace, plays with Sea Lion, party with amigos, skiing, they see machine–it’s alien! Amigos and Mumble go back to his place, singing.

9. Midpoint (50%): He’s told that, because of his “weirdness”, he’s the reason the fishes are disappearing. He’s asked to leave and not return.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Lovelace being strangled. With amigos on extreme cold, through elephant seals. They see “aliens”, whales play with them. They see ships (he wants to talk to aliens and ask about the fishes).

11. All Is Lost (68%): Mumble goes after ship and ends up alone in open sea.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): He’s found and taken to zoo–hopeless.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Mumble dances and people notice him.

14: Finale (77-100%): Mumble goes back, teaches them all to dance, and brings aliens. People discussing about the penguins situation all over the world–they don’t have fish anymore.

15. Final Image (100%): Penguins dancing and eating plenty of fish.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

Tinker Bell in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Tinker Bell in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: London changing seasons by fairies.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): Hm, still debating this one … Such a rare talent. Rosetta says something like they should expect great things from Tinkerbell.

3. Set-Up (1-9%): Birth of Tinkerbell.

4. Catalyst (10%): Tinkerbell becomes a Tinker fairy but she’s not very happy about it.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): Tinkerbell finds out she can’t go to the Mainland. What to do now?

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): Tinkerbell decides she wants to try other talents.

7. B Story (27%): In doubt here. Tinkerbell and the girls. Or, Tinkerbell and the lost things (since they help her gain confidence and become a real tinker by the end).

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): With Silvermist, and Iridessa and Fawn trying to become a fairy of some other talent.

9. Midpoint (50%): When Tink brings a hawk into their village and Vidia ends up being messed with.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Tink is hopeless. She thinks her friends are against her. She turns to Vidia for help.

11. All Is Lost (68%): Tink “brings” sprinting thistles into the spring preparation area and messes everything.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): She’s the reason spring won’t come in time. She feels worse than ever before.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Tink realizes she can fix everything, so she steps up besides the disappointment everyone feels toward her.

14: Finale (77-100%): With lost things and the help of her friends, Tink brings Spring on time. She’s allowed to go to the Mainland.

15. Final Image (100%): Tink in London with the other fairies, after bringing Spring.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

Sinbad in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: Eris causing some chaos around the world.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): About trust and friendship. I think something Eris says to Sinbad about he being as bad as she and that he cannot change affects this.

3. Set-Up (1-9%): Sinbad steals the book from Proteus. Quick talk about childhood together. Boat attacked by sea monster.

4. Catalyst (10%): Eris makes a deal with Sinbad.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): Does he accepts Eris deal? Does he steal the book?

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): In Syracuse, Eris frames Sinbad and Proteus stays on his place while Sinbad has to go find the book.

7. B Story (27%): Sinbad and Marina.

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Sinbad and Marina arguments while on adventures: sirens and an island that’s actually a huge fish.

9. Midpoint (50%): Proteus chooses not to escape, placing all his trust on Sinbad.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Eris sends a giant hawk. Sinbad saves Marina from it. Arriving on Tartarus.

11. All Is Lost (68%): Eris makes him a question. He loses the book.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): Sinbad is without the book, without the girl, betrayed Proteus. He’s way worse than he started.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Despite everything, Sinbad goes back to Syracuse.

14: Finale (77-100%): Sinbad saves Proteus and is about to be killed. But then Eris comes and returns the book (he didn’t lose the question after all).

15. Final Image (100%): Sinbad, Marina and crew sailing away from Syracuse.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

The Incredibles in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

The Incredibles in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: The Superheroes on top of their games, saving the city and being recognized by such accomplishments.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): Have to be more flexible? (help here!) I know the movie is about reconciling their family and finding themselves, but I can’t come up with a pretty line for that ;)

3. Set-Up (1-9%): We follow Mr. Incredible crime saving routine, Buddy (a fan) pursuing him, and his marriage to Elastigirl.

4. Catalyst (10%): Mr. Incredible saved someone who was trying to commit suicide–law suit.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): Fastforward. Bob wants to be Mr. Incredible again, but can’t. He wished he was super still. Family going down the drain.

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): He’s fired and received the package from Mirage with the mission–he accepts it.

7. B Story (27%): Bob and being okay with himself again? Bob and his career?

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Bob is fighting robots, training, buying nice things, playing with family. He goes to Edna for a new suit.

9. Midpoint (50%): Helen (Elastigirl) thinks he’s cheating on her. Bob goes to another “secret” mission.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Helen finds Bob’s teared suit. Bob’s mission is a trap and he’s attacked by Buddy, now called Syndrome. Bob finds out other supers have been killed.

11. All Is Lost (68%): He’s captured and now his wife and his kids were killed by Syndrome.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): Later, the four of them are captured.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Mirage helps them escape.

14: Finale (77-100%): Attack on the city. Battle. are supers again, saving the day!

15. Final Image (100%): They get ready to save the world as a family.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

Planet 51 in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Planet 51 in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: Movie of an “alien” invasion.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): Universe (life) isn’t scary if you open up to it. It’s amazing.

3. Set-Up (1-9%): Lem shows his space presentation. Lem and his friend Skiff walk around the city (we see the setting). Skiff and Eckle drool over the next “alien” movie.

4. Catalyst (10%): The arrival of the alien (Chuck).

5. Debate (10-22.5%): Lem finds Chuck hidden–to help or not?

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): Lem helps Chuck.

7. B Story (27%): Lem and Chuck’s friendship.

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Around the town with the “alien”. They find Rover. Make “zombies” out of two dumb soldiers.

9. Midpoint (50%): Chuck is discovered and shown on TV as the brain eating type.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Soldiers their way to Chuck. Lem and Chuck run. They capture Rover–they want to study him. Neera (the girl Lem likes) is disappointed in him.

11. All Is Lost (68%): Chuck is captured.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): Chuck is going to be tested on. Lem is without his friend, without the girl he wanted, without the job, and having to lie.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Lem goes after Chuck–with Skiff, Eckle and Neera.

14: Finale (77-100%): Rescuing Chuck.

15. Final Image (100%): Chuck leaves the planet as friend.

*Note that the percentages are approximate.

Cheers,