I love to share my passion for writing with others and I’m always happy to visit writing groups to bring my unique screenwriting approach to drafting novels and short stories. I call this ‘Big Screen’ Writing.
As an alternative to my one day workshop, I can also provide a short talk to introduce some of the general principles of ‘Big Screen’ Writing. Over the course of an hour, I hope to inspire your members to try some of these techniques, as well as giving them the opportunity to ask questions about screenwriting itself and some of the tips I’ve gained from almost ten years of hosting The Joined Up Writing Podcast. Alternatively, I offer a two hour hybrid session combining the elements of my talk, with some relevant workshop exercises to bring the concepts to life.
Hello Wayne. I just thought I would drop you a line to say how much I enjoyed and benefited from the workshop you hosted. As a writer, I have attended many such tutorials over the years but found yours to be up there amongst the best.
Karen Clarke – Just Writers Writing Group
‘Big Screen’ Writing – One Day Workshop
‘Big Screen’ Writing is a fun, interactive and inspiring one day workshop designed to give novelists a screenwriter’s perspective on their work. Delegates are encouraged to bring their existing drafts or novel ideas so they can apply some of the techniques discussed.
Course Overview
SELL IT LIKE A MOVIE
How to craft a logline – your book in a nutshell and a way to sell the book to you, your readers and prospective agents/publishers.
SEE IT LIKE A MOVIE
The cinematic take on the maxim ‘show don’t tell’ – through analysis of a classic film opening, we look at ways to craft an arresting opening that creates the tone, pace and character of your book.
BUILD IT LIKE A MOVIE
Screenplays are structure – how we can adapt the tried-and-tested three act structure to craft the perfect story arc for our novels.
MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A MOVIE
Dialogue – using a classic Rom-Com scene and a fun exercise, we examine the importance of good dialogue and how it can and should be so much more than ‘people talking’.
EDIT IT LIKE A MOVIE – THE REWRITE
Writing is rewriting – starting with a page one rewrite and utilising some of the techniques we’ve discussed so far, we take a fresh look at the opening of your book.
ACTUALLY WRITING A MOVIE – SOME TIPS
Screenwriting Introduction – We round out the course with a quick overview of screenwriting for new writers interested in learning to write in a different format, along with some suggested further reading materials.
A Frontrow Seat . . .
Through film clips, examples and exercises, ‘Big Screen’ Writing gives delegates a range of tools to bring a cinematic flair to their books and add that ‘Big Screen’ appeal now demanded by modern readers and audiences.
Would you like me to bring ‘Big Screen’ Writing to your group or organisation? Get in touch to find out more.
Here are just a few comments from previous attendees . . .
A big thank you for doing the workshop. I’ve had nothing but very good feedback from the group afterwards. They thought it was excellent and got so much from the session.
Keith Morley, Phoenix Writers, Leicester
Great workshop, Wayne. Everyone is still raving about it seven days later! It was clear, concise and hugely informative. The graph showing the story arc is proving invaluable.
Dianne A Noble, Romantic Novelists Association
Many thanks for the interesting and thought-provoking session you ran for us last Tuesday. I came away with lots of ideas and have just finished a new opening chapter to my novel.
Edward Finn, Aspiring Novelist