Monthly Archives: July 2011

10 Screenwriting Tips

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Screenplays are blueprints for movies. As such, they are not art, but instructions for creating art. Therefore, there are two things every great screenplay must have: A good story, and a clear and understandable description of how it should be … Continue reading →

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“Throughline” or “Through-Line” ?

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

A writer commented on my article, “Story Throughlines and How to Use Them.” He opens by quoting from my article: You won’t find the word, “throughline” in the dictionary. In fact, as I type this in my word processor, it … Continue reading →

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Creating Characters – Introduction to Heroes

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

From the StoryWeaving Seminar

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Story Throughlines & How to Use Them

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Some time ago I described the difference between the two basic forms of story structure with the following phrase: You spin a tale, but you weave a story. The common expression “spinning a yarn” conjures up the image of a … Continue reading →

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“Hero” is a Stereotype NOT an Archetype!

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

In an earlier discussion of what sets the Objective Characters apart from the Subjective Characters, we described how Objective Characters represent dramatic functions in a story whereas Subjective Characters represent points of view. The Protagonist is an example of an … Continue reading →

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Archetypes and the Crucial Element

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

A writer recently asked: Is it necessary to have the main character as one of the archetypes?   No. The Main Character point of view must be attached to one of the character elements, not necessarily to an archetype. A … Continue reading →

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How Can You Write If You Don’t Know Who You Are?

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Who are you, really? Do you even know? Or do you just think you know? At the center of our beings, at the heart of our souls, can be found the truth of our identity: our compassion, our anger, the … Continue reading →

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