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Posts tagged as “Prose”

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your TV Scripts (PT148)

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your TV Scripts (PT148)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:55 — 48.7MB)

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Alex and Nick discuss the many common mistakes to avoid in your TV scripts. From structure and character to dialogue and formatting, we go over the frequent problems we’ve encountered, and our advice on fixing them.

Content

1 – Before the draft (01:41)
2 – Macro mistakes: structure, acts, stories (13:54)
3 – Micro mistakes: scenes, dialogue, prose (28:37)
4 – On the page (42:07)

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :)

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Tips and Tricks for TV Writing (PT93)

Tips and Tricks for TV Writing (PT93)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:55 — 53.2MB)

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Alex and Nick offer tips and tricks to solve common TV writing obstacles. From procrastination, prose, and loglines, to characters, dialogue, and scene work, get actionable advice to troubleshoot your screenwriting problems.

Can’t find time or discipline to write? Having trouble coming up with ideas? Is your TV show premise unexciting? Does your TV script not have enough conflict? Are your characters uninteresting? Is your dialogue not working? Are your scenes running too long or too short?

Plus, we offer feedback on two more Paper Tease entries and crown June winners.

The Paper Team helps you out…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Tease Session (00:49)
1 – Problems with productivity, ideas, and procrastination (17:49)
2 – Macro script problems (24:55)
3 – Problems with character, dialogue, and prose (34:35)
4 – Scene problems (46:25)
5 – Problems after the draft (53:02)

Paper Tease Entries

“Duende” by Matt Sorensen
“American Monarchy” by Bo Liu & Nick Ruck

Links

Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home (PT06)
Gary Provost
Rewriting Your TV Script (PT90)
“25 ways to kick exposition’s ass” – Terrible Minds

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers’ JumpStart Writing Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

TV Prose and Scene Description 101 (PT48)

TV Prose and Scene Description 101 (PT48)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:46 — 31.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More

Update: PT48 transcript now available

Alex and Nick discuss why scene descriptions in TV scripts are so important, what to focus on in your TV prose, and treading the line between writing a script as a technical document versus a reading experience.

What makes good or bad prose? What are some examples of compelling scene descriptions? Should prose be efficient or florid? How do you convey textual information? When should you “direct” in a TV script?

Plus, a quick review of Shonda Rhimes’ TV writing masterclass.

The Paper Team illustrates their thoughts…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Announcements (00:49)
Odds-and-ends: Shonda Rhimes’ TV writing masterclass (02:23)
1 – What is screenwriting prose and why is it important (07:50)
2 – Why scene descriptions need to be efficient (09:33)
3 – Script: technical document or reading experience? (17:53)
4 – Describing versus telling (22:51)
5 – The screenwriter’s voice (27:39)
Takeaways and Resources (30:15)

Links

Shonda Rhimes’ TV writing masterclass
Six Feet Under
Alien script by Walter Hill and David Giler
David Foster Wallace
Shane Black
American Gods (TV Series)
Courier Prime
“Two for the Road” (2×20 – Lost)
“Exposition in TV Writing” (PT24)
Sherlock (TV Series)
“Sherlock: How To Film Thought” (Video)
“A Brief Look at Texting and the Internet in Film” (Video)
Fringe chyrons

Resources

Hemingway Editor
Thesaurus.com
“The Synonym Finder” – J. I. Rodale

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board’s Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]