Writing for emotional impact : advanced dramatic techniques to attract, engage, and fascinate the reader from beginning to end

The Emotion-Delivery Business......Page 10
Why another screenwriting book?......Page 11
Thinking about emotion......Page 12
Hollywood is in the emotion-delivery business......Page 13
Craft means evoking emotion......Page 14
Your double task as a writer......Page 15
Character emotions vs. Reader emotions......Page 16
Writer beware......Page 17
We are your first audience......Page 19
We’re poorly paid, overworked, and frustrated......Page 20
What we do......Page 21
What we want in a reading experience......Page 22
The basics: What you need to know......Page 24
Concept sells......Page 25
What makes an idea appealing......Page 26
A note about “high concepts”......Page 28
Don’t write what you know......Page 29
12 ways to increase your idea’s appeal......Page 30
Creating an appealing title......Page 34
Choosing a popular genre......Page 35
On the Page: Concept in action......Page 36
Why theme matters......Page 38
Persuading and entertaining, not preaching......Page 39
Universal themes......Page 40
Finding your vision......Page 42
Nine theme techniques to show, not tell......Page 43
On the page: Theme in action......Page 46
The basics: What you need to know......Page 49
The five key questions for building a character......Page 50
Character exposition (show, don’t tell)......Page 55
Six ways to reveal character on the page......Page 56
Three ways to connect with character......Page 61
Techniques for instant character appeal and empathy......Page 67
On the page: Character in action......Page 74
What’s a dramatic story......Page 77
Story vs. plot......Page 78
The craft: Engaging the reader from beginning to end......Page 79
Interest/Fascination/Insight/Awe......Page 80
Curiosity/Wonder/Intrigue......Page 84
Anticipation/Hope/Worry/Fear......Page 88
Suspense/Tension/Anxiety/Concern/Doubt......Page 93
Surprise/Dismay/Amusement......Page 101
Thrill/Joy/Laughter/Sadness/Triumph......Page 107
Melodrama and Sentimentality......Page 109
On the page: Story in action......Page 110
The basics: What you need to know......Page 113
The craft: The emotional elements of each act......Page 114
Act I—Attraction......Page 115
Act II—Tension and anticipation......Page 118
Act III—Satisfaction......Page 120
On the page: Structure in action......Page 122
Exposition scenes......Page 123
Spectacle scenes......Page 124
Key Elements of a Dramatic Scene......Page 125
Techniques to craft fascinating scenes......Page 130
On The Page: Scene in Action......Page 141
The basics: What you need to know......Page 147
Common amateur mistakes......Page 148
The basics of screenwriting narrative......Page 150
Commanding attention......Page 153
Creating motion......Page 158
Generating a riveting reading experience......Page 161
Describing characters......Page 167
Describing locations......Page 168
On the page: Description in action......Page 169
Vivid Voices......Page 170
Characteristics of great dialogue......Page 171
Avoiding the most common dialogue flaws......Page 174
Techniques for emotional impact......Page 178
Techniques for individual dialogue......Page 195
Techniques for subtle exposition......Page 205
Techniques for subtext......Page 211
When on-the-nose dialogue is acceptable......Page 222
Study the masters of dialogue......Page 224
Rewriting tips......Page 226
You’re a painter on the page......Page 227
Painting on the Page......Page 225