THE STORY SPOT

You know the ones: characters who so get under your skin that you can’t stop watching week after week, characters who get talked about at the office the next day, characters so brazenly themselves that you can’t believe they just did that? But they did. How about a few examples to paint the picture?

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape via Wikipedia

What makes these characters so compelling even when they are not the primary antagonist or villain?

Read on »

From acclaimed artist Erik Loyer comes an innovation in storytelling. Billed as a “Tamogatchi for adults,” Opertoon is an interactive story between lovers played out on your iPhone.

Ruben & Lullaby are lovers having their first fight. Whether they break up or make up depends on you! Shake to make them angry. Stroke to make them sad. The future of their relationship is in your hands.

Writers, here is your glimpse into your future. 

UPDATE: September 26, 2009
More from our friend Erik on the world of Opertoon!

It’s been a great year for Ruben & Lullaby, here’s a quick recap in case you missed all the goings-on:

* Finalist, Achievement in Art Category, Second Annual Independent Games Festival Mobile
* Coverage from MSNBC.com, Apple, and thoughtful folks like Scott McCloud, Emily Short (who mentioned it on her “Interactive Storytelling Must-Play” list), Michael Abbott and Andrew Stern
* Exhibited at E3 as an IndieCade Official Selection
* Featured in O’Reilly Media’s new book Best iPhone Apps: A Guide for Discriminating Downloaders

Finally, I’m aiming to announce development of the second Opertoon by the end of the year–there’s a number of interesting possibilities cooking at the moment. For more frequent updates, point your RSS reader at http://opertoon.com or use Twitter (http://twitter.com/opertoon) or Facebook (http://bit.ly/1mrEvg).

Opertoon at the iTunes App Store
The official Opertoon site
Erik Loyer’s Generous Machine

Take it from a guy who oughta know: sitting your squirrely butt at that keyboard or notebook for 20 minutes every day (yes, weekends too) is one true tip for finishing your writing projects. Cory Doctorow, Canadian writer extraordinaire lays it out in his feature for LOCUS Magazine for you who are convinced that there just isn’t enough time in a day to complete that insurmountable project (yes, he’s talking to me too, at times.) And you know what? He’s absolutely right.

Cory Doctorow: Writing in the Age of Distraction on Locus Online

Update (Jan.16/09): For further inspiration, see “Daily Routines,” an online compendium of how the publicly admired spend their days. Via VSL.

Drama, as you know from high school, can be defined as an exciting series of events. Writers know that definition to be woefully inadequate. Stringing together a series of events, no matter how scintillating, death-defying, or fantastic, can amount to a big ol’ bag o’ dull unless those events are dramatizing meaningful story points.

Writers also know the pain of rewriting to someone else’s notes when those notes are event-based and miss the underlying motion of the story. But there’s hope! We can more effectively discuss how to handle revisions by grabbing firm hold of the purpose of each scene and relating its crux to the real story events as they unfold.

So, like, what’s all the drama?
Read on »

‘Tis the season for tips lists, n’est pas? At the heart of what story consultants do are the abilities to take in, distill, and communicate. Here are five tasty treats to feed your hungry consultant’s (and writer’s!) brain during the coming year.

Hone Your Story Consulting Skills in 2009:

1. Create a short checklist of the items you notice first when reading a new draft.
   This will require honest attention to your own process as you sit with a new piece. Each person’s talent walks a slightly different path so listen for yourself then write down your findings. Chances are good that you habitually pick up on similar types of items in a similar order from project to project (e.g., noticing how the writer establishes settings, then how they introduce characters, followed by the elements of their voice).

2. Keep your personal checklist posted prominently in your workspace to remind yourself of your own strengths of observation. Soon, you may find other hidden talents developing to steal the limelight.
3. Allow yourself to read a draft lightly and completely once through without making  notes.
   Taking in the mood and intent of the piece as an audience member takes an amount of restraint that many of us find challenging, to say the least. It takes extra time to read through this way but your writer/partner and the project will be better for it.  …Alright, typos are exempt and marking them may even take the edge off the urge to edit during that first pass.
4. Formulate your logline for the project.
   Regardless of what information accompanies the project, after you turn that final page, take a few minutes to create a logline. This will allow you to unearth your experience of the story as read, revealing truths, gaps, and opportunities as you work. It is also handy to compare your own logline with that of your writer/partner’s or with the production company’s. Sometimes what’s on the page does not match their intent or desire; creating your own logline may provide a platform for discussion and the start of productive working sessions.
5. Consider your communication style from all perspectives.
   A great story consultant is not only adept at ferreting out a writer’s goals and the areas in which their story can shine but also is skilled at creating a place of shared understanding. Without clear and kind communication, trust cannot be established and creativity cannot flourish between writer and coach. Take time to consider how you routinely formulate and express your thoughts, how you receive the input of your writing partners, as well as how your input is generally received. Compare your observations to your ideal working scenario then take baby steps to match the two.

Hopefully these five tips will spur your creativity and contribute to shaping your ideal working environment in the new year. Why not add your own ideas, process, and helpful hints to these five by leaving a comment below?