Tag Archives: loglines

Loglines from The Black List

Story Tips, , ,

Every year, a list called The Black List is made of Hollywood executives’ favorite, unproduced screenplays from the past year. The 2012 list is out and I’m scrolling through it. Some of these loglines could use some help, so I’m going to break down some of the entries to help you see what would make a great logline.

Before I jump into this, I want to make something clear. I can’t do the back-and-forth with the writers that I would normally do when helping someone with a logline. Instead, I’m just going to be giving a brief analysis of what needs to change to make each logline a good one.

With that out of the way, here are five instructive loglines from The Black List. Continue reading Loglines from The Black List →

Finding the Core of Your Story Now Available on Kindle, Plus a Giveaway!

Announcements,

Finding the Core of Your Story coverYou read that correctly! Finding the Core of Your Story, the new revised and expanded edition, is now available on the Amazon Kindle store. Even better, for the next three days it’s free!

That’s right, my new book is available today for exactly $0. This only lasts for three days, so get your copy as soon as you finish reading this post. Why should you wait even that long? Because I also have a giveaway to tell you about!

Giveaway? Yes! I’m holding a giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Interested? Here’s how you enter:

Simply get my book and read it, then leave a review on Amazon. Positive or negative, it doesn’t matter. Just be honest about what you thought. Post your review, then use the form below to submit a link to it. And if you like, check out the other things you can do to get extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So that’s it. Go get my book, tell your friends, and enter the giveaway. Enjoy! The giveaway will end at midnight on the 18th, and I’ll draw a winner the next day.

Also, don’t forget that signed copies of the print edition of Finding the Core of Your Story are available for pre-order until December 22. If you’d like one, check that out and get a signed copy while you still can.

Revised and Expanded Finding the Core of Your Story Will Launch on December 12

Announcements,

I just ordered my proof copy of the printed edition, and I’m nearly ready with the Kindle edition, so we’re all set and ready to go! Finding the Core of Your Story, the revised and expanded edition, will launch on the Kindle store in exactly one week, on December 12.

I’ll be making it free for the first day, so tell your friends! I want as many people as possible to download my book and take advantage of the free day. There will also be a giveaway on the launch day, so check back here to enter.

Signed copies of the printed edition are still available for pre-order through December 22. I’ll be ordering those on December 23. If you want a signed copy, be sure to order one before then.

Finding the Core of Your Story

Cover Reveal of Finding the Core of Your Story

Announcements,

I’ve been hard at work getting the revised and expanded edition of Finding the Core of Your Story ready for you to read. Just the other day, I got the final cover from the designer. What do you think?

Finding the Core of Your Story

Printed copies of the book are now available for pre-order. Pre-order copies will be signed by yours truly, and that only lasts until the book is published. Don’t miss out!

Also, on launch day, I’ll be giving away the Kindle version of my book for free. That’s right, for $0! Keep watching the Fix My Story blog for an announcement when Finding the Core of Your Story is available, or sign up for my mailing list to make sure you don’t miss it.

Let’s Do the Twist

Story Tips, ,

The other day, I was asked how I would logline the movie Hugo. But right there on the spot, I couldn’t do it. That’s pretty strange for me, because generally with a bit of thought, I can logline a story lickety-split.

At the time, I attributed it to trying to formulate a logline verbally, but when I later sat down and attempted to actually write a logline for Hugo… No go. It was as if the film didn’t want to be loglined.

This, of course, would not do. Every story can be loglined, right? That’s what I tell every storyteller I meet. So why wasn’t this working?

After some thought, and some research with a few other stories, I believe I have figured it out. It’s simply this: Hugo has structure issues. Continue reading Let’s Do the Twist →