You know how you sometimes have a great idea in the shower? Does that mean you should bring your laptop in there with you? Perhaps.
Does it mean you should write while wet and in the nude? Again, perhaps.
In this week’s explosive episode of WALKING THE DOG AND GIVING THE WRITING TIPS, I share a tidbit from the world of neuroscience to encourage you to step away from the desk and enjoy the writing process in other ways. This episode will also provide you with a new phrase that will make you sound smart to your friends and family.
And to all the Percy fans out there, thank you for your cards and flowers, but she prefers kibble with a tablespoon of gelatinous glop from a can.
In other news
I was recently hired to consult on a feature screenplay. To pull back the curtain on the mysterious world of story consulting, I’ll share with you the opening paragraph of my notes here and the closing paragraph at the end of the post:
I’m a fellow writer so I can understand how getting notes can be a loaded experience. I know a lot of time and effort went into this draft. and I always start by saying I recognize, appreciate, and respect that. I know how valuable fresh eyes and honest reactions can be so I’ll do my best to provide you with valuable thoughts on the piece. These notes are a combination of comments, questions, observations and suggestions—all in the name of honoring what I suspect are the intentions for this story
See how fucking humane I am?
Last week’s gig came to me through a producer I’ve known for years who’s working with a less experienced writer. She had the brilliant idea to get fresh eyes on his draft before doing his next pass. Hence, me, Bill Gullo.
I know a lot of the followers and readers of Storytellers Social Club are writing, have written, or are thinking about writing a story—whether a feature screenplay, short screenplay, novel, short story, memoir, graphic novel…and on and on.
I’ll share a post soon about How to Work with me, Bill Gullo, but if you have a story you’re trying to develop, revise, or get out of your head you should know that I do quite a lot of story consulting in between my walks with Percy. My clients range from novelists to filmmakers to organizations to anyone with a story to tell.
Here are some nice words about me:
“Bill’s brain is always humming with story. Not only is he a generous writer and reader, eager to lend an ear or join you under the hood to problem solve, but his approach has a refreshing air of curiosity and “beginner’s mind.” He meets you where you’re at and will help you carve out new paths of thinking or experimenting with your process, as opposed to offering predetermined, tidy answers. He is a joy to work with and just picking up the phone to chat a bit of story with him will surely lift you out of the doldrums of feeling stuck. Bill is an extraordinarily gifted teacher and I can’t recommend working with him highly enough!”
— Marina Michelson, screenwriter/Almanack Screenwriters alumna
Thank you, Marina! I blush.
How to Revise
Here’s the final paragraph to last week’s client. It’s also the advice I give everyone who is preparing to revise a finished manuscript.
At this stage, I always put the draft aside and buy a new notebook. I revisit and define the turning points and arcs for each character. I take a helicopter view to identify everyone’s tangible wants and emotional needs and the resulting arcs. I commit to a North Star for each character and then I march them through the plot following their Tangible Wants. I don’t read the script which only keeps me in the same pattern of thinking and keeps me married to ideas that might not work. I hope this is insanely helpful.
Congratulations on having a fully complete draft. Good luck with your revision!
So if you’re craving humane, encouraging, actionable help with your storytelling, it’s time to contact me, Bill Gullo.
More soon.
xob
