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Fiction and Film Scripts:

Creating a Quick Outline

Summary

If you are in a hurry to write a book proposal, film script or the outline for a novel, this urgency may block your creative flow. In this article, book writing coach Maria Mar offers a relaxed, yet quick and fun way to meet that deadline.  Read more.

Fiction and Film Scripts:

Creating a Quick Outline

By Maria Mar©

If you are struggling with a story that refuses to organize itself in your mind, here's a quick way to bring order into the chaos.

You will be telling the story out loud and simultaneously creating a chapter/scene outline and summary. You will need a tape recorder.

PARTNER

If you have a friend or writing peer who listens well and is quick to extract the core in a story, get her to be your partner in this exercise. Otherwise, you will record the story, then go back and do the chapter mapping.

PREPARATION

Set aside about 4 hours in two sessions.

Get some quality wine and chocolate, please.

PROCESS

1. Simply tell the story from the very beginning. If you have an exercise buddy, her role is to listen. The minute she sees a chapter ending, she stops you.
    

2. You both agree on a (working) chapter title, and continue. The chapter title is nor written in stone, so avoid arguments that distract you from the story. Simply pick up the strongest image, a line that stands out of a dialogue, a popular saying that applies, or an object that is symbolic of the passage. A good sign is that it makes you smile or gives you that Aha! feeling. Here are three examples:

   1. The Suitcase Weighted More than I

   2. The First Time I Drank Sex in the Beach

   3. The Lie

    

3. If you do not have a partner, tell the story till the end and then go back and detect the end/beginning of each chapter or scene, naming it.
    

4. Continue saying the story, breaking to name each chapter/scene, until you've told the whole story.
    

5. Look at the chapter titles and make sure that you can remember each part, that you can recognize it.
    

6. Go to work immediately in a summary of each chapter. Write 3-5 sentences for each. The description should be able to elicit the entire story segment when you read it. It should also state clearly what happens in the story, evoking the main feeling or change.
    

7. Done! Congratulations!

The End

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Maria Mar(c)

The Dream Alchemist

http://www.writetodream.com

Maria Mar is known as the Dream Alchemist for the power of her writing and her art to help women stay true to their dreams and potential. She is living evidence that you can realize all your potential. A true renaissance woman, she is a PBS-featured performer, published author, poet, shaman, visual artist, life coach, book-writing coach, speaker, storyteller and spiritual teacher. If you want Maria to help you release the obstacles to your dream, visit www.catchthedreamexpress.com. For help writing to heal, to transform your life or to achieve success in your field, visit: http://www.writetodream.com. Meet Maria and enjoy the advice of experts and writers' at Write to Dream Radio Show.

Maria Mar

The Dream Alchemist

I inspire and guide passionate women who are determined to make their dreams come true to use writing, creativity and conscious living in order to break through barriers and attract the life of their dreams.

How can I help you?

I offer books, audios and other products to help you manifest your dream; as well as teleseminars, webinars, coaching memberships and private consultations. We also have live workshops, performances and speaking events.

What do you want?

If you want to write for your dream of healing, prosperity or creative passion, check out this website:

http://www.writetodream.com

If you are looking for inspiration and guidance to attract and manifest the life of your dreams, or if you need to release self-sabotage and blockages, visit this website:

http://www.catchthedreamexpress.com

Get my ebook:

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