0:00 - Story Structure Is 90% Of The Work 10:07 - The Nutshell Technique Versus Save The Cat 14:40 - Why Writers Should Focus On Acts 1 And 3 Before Writing Act 2 24:21 - 8 Sequence Method 30:20 - Characters Are What They Do... Not Who They Were 48:28 - Most Important Event In Every Movie Is 'The Point Of No Return' 1:01:13 - If You Don’t Know The Climax You Don’t Know The Story 1:13:27 - Best And Easiest Way To Write Great Dialogue 1:24:32 - How To Write Better Scene Descriptions 1:36:17 - How Writers Ruin Their Endings 1:44:35 - Why Writing Groups Are A Great Idea 1:55:00 - Truth About Being A Professional Screenwriter 2:03:15 - What A Writer Should Know Before Hiring A Script Consultant
Most writers use a beat sheet and a synopsis to outline the plot and the story. If we only "structure" the beginning and the "end," what about the middle? "Oh, the middle - just keep throwing complications at them." There's no need for any structure? Huh? But this is arbitrary. The middle will likely be 60 pages of unrelated events without a structural outline. Does anyone know an architect who designs a 20-story building by drawing only the foundation and the top 5 floors? One look at the drawing, and most people would immediately say, "Hey, there is a big hole in the middle." The outline and beat sheet address the gap by mapping the initial entire structure of the plot. There is always room for creative changes when starting with a complete narrative structure. It is up to the writer to develop the characters (by listening to them) to ensure the characters in the Story want to do what the writer wants them to do in the Plot. (Lilian Hellman.) To make this work, re-writing and multiple drafts are always needed. But trying to shape the thing without a middle outline is a very challenging way to go.
Except that no one needs to visit the whole building to rate it 🤷🏻♂️ As much as every part play a role, what viewers remember most are the beginning and the end of the movies they watch.
100% agree with Jill. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll either a) never get there or b) go from Florida to NY via California - and have to throw all of that detour away!
I think of Save the Cat (STC) and Nutshell Technique (NT) as complementary. Imagine you’re going on a trip and you decide to visit these places along the way (STC); then at each of those places you’re going to have an emotional experience (NT). You need the map of where you’re going (STC) plus the emotional transformational takeaway (NT) from each stop along your journey. At least, that’s how I use those two books.
I love how she pointed out that writers just write . I mean that’s not 100% accurate but it is 😂 cause I will write a whole story and re-read it and redraft and redraft and it’s solely for clarity of the story . Writing and structuring simultaneously is def a skill ❤this is a gem
I agree with almost everything Jill says but disagree with the point of no return having to occur at around the 25% mark. Stories vary in their events, order and structure. The 25% mark/end of act 1 is normally the point in which the protagonist is EITHER forced to pursue their goal because they have no other option (which would be a point of no return) OR they decide to pursue their goal BUT could still back out if they wanted to. There are stories in which the protagonist chooses to pursue a goal but the point of no return may not come until later, for example, half way through the second act.
![Solve Your Story Structure Problems In 11 Steps - Pat Verducci [FULL INTERVIEW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RPGTIqHBmUE/mqdefault.jpg)
0:00 - Story Structure Is 90% Of The Work
10:07 - The Nutshell Technique Versus Save The Cat
14:40 - Why Writers Should Focus On Acts 1 And 3 Before Writing Act 2
24:21 - 8 Sequence Method
30:20 - Characters Are What They Do... Not Who They Were
48:28 - Most Important Event In Every Movie Is 'The Point Of No Return'
1:01:13 - If You Don’t Know The Climax You Don’t Know The Story
1:13:27 - Best And Easiest Way To Write Great Dialogue
1:24:32 - How To Write Better Scene Descriptions
1:36:17 - How Writers Ruin Their Endings
1:44:35 - Why Writing Groups Are A Great Idea
1:55:00 - Truth About Being A Professional Screenwriter
2:03:15 - What A Writer Should Know Before Hiring A Script Consultant
I’ve watched almost every Film Courage video and I believe Jill gives the best advice, especially about testing a character’s flaws.
Jill is so knowledgeable. Thank you for providing a platform to learn and a grow as a writer.
Thank you Matt! Jill is excellent! Thank you for becoming a member. We appreciate you giving back and supporting this channel!
Most writers use a beat sheet and a synopsis to outline the plot and the story. If we only "structure" the beginning and the "end," what about the middle? "Oh, the middle - just keep throwing complications at them." There's no need for any structure? Huh? But this is arbitrary. The middle will likely be 60 pages of unrelated events without a structural outline.
Does anyone know an architect who designs a 20-story building by drawing only the foundation and the top 5 floors? One look at the drawing, and most people would immediately say, "Hey, there is a big hole in the middle." The outline and beat sheet address the gap by mapping the initial entire structure of the plot. There is always room for creative changes when starting with a complete narrative structure.
It is up to the writer to develop the characters (by listening to them) to ensure the characters in the Story want to do what the writer wants them to do in the Plot. (Lilian Hellman.) To make this work, re-writing and multiple drafts are always needed. But trying to shape the thing without a middle outline is a very challenging way to go.
Except that no one needs to visit the whole building to rate it 🤷🏻♂️ As much as every part play a role, what viewers remember most are the beginning and the end of the movies they watch.
Wow this is a gold mine. Love her methods and her way of articulating herself, helping me again on my drafts.
She’s so great!!!
Thank you!
Thanks Geoff! Our gratitude goes out to Jill for visiting with us and sharing her teachings!
100% agree with Jill. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll either a) never get there or b) go from Florida to NY via California - and have to throw all of that detour away!
Which part of this video did you find most helpful?
I think of Save the Cat (STC) and Nutshell Technique (NT) as complementary. Imagine you’re going on a trip and you decide to visit these places along the way (STC); then at each of those places you’re going to have an emotional experience (NT).
You need the map of where you’re going (STC) plus the emotional transformational takeaway (NT) from each stop along your journey. At least, that’s how I use those two books.
I love how she pointed out that writers just write . I mean that’s not 100% accurate but it is 😂 cause I will write a whole story and re-read it and redraft and redraft and it’s solely for clarity of the story . Writing and structuring simultaneously is def a skill ❤this is a gem
This was a very enjoyable interview, Jill is engaging and interesting to learn from. Thanks
Agreed! Love this interview with Jill. Thanks for watching!
The first draft isn't going to be used so therefore just write it.
I agree with almost everything Jill says but disagree with the point of no return having to occur at around the 25% mark. Stories vary in their events, order and structure. The 25% mark/end of act 1 is normally the point in which the protagonist is EITHER forced to pursue their goal because they have no other option (which would be a point of no return) OR they decide to pursue their goal BUT could still back out if they wanted to. There are stories in which the protagonist chooses to pursue a goal but the point of no return may not come until later, for example, half way through the second act.
Break the rules!
I think she Means to say...The story Is the structure
So, use Wikipedia articles to write biopics. That explains why most of them are turds.
I knew there were drugs involved, now it all makes sense.
Where does she mention thid
@@DirtyBobBojangles
Naw, I'm joking about the title.