tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post7900585170747167692..comments2024-03-05T22:12:23.918-08:00Comments on Karen Woodward: Using Index Cards To Outline A NovelKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-31733726666236121692013-12-17T09:23:30.813-08:002013-12-17T09:23:30.813-08:00Thanks mooderino, I bought the index card app afte...Thanks mooderino, I bought the index card app after Chuck Wendig recommended it, but didn't use it much for the first month or so. Now, though, I do all my outlining in it. Don't know what I'd do without it!Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-89136174111307950372013-12-15T02:46:51.284-08:002013-12-15T02:46:51.284-08:00I found the snowflake guy, that led me to Jim'...I found the snowflake guy, that led me to Jim's livejournal, and then I bought the swain book. I think I must have read Mr Butcher's stuff on writing a dozen times before I'd even read one of his books. Then I promptly devoured his Calderon series. Have added Deborah's blog to my blogroll thanks for the heads up.Lee Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127805337560546059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-1854686860229900672013-12-14T10:53:15.797-08:002013-12-14T10:53:15.797-08:00(This is a continuation of my previous comment.)
...(This is a continuation of my previous comment.)<br /><br />Because of this, I find that the first scene is an unholy Frankenstein-ish mix between scene and sequel. It's a scene, but I try and also weave in elements of a sequel. Or perhaps it's better to think of it as a scene followed by a short sequel (one that isn't long enough to be a different Scene) followed by more of the sceneKaren Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-37805669196860026932013-12-14T10:52:31.326-08:002013-12-14T10:52:31.326-08:00Hi John, great questions!
A while ago I read Syd...Hi John, great questions! <br /><br />A while ago I read Syd Field's 2005 update of his classic book, Screenwriting. Most of what I'm going to say comes from that book.<br /><br />Syd Field believed (I should double-check this, but this is what I remember) that one should have 14 cards for each 30 minutes of film. That works out to about 56 cards (most screenplays are 120 pages long; one Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-15899937053436517312013-12-13T23:14:30.656-08:002013-12-13T23:14:30.656-08:00Karen, you say that in your first act you devote f...Karen, you say that in your first act you devote four cards to the trailer. What is the trailer?<br /><br />Then, you say that you devote 5 cards to the first sequence. Does the sequence consist of scene followed by sequel? So, your 5 cards are split say 3 cards for the scene and 2 cards for the sequel? Or are those five cards your beginning, middle, end and try/fail sequel? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-34284055564618082212013-12-13T10:39:08.075-08:002013-12-13T10:39:08.075-08:00I recently discovered the index card app, very use...I recently discovered the index card app, very useful for writing on the go. Great post, thanks for the tips.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-78261224929142337802013-12-13T09:04:33.745-08:002013-12-13T09:04:33.745-08:00Lee, thanks for your kind words.
"I'd s...Lee, thanks for your kind words. <br /><br />"I'd say that learning about scenes and sequels was one of the major breakthrough points for me." Myself as well. Dwight V. Swain's books were a revelation. They changed my perception of what writing is.<br /><br />Yes, Jim Butcher's discussion of writing was what, indirectly, first put me on to Dwight V. Swain. It's an Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-70434815411432197562013-12-13T08:52:07.443-08:002013-12-13T08:52:07.443-08:00Thanks Kim!
Don't feel that you need to stay...Thanks Kim! <br /><br />Don't feel that you need to stay true to these categories. Experiment. Keep what works, change what doesn't. As G. R.R. Martin said recently, "As the famous saying goes; stealing from one source is plagiarism but stealing from lots of sources is research!"Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-66150670405269038002013-12-13T07:36:21.284-08:002013-12-13T07:36:21.284-08:00Thanks for your post! I've recently started wo...Thanks for your post! I've recently started working with index cards, but it's good to know what information should be included. I really like your blog, lots of helpful advice :)Kim Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00057503847109173026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-76289808969951425332013-12-13T02:40:48.999-08:002013-12-13T02:40:48.999-08:00I've been really enjoying your recent posts. I...I've been really enjoying your recent posts. I've played around with a lot of these same sources, particularly the 7 point plot stuff, and scenes on index cards. I'd say that learning about scenes and sequels was one of the major breakthrough points for me. I first saw an article on scenes and sequels on the 'Snowflake' guy's Blog which he'd cribbed Swain's sellingLee Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127805337560546059noreply@blogger.com