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Index Cards and Writing Projects
pooks | Jan 18 2006
I'm a writer. I also teach writing classes. It's very common in screenwriting to "storyboard" with index cards. There are various methods, but recently I picked up Blake Snyder's book, SAVE THE CAT, in which he gives a very specific method of developing an idea and outlining that intrigued me, and I'm in the process of using it with my current project. I've been blogging a little about it, and have two entries (with pics) about ways of organizing the index cards. A HPDA could work, actually, as something you carry with you, but to have the cards displayed on a wall or by some other method is important. Anyway, I thought I'd post links to the entries that discuss (with pics) the index cards. If anyone here is writing books or scripts, you might find it interesting. I don't explain much about Snyder's process -- you'd have to read his book for that. I just talk about how to physically deal with the cards: http://guiltyofbeing.blogspot.com/2006/01/still-saving-cat.html http://guiltyofbeing.blogspot.com/2006/01/cat-saving.html I think it's interesting that even as more and more software programs are coming out to help in the writing of screenplays, many people are going retro with index cards. 4 Comments
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 Yes, and ironically, Blake is...Submitted by pooks on January 27, 2006 - 7:00am.
Yes, and ironically, Blake is now working on another book on writing screenplays. I like his four-row method -- it makes a lot of sense to use the midpoint as a line break, since again that gives you a good feel for the pace/structure of the second act. I used cards, then didn't use anything, then started exploring outlining software, looking for the next new thing. But I never was happy enough with any of the trials to actually buy it and use it. Three act structure is really helpful with novels, too. I wish I'd understood structure when I was writing novels -- it would have improved them and also helped me with the analytical process of rewrite, which wasn't my strength (to put it, um, gently). And put on your sunglasses for this one -- a novelist shows her plotting board: http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/2006/01/plotting-board.html (I warned you to put on your sunglasses. You didn't listen, did you? Live and learn!) » POSTED IN:
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