Authoring & Playwriting

By having something worse to do.

Really. In my experience, writers will do anything to get out of writing. All of a sudden that yard work seems urgent. And cleaning the toilets! And the litter box! And, and-

The great author Edna Ferber summed it up best. "I hate writing. I love having written."

I either turn towards my keyboard and play some tunes or take a walk. That always cures it Amanda Toney.

Amanda Toney : Taking a step back, changing environment, or doing some fun activities(this most times sparks creativity)

Amanda Toney - I've never experienced it personally, for my music or books, (maybe back in school when I had to write things I didn't want to write? haha). I think that's because I don't force the creation. Inspiration strikes me, and I run with it. Or, if I've simply set the time aside to write, I go with the flow. Should something not be flowing, I go do something else until it is.

TAlena Karamazova hat’s a great way to look at it, honestly.

I think that sense of “I want” is what keeps the process alive in the long run. Even with discipline, if that feeling disappears, the work starts to lose something.

For me, I’m trying to find a balance between both staying consistent, but still enjoying the process and why I started in the first place.

Hope you keep enjoying it your way too

I believe it's just another easy avenue to find material. Imagine looking for the best ice cream. You can go taste-test in the various parlours around town like they used to do in Hollywood when it was a much smaller business. Later it became a day at an ice cream convention where the world's best ice cream is showcased. Then it was, "We only want to taste ice cream that has a referral". Who has time for that anymore? Now, you can go online and look up the most popular ice cream flavors to pick and choose. Things change. I say, do your best work -- always. Put it out there and someone will see it whether it's popular, or not. Next thing you know... they will start wandering into the local ice cream parlours again.

It's a necessary evil.

It's not only an influencer, it's an outlet.

Debbie Seagle - "I hope not. I’m terrible with social media; I just want to write!" - I feel that 100%. It's just not my vibe. I use it to share, but like high school, I don't tend to be the popular kid, haha.

You are doing a good job.

Nice, that's dramatic. I haven't had a script take such a major turn while writing, but in outlines such wild things happen for me.

On the converse, I'd had characters survive due to the heroes and villains constantly foiling each other's plans.

What you’re describing about the “two brains” is very real, and I think a lot of writers underestimate just how different those muscles are until they actually try to cross over.

The part that stood out to me most is the shift from internal truth to external proof. In novels, emotion can exist privately. In scripts, it has to behave. If a character is grieving, it’s not what they feel, it’s what they do, avoid, or fail to do that reveals it.

I’ve noticed that writers who make that transition successfully don’t just “cut down” their book, they reinterpret it. They start asking different questions:

– What is the character choosing in this moment?

– What changes because of that choice?

– What can the audience see that replaces what the reader used to know?

Also, your point about architecture is important. A lot of authors resist structure at first, but structure isn’t there to limit voice, it’s what gives the story momentum once it leaves the page. Without it, even great concepts struggle to hold attention visually.

And that last point about IP is where things are really shifting. Writers who can think in terms of world, continuity, and scalability already have an edge. It’s no longer just about telling a story, it’s about building something that can live beyond one format.

Curious from your experience, when authors struggle with adaptation, is it usually more about letting go of internal narration, or more about restructuring the story itself?

Okay for me-- I know the adaptation part is honestly about relooking at the continuity as a whole and why did it work on paper? Then it's how much of this is overlap, how much is just giving repetition of three to make sure the audience understands. With shifting it over- it's that 3:1 ration- every 3 pages is one page of script. So it means considering reorganising the structure for more impact. It means learning how to stop telling narratively and start showing it in ways that can be seen on the screen. Now I am a plantster- the hybrid of pantser and planner- I plan the beats, I may have must have scenes put in their place and let myself write to those points as an author. But as a screenwriter- I've learned that detailed scriptment outlines with dialogue notes, SFX/VFX notes-- are my WORLD.

I think it's actually good to work in a genre that maybe isn't your first instinct. If you're not into a lot of the tropes and things about a certain genre then maybe you can add a fresh perspective and feel less precious about the cherished beats or cliches you might find. A good example are those Zach Cregger horror movies. He comes from a comedy history but his horror movies are shaking things up and feel so different and fresh, presumably because he's coming at it from a different angle. I helped someone write a zombie short film a few years back and I'm not a big zombie guy but I had a ton of fun kind of immersing myself in that genre and figuring out the stuff I wanted to lean into or rework or use for various purposes etc.

I was never - with a few notable exceptions - a big fan of Romantic Comedy, until my brother told me I should write one because I didn't like them. Who knew? He did.

I love this question. For me, I'm always pushing myself to explore new things or try things that make me uncomfortable. It's the willingness to be uncomfortable that takes us to some magical places in our writing

Kat, I tend to begin with the genres that naturally resonate, but I’ve found real growth often happens slightly outside that space.

Sometimes a genre that isn’t instinctively “mine” reveals structural or tonal approaches that deepen my primary work — whether it’s rhythm, restraint, or a different way of revealing character.

Even when the surface aesthetics differ, the underlying human questions often connect across genres.

Exploring those differences can sharpen one’s own voice rather than dilute it.

Kat Spencer I like to genre hop, though drama is where I live the most. Even so, I'm always looking for how I can blend other genres in so there can be more dimension.

I am eagerly awaiting The Backrooms movie from internet lore. It's a fascinating concept that grew into something pretty wild.

PS: I started an adaptations series in the OTT & Transmedia Lounge:

https://www.stage32.com/lounge/transmedia/Film-Adaptations-transposing-I...

More parts are on the way.

I wish they would do some good adaptations of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and perhaps Lewis' SPACE TRILOGY

Wow - I had no idea this could be done. Amazing!

hmmmm ... will you like me to share you some ideas on how it will work

Paul Samson I used Google Gemini and just asked to create a promotional video. You'll have to subscribe to a paid plan.

This is a strong concept you’ve got clear stakes, tension, and a compelling character dynamic, especially with Ryan’s “enemy who believes he’s a savior” angle. That’s a really powerful psychological hook.

I also like the international element and how the conflict follows Anna back home it keeps the story active instead of contained.

One thing that could make this blurb even more impactful is tightening the flow and sharpening the emotional hook at the beginning. Right now, the core tension is there, but it could hit even harder with a slightly more focused structure and a clearer sense of urgency.

For example, emphasizing Anna’s internal conflict fear vs responsibility earlier could really pull readers in.

If you’d like, I can help refine this into a sharper, more gripping blurb that instantly hooks readers and agents.

Alex Silverscript thank you feel free to send any tweak suggestions. I’ve written so many my brain is ready to