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PUBLIC SPEAKING: 10 Hacks to Improve Your Skills

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Who’s not afraid of talking in front of random people ?

And if I hear  ‘Hey I’m not !’ It’s because you’ve done it before.

So here is the deal, you have an important pitch, an interview in front of a panel of people or even bigger…. a public speaking gig and you don’t know how the hell you’re going to survive this.

BREATHE. You’ve got this.

Here are 10 ways to get you started.

1. Be prepared

Oh gosh. There’s nothing worse than getting in front of people when you don’t know:

a) what to expect.

b) when you don’t know your subject.

So first, do some research. Find out what you have to talk about.

Secondly, ask for how long you’ll be interviewed for. 

My best interviews are the ones when the host told me as many details as possible beforehand.  Then I know what I will be talking about. I can get my bullet points ready. When I say BULLET POINTS I mean it. I don’t prepare a speech ever. I prepare KEYWORDS.

For an interview, I try to prepare all the questions they could ask me.

For a pitch or a gig, I prepare all the major points to highlight.

Prepare your subject inside out. Know it. Own it. Breathe it.

2. Feel the room

Before going to a new classroom, I FEEL the space.

I send greetings to it and to the people to come.

I become one with the walls, the desk, the stage, the mousepad and the computer. I prepare a magic bubble.

When my energy settles in, that’s it baby, I’m in.

But what if you don’t have access to the room beforehand?

Can you google the room or place? Can you arrive a bit earlier?

If you can’t, simply close your eyes and visualize the space, the people, and see yourself completely at ease in it.

Image by EnergieDeVie from Pixabay

If you have a pitch, pitch it to everyone you know.

Let them ask you questions and answer them.

If can’t answer their questions, do your homework and get ready.

4. Choose comfortable clothes

Make an effort for your audience as if you were going on a date. Because it’s kind of a date anyway.

However you don’t want to wear something that is not you. If you never wear high heels, it’s not the time to try them out. Just be the best version of yourself. Enough to breathe confidence.

Don’t think too much of how you look though. Focus on what you are for, on the message you need to deliver. Focus on your audience not on how you look.

5. Pump up the volume

Before you get dressed, blast some Led Zep and dance, get some steam off.

Enough to feel so damn good. You need to have a high level of energy.

Have you ever come across a teacher or a speaker that has no enthusiasm whatsoever? It sends you right to sleep or make you think of your to do list. The last thing you want is to bore your audience.

Enthusiasm is contagious. Remember this.

6. Tell yourself a white lie

Don’t say ‘I’m nervous’. Your brain is listening and as a result, it will make you sweat and stutter.

Instead tell yourself: ‘I’m so excited’. Your brain will also be listening and will help to go through it with ease.

7. Send love to your audience

They’re not your enemies. They want to learn from you.

They want to be inspired, to be motivated, to be enlightened. They want to spend a good time with you and you with them.

So send them love, you’re on the same page.

If you can, make eye contact with them, smile, send them good vibes. I promise you they’re going to feel it.

I teach a lot. And as it happens, I really love my 100+ students each year and the former ones too. I love their beautiful bright minds and as a result, I get brilliant results from my students, no one drops my class and they send me so much LOOOOve.

Image by Photo Mix by Pixabay

8. Be entertaining

Boredom is your worst enemy.

The brain is sensitive to contrast. Therefore, in your speech, try to be lively.

Speak slow and then fast, crack a joke, be thoutful. Change your tone.

Mix your presentation. Have slides, film extracts, games, jokes and  try to improvise if you can.

Don’t bore them with details or long anecdotes about your life. They don’t care. It’s all about them baby.

9. Be respectful

Be respectful in your speech of course but also with their time. They’re hear to learn something. They want a takeaway. 

Figure out what they need and give it to them. They need to come out of your speech totally transformed.

One of the best seminar I have assisted in my life was ‘Breaking into Script Reading’ with Lucy V. Hay. I was a different person when I came out of this. Life changing.

10. Have a blast and do it again

My first live gig, I’m not going to lie to you. I was awful. 

My first class, I was nervous as hell, my body was shaking, I was stuttering and sweaty. A nightmare.

Fortunately, I had no choice, I had to show up every week, so after a while, the shaking stopped. It took me years to feel at ease. Now I can say that I am a truly blessed teacher who has a blast with her students.

After my awful first gig, I had another one and another one and another one. I started to chill. Even better, I started to enjoy it. A few years back, no way I was going to say that!

Practice makes it perfect they say. I say practice makes it better.

And also, don’t forget that those events are wonderful opportunities to meet wonderful people. They can create new openings, new job opportunities, new luck in your life, so go for it!

By the way, here is my last gig and gosh I loved doing it. I hope they’re going to call me again next year!

Why Do You Hate Doing Your Marketing So Much?

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If you love marketing and love being on social media, this post is NOT for you.

It’s aimed at people who are allergic to it. Like me.

I’m a screenwriter and like all entrepreneurs, if I want clients, I need to promote my business. The problem is… I have headaches and skin rashes when it comes to send a promotional ad.

Why do I hate it so much?

Well… firstly, I hate receiving any kind of marketing. I really don’t like it when people force my hand to buy something I don’t need. So why on earth would I do it to others ?

Let’s look at some marketing rules and find out the reasons it bothers us so much:

Rule 1: Post on Social Media Every Day

 So you can build trust.

Really? 

Every person I talked to, said they receive too many emails these days, have enough FB or Instagram ads on their feeds and don’t even bother opening promotional emails anymore. So it t seems to me, it builds exasperation more than trust.

It’s even worse when they add ‘urgency’ to their promotion: ‘Only two days left and your offer is gone!’ ‘Oh no, only two hours left’… You get stressed just by reading the email.  Actually, that’s the point. The idea is to make you feel on edge as if you’re missing out on something. 

My gentle suggestion:  I wouldn’t use these methods if, like me, you find them too abrasive. Yes, they probably work, or shall I say, used to work but I wouldn’t push you to do something that you don’t find ethical. Personally, I don’t want to distress my clients thank you very much. I think there is enough darkness out there already. My suggestion is to get aligned with your values.

Rule 2: Give Freebies and Free Webinars

People have received so many freebies these days that even if they wanted to, they don’t have time to read them all.

How about free webinars?

How many of you have spent 45 minutes attending a webinar full of hot air?

I have. And I ended up being angry at myself for wasting my own time.

People expect free stuff all the time. But here’s a truth, when they get it, they don’t value it.

People like the treasure hunt, the mystery, the bit by bit discovery, and the uniqueness.

My gentle suggestion: Give only the strict minimum. Keep the great stuff for your paying clients. Less is more. Respect your time, your energy, your knowledge and your own value. 

Rule 3: Work With Marketing Consultants

I spent way too much money on marketing consultants. 

I did everything they asked me to do. When they asked me to post a video to please the algorithm, I posted a video. When they asked me to follow their guidance to write an ad, I did it too.

Results? I lost money. I had no return on investment whatsoever.

Yet, when they analyzed the data’s, they found that my most successful ads were the one I did before them and without them. Ha!

Most marketing consultants have missed the train. People are wise to selling techniques now. They know the tricks. As my friend Kary Oberbrunner keeps telling me, people want authenticity and honesty.

I give you an example. If I tell my friends to watch The Last Kingdom, Archive 81 or After Life on Netflix. I am doing free marketing for Netflix but I’m not gaining anything. These TV series made me happy and I want my friends to feel the same. Therefore they’re more likely to follow my advice.

My gentle suggestion: In order to be successful in your business, make people feel good. Do things with your heart and not with your calculator. Follow your intuition and you’ll beat the algorithm, like me. If people feel good, they’ll come back to you.

Rule 4: Be Consistent

Ouch! That’s my main flaw.

I show up online whenever I can and whenever I feel like it.  

It is the worse marketing ever.  I know.

Being consistent builds trust. If I don’t believe in writing to your clients everyday, I do believe in consistency. 

My excuses? I have many! But mainly marketing is not top of my priorities. My face to face clients are. Also, doing marketing strain my nervous system. And as my brilliant coach Cornelia Kara likes to remind me, the worst thing I could do is to scare my nervous system, it automatically leads to self-sabotage.

So what would be a solution?

My gentle suggestion: In order to feel peaceful with yourself and to keep your nervous system happy, you could try a consistency that is not too straining. Post once a month for instance and see how you feel about it. 

Rule 5: Be On ALL Social Media Platforms

I’m on almost everything.  And it’s exhausting.

While I’m writing this, I’ve made the decision to remove myself from some of them.

Why?

I always tell my students to follow their bliss and to stay away from anything that doesn’t sparkle their souls.  I think it’s time for me to follow my own guidance.

Most platforms I’m on, do not sparkle joy. They stress me out.  That’s why I’m so rubbish at it. And that’s why some people are very good at it. They genuinely love it. And it shows.

Alas, I’m not one of those. I have to make a selection and only keep the ones I like. After all, less is more….

I grew up in the eighties when social media didn’t exist. Madonna, herself likes to remind us she became a superstar when there was no social media around. Which brings me to my number one rule for marketing and for this I’ll use a quote from Ira Glass:

It’s only by going through a volume of work that you will close the gap, and your work will be as good as your ambition. Ira Glass

My gentle suggestion: The best marketing you could ever do is your work. Invest time and quality in your work and soon enough, people will start noticing. If your work is awesome, trust me, people will know.

Beware though, it takes time, it takes years even, so be patient.

PS: For more ideas on marketing, I suggest to observe people you like and see how they do their marketing. Sometimes it can sparkle inspiration. FYI my marketing mentors are Kary Oberbrunner and Denise Duffiled-Thomas. 

Feel free to check them out or find your own ones x Good luck and thank you for reading.

10 Time Management Tips for Parents Working From Home

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Photo by Choreograph at Pixabay

If you’re a parent working from home, you know the drill. It’s when you’re in the middle of an important email that the kids come to you. They’re either hungry, bored, or they broke something that needs to be fixed NOW.

And if it’s not the kids, it’s a family member who decides to show up for a coffee because they need a break. As you’re a kind person, you accept and meanwhile the clock goes by and you haven’t done any work.

Of course, by the time they leave, you’re full of resentment and it’s time to do the school run or to cook dinner.

When you work from home, often people think you’re on holiday.

Therefore, your first task is to tell them that it’s not because you are physically here, that you’re available. 

If they have a half a brain, they’ll get the message.

With the kids, however, it’s another matter and we’ll discuss that but before let’s define time management.

What is Time Management?

Let’s be clear about time management once for all:

Can you stretch time? Can you add an hour to your day?

Can you travel backward or forward in time?

Unless you’ve got super powers, for the majority of us, the answer is no.

So we can all agree that we cannot manage time itself. The only thing we can manage is ourselves.

1.Time Is Not Your Master, You’re Not Its Slave

In The Big Leap (great book by the way), Guy Hendricks suggests to develop a harmonious relationship with time, and ‘to stop thinking that the master is time and that we are the slaves.’ He also advises us to stop complaining about time or the lack of it.

The reason is simple. If you complain about something, you focus on it. And what you focus on, expands. The more you complain about time, the less time you get.

2. Teach Your Kids Boredom.

Our society values immediate results. The word ‘productivity’ is on every lip. Even kids are scheduled to death from the age of two (swimming lessons, play dates…).  As if the rule was the more you do, the more you’re worth (which is BS by the way).

Unfortunately, people have a negative emotion towards boredom. Nevertheless, boredom is good. It makes you think. Thinking is great. People don’t have enough time to think.

Moreover, teaching boredom to kids means that they have to be creative. As a child I was left on my own all the time (I was a latchkey kid). I escaped my loneliness by reading and writing stories (of course the internet wasn’t around at that time). As a result, I very rarely bored.

3.Teach Your Family That You’re Not On Demand Like Netflix.

However, often, kids or/and partners, when they see you at home, they think you’re available on Demand like Netflix.

So the first thing to do is to set boundaries. Except that with kids, the time limit has to be shorter.

They cannot understand the concept of ‘do not disturb me between 10am to 2pm’.

Instead you have to talk in their language. ‘Mummy has something to do for work for the duration of two videos of DanTDM or Tiana (or whatever they’re into).

Once understood, work as fast as you can because they know how long a video is.

Put all your focus on that task. It’s not about being productive but about being efficient.

Then give them a reward – spend some time with them.

And repeat.

4. Think Small

Vishen Lakiani, the CEO of Mindvalley, says that we always overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in three.

It’s also true for the parents at home who often overestimates what he/she can do during the day with kids.

These days, there is an obsession to think big whereas, I suggest doing the opposite. Think small. Accumulate mini tasks. As a teacher, I always give my students mini-tasks and I tell them ‘I give you 5 minutes’. Their first reaction is always ‘Oh wait but we can’t do that in 5 minutes!’ but once they realize they actually can, they’re very pleased with themselves. Don’t underestimate what you can accomplish in 5, 10 or 15 minutes.

Having less time to work doesn’t mean that you won’t be efficient. Instead you’re going to learn to work twice faster. Your brain will actually be more productive than a person at work all day.

Add some mindfulness or meditation to your day and you’ll get superpowers. After all, as Guy Hendricks points it out, ‘Business is ultimately a spiritual path’.

5. Get Your Kids Involved In What You Do.

Kids are smart. They understand everything, even if they’re young.

I always tell my kids what I have to do, why I’ve got to do it and by when. They understand deadlines, because they have them at school. Once they know, they’re less likely to disturb you.

But there is something even better…

Get them involved; see if they can help you with small tasks. Kids love participating. They don’t feel left out and they enjoy being your little assistant.

7. Plan Your Week Ahead.

On Sundays, look at your week ahead. Make a list of your duties as a parent and a list of your working goals.

Look at your week and once you realistically block the time for the school runs, dinner time, the food shopping, cleaning and all the boring stuff… see how many hours you have to accomplish your work.

Schedule your tasks and your objectives. It’s crucial to prioritize at this point, you won’t be able to do it all.

Try to plan your meals for the week so you’re not wandering in the supermarket like a fly around a lamp shade.

Don’t work at night to catch up with work, you’ll end up cranky and tired the following day.

Plan what you’re going to wear too. It’s not because you work from home that you have to be sloppy. Wearing smart clothes will set your mood for the week. You mean business, don’t you?

8.Time Block Your Day.

Instead of scheduling each hour of your day, create blocks of time.

Most people are more productive between 10am and 2pm. if it’s your case, schedule your heavy lifting task during that time. Do the easy bits after or before that time.

Here is the secret though: you don’t have to finish a task during that time slot. If it needs more work, work on it the following day on the same time slot.

9. Learn To Say No.

Sometimes you will have an overflowing inbox of people asking you to do things for them (for free). Learning to say no is hard but necessary.

I used to say ‘yes’ all the time, too scared to miss an opportunity even if it wasn’t paid. I ended up reading novels or scripts from strangers and giving notes which represented hours of my time for nothing as a result apart from feeling exhausted. 

Now before doing any work, I send my fees. Do that and I promise you, you’ll get rid of all the time wasters in no time and have respectful clients instead.

As my friend Jade Dee (Poet, screenwriter, and publisher) wrote in a poem:

‘Never waste a moment of time. It slips away so fast. The worst disrespect a person can do to you is wasting your time. Money you can earn back, but time is gone forever.’’ –Jade Dee

10. Block Some Time for Yourself and For Your Kids.

Apart from the occasional meeting, my evenings are for my kids. Period. That’s my rule. I even switch off my phone quite early at night, so I can stay fully present. We either watch a film or play a board game, but it’s our time. They need it, I need it.

I don’t know if you have noticed but I didn’t advise you to delegate. Do you know why? Because often the parent working from home has no one to delegate. (If you do, you’re very lucky, please do delegate).

Unfortunately, I know too many people where the partner undermines their partner’s work because they’re working from home. Therefore, the person working from home will still have to do the cleaning, the shopping and the school runs AND their work of course. It often ends up in burn out though. See previous post: https://pilotlightwriting.com/how-to-recover-from-burnout/

As for single parents, they can’t shout at their kids: ‘Hey today we’re not eating because I’ve got work to do’. Whether they feel like it or not, they have to do all the duties (from DIY, to cleaning, cooking and school runs) and their work too.

To regenerate and keep healthy, it’s important to block time for yourself too. Otherwise, you’re going to end up stressed out and unproductive at your job anyway. Resting is not doing nothing. Resting is the only way your body and brain recover.

You Are Rich

When your kids see you working from home, they understand what can of job you do and they put a face on your colleagues, and as a result, they feel closer to you.

Kids are also great to help you to stay in touch with new trends, new technologies, and life in general. You learn from them as much as they learn from you.

In a Japanese interview he gave in 1976, Steven Spielberg said: ‘the man who has time to spend time with his kids and his family is a very rich man’. Yes, he may haven been doing his dream job but he didn’t have time to spend time with his kids. for him, it was a big price to pay.

So consider yourself rich.

Kids need to see you are there for them, that you’re bringing them safety and love.

Looking after your children is the most difficult job on earth and definitely the most underrated. 

However, you have the future generation in your hands. The generation who is going to build a better world and society. Children are magical beings, they’re our only hope. You’re doing great, I’m telling you.

How to Recover From Burnout

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Burnout
Image by Лера_K from Pixabay

What is Burnout?

I didn’t know what burnout was until I experienced it in 2017.

Before that, I knew what fatigue was. I knew stress, exhaustion and depression but I didn’t know what burnout was.

It was so severe that I remember falling on my bedroom floor, incapable of moving or getting up. If I didn’t have my late husband to pick me up back then, I would have probably stayed there forever. This was my lowest point.

In other words, burnout is when your mind and body refuse to cooperate.

It’s a radical shut down.

I could see some signs coming. I was tired all the time, ratty or tearful. My body was aching and tense. I had lost motivation for most things. My to-do list was full of duties that didn’t bring any joy…

All the signs were there, yet I ignored them. Instead, I pushed my mind and body to the limit until I collapsed like a computer with too many windows working at the same time. I crashed.

Did I learn from that experience? Nope.

Not long ago, I surcharged my ‘computer’ with too many files again.

For instance, I was flooded by emails and demands coming from right, left and center (and of course they were all urgent) and I had to do home school at the same time. My mistake was trying to keep up. So I started burning the candle at both ends. To the point that I jumped out of my skin each time I heard a phone notification.

I was like a hamster on a running wheel, or a ‘busy bee’. You know busy, busy, and then SWAT! WALLOP!

1. SURRENDER

The Universe has a way to send you the same message until you get it. My first burnout, I didn’t get it. I recovered with the help of skilled practitioners and went back to the running wheel.

Luckily this time, I saw the signs coming.

While in a conversation with a dear friend of mine, as I was lethargic in front of her, I said: ‘I think I’m having a burnout’. She replied: ‘Surrender. Surrender to your grief. Surrender to your fatigue. Surrender to your sadness’.

As soon as she said it, I saw the word ‘surrender’ everywhere, in everything I was reading, videos I was watching…

The message was very clear: I had to surrender.

How do you surrender?

There are many books written on the art of surrendering. There are also YouTube videos, and blog articles… yet I couldn’t find anything that could help me to surrender.

So how do you do it?

2. STOP EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING

Stop the running wheel. Stop running. Don’t do anything. STOP.

Yes I know, the world needs you. It has always something urgent and important for you to do. The world is also full of dead people. Wonderful souls who died of stress (cancer) and/or exhaustion (heart attacks).

Therefore, the world will have to wait. Nothing that you can do is worth your well-being. If you’re not well, you can’t help the world.

Don’t worry; the blue planet will still spin without you, at least for a few days.

Then, concentrate on what is really important – for me it was two questions: How can I be a better parent? And what is the most important in my schedule (in other words, what’s bringing food on my table)?

Subsequently, it helped me to reorganize all my ‘urgent’ demands. In my case, it was taking more care of my children who are mourning their father and to focus more on my students and clients.

Prioritizing is the key. You can’t do everything. Acknowledging that is the beginning of recovery. 

So what are your priorities?

3. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS

When I stopped the motion, something happened. I cried for days. I was finally facing my loss. Working non-stop had been my way to escape the pain.

What are you running away from? Or what are you running towards?

Therefore face your pain, your fears and let your emotions out. Crying is not a negative emotion. It detoxifies the body and improves the mood.  

In short, get it all out.

Similarly, you may try for a week or two, to write on a journal, today I feel… and fill the blank. It will help you to stay connected to your inner self

4. SLEEP

There aren’t many ways to get your energy back. Get some sleep. 

Sleep affects stress hormones, but also our immune system, our weight,  our blood pressure and cardiovascular health. 

Therefore, try to go to bed earlier and get 8 Hours of sleep. It will make a whole difference.

5. ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

Why are you going through a burnout (again)?

Why are you keeping yourself so busy?

What are you trying to avoid?

The inspiring Julia Cameron says in her book The Artist’s Way: ‘We are very often working to avoid ourselves, our spouses, our real feelings.’

That’s when it clicked: I’ve been busy numbing myself with work. I was avoiding dealing with my grief. Stopping everything forced me to face my loss.

6. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE AND BRING BACK THE JOY

How many commitments on your calendar fall under the category of ‘should’s’ and ‘must’s’?

On your death bed, do you think you’ll say something like ‘I wish I had worked more?’ or ‘I wished I answered all my emails on the same day?’

Let go of some of your obligations and replace them with something fun, joyful, and loving.

Having a rest can make you feel guilty or nervous. In our society, unfortunately, we feel valued by the work we do. But doing something nice for yourself will actually help you to work better and have a better life.

Don’t skip the signs. Have a rest when you need it.

Rediscover what the words ‘Joy’ and ‘fun’ mean.

Thank you for reading dear friends. Folded Hands on Google Android 11.0 December 2020 Feature Drop

This post is dedicated to my soul sister Joy, who always shares with me her wisdom and guides me on my path.

It’s Not You Who Choose the Book, it’s the Book that chooses you

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Photo montage by Daniel Gardiner

Dot 1: Books are Magical Things

It’s not you who choose a book, it’s the book that chooses you.

Have you ever come across a book that matches exactly how you felt? Or answered a question that you had in mind? Or simply felt a sudden urge to read a book?

When I was a kid, I was a lone child with no friends. My parents thought that boredom would be good for me, that it would stimulate my imagination. My options being limited, I decided to live there. In my imagination.

At school, my parents were often called by the headteacher: ‘Your daughter seems to be living with the fairies’. That fact seemed to upset everyone around me. I didn’t see where the problem was. The fairies were far nicer than my peers who often welcomed me by a ‘hey midget, did you have a fight with a mosquito last night?’ (referring to my spotty face).

At home, there was no books. My parents were too busy working, no time for reading so therefore no books.

Once, I hid in the attic of my grandma’s countryside house, among the spiders. There, I discovered a treasure: Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming (my uncle’s books).  These books were old, smelled of naphthalene and humidity and I loved it. That’s how I became a bookworm.

Dot 2: When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Appears

At 11, I had a new french Teacher, Madame B.  (I send her many blessings wherever she is). She asked the headmaster to make a library out of the built-in wardrobe in her class-which was granted.

One day, she called me and asked me to choose one book out of her ‘Narnia’ wardrobe.  

I didn’t know what to choose, it was all a bit overwhelming.  She gave me ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’. I read it within hours. Every week, I came for more: Italo Calvino, Samuel Beckett, Albert Camus….

The following year, Madame B. gave feeding instructions to my next French teacher, Madame D.: ‘This girl eats books’.

Madame D. (bless you wherever you are too) took her feeding instructions very seriously and gave me ‘Le Rouge et le Noir’ (‘The Red and The Black’) by Stendhal.  It was a shock. From the first page, I couldn’t  leave the book alone.  When I finished it, I told her: ‘I’ll never be able to read another book again. This was the best one ever’.

Madame D., who was a beautiful human being, laughed out loud. ‘Don’t be silly, of course you will!’. She gave me other books to read: Flaubert,  Boris Vian, Pascal, Balzac… I did enjoy them all but not as much as ‘The Red and the Black’.  It wasn’t as… intense.

With her, however, I discovered a taste for philosophy. One day, she gave me to read Candide by Voltaire (the French equivalent of Shakespeare). Saying that I loved this book would be an understatement.

At 17, I do my Baccalauréat. My French exam is an oral where an examiner has to choose a text out of 15 books. I enter the room very nervous and wait for her to tell me the name of the book. She scrolls down her list and stops her long fingernail on a name: Candide, Voltaire.

I couldn’t believe my luck.

For 20 minutes, I couldn’t shut up. When my time was up, she said she had never met someone who knew so much about this book. She gave me the highest mark she has ever given.

I walked out of her office, feeling as tall as the Eiffel tower.

That day, I had a revelation. It wasn’t a coincidence.

All the reading moments in my life led me to that one. That book chose me, Voltaire, chose me.

Something is guiding us. The French philosopher Pascal was right.

That day, I had the confirmation about something I had suspected all my life: there is something more to life that what we are all brainwashed to believe. It’s not all about the economy.

Dot 3. People Give You Books For a Reason

2012. I’m married with two babies. They are my life, my reason to live. Yet, my bubbly self is gone. Whatever I do, I seem to go on downward spiral. A friend, who knows me well, is desperate to see me happy again. She puts a book in my hand: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

I  read it and I didn’t feel anything.

It was a bit too much for me, this ‘positive thinking/outcome’ thing. My life was dark, I couldn’t see any way out.  I gave it back to her. She tried to convince me to look deeper into it but I wasn’t having it.

Years later, I worked in a little shop in the UK. Once a customer gave me a gift: The Secret. This book again! I thanked her and told her I had already read it. But she insisted that I should read it again. I accepted it but soon after, I passed it to another friend.

2016.  Another friend gives me the same book. It couldn’t be just a coincidence. Why did it keep showing up in my life? I sat down and looked at it: ‘All right then. Show me what you’ve got’.

While I was ready to give a shot to the message of this book, something happened.  Three upsetting things came up all in the same week : The council wanted to close my husband’s business, a huge debt showed up from a gas bill, and a problem with my son at school. 

I started to panic but quickly I understood what was going on. I had decided to change my ways and I was being tested.

I had the choice. I could either react like I always did or I could try something new (and totally unfamiliar) and follow the guidance of a little book. I opted for the latter.

I won’t give you the details because it would bore you to death but within two weeks my three problems were gone and dusted.

The school admitted they had made a mistake, the debt was illegal so it got erased and my husband’s business kept going.

Needless to say, I didn’t sort everything out by myself, a lot of people helped us to make it right again but I looked for these people, I expected solutions to appear. And they appeared. All thanks to a book.

Dot 4. Life is about connecting the Dots

The book itself is irrelevant.

The last book I read was ‘Happy Money’ by Ken Honda. Before reading this book, I never thought you could put these two words together: Happy and Money.

Turned out, apparently, you can.

This book changed my perspective on money and moreover, on spending.

‘Happy Money’ was suggested to me by a friend, I followed her piece of advice and I’m glad I did.

In other words, each book carries a personal message for us. They change our perception of life and enlarge our vision. Books are Dots.

However when the book presents itself to us, we have no idea it’s a dot. It’s only looking back that you realized it was one.

As Steve jobs said: You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.

2018. While on a train to London, I was reading a book from my mentor Lucy V. Hay. The woman in front of me was intrigued by it so we talked about it. I didn’t know it then, but this person was going to be one of my closest friend and also a strong business ally. A book, a dot, connected our paths and has changed my life.

In conclusion, I would invite you to observe the dots sent to you. Take it as a game if you wish. Try it for a week or two, just observe the dots, the messages, the people who are sent to you. And each time ask yourself: what is there for me to learn?

Let me know.

I would like to finish with a quote from Catherine Ann Jones: ‘What we read influences us as thought is a powerful thing — both positively and negatively. What food are you putting inside your mind?‘

Thank you for reading x

This post is dedicated to my dear friends and book whisperers Saskia and Sally Bibb.

Writers and Depression

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Photo Montage Daniel Gardiner

Born Depressed

Virginia Woolf, Anne Rice, Paul Verlaine, Stephen King… for many writers, depression is not an unknown guest and often takes its roots in early childhood.

The reasons might differ – emotional or physical abuse, abandonment, neglect… the list can be long.  The child, future writer, often grows up with a dark cloud around his/her head and a story to tell.

Misunderstood

However, this child will often do his/her best to keep everything inside which will make connection with other people almost impossible. The writer is often a misunderstood creature.

The child writer will then decide: ‘I don’t do people. I’ll do books instead, they’re friendlier’.  

After finding some answers in books, the child writer will write a story or two or will do some journaling. 

One day the child/teenager will make another decision: I want to be a writer. The young writer is dead serious about it, yet people  laugh at this statement. Why? Because ‘being a writer is not a job’. 

And they are right. 

Writing is not a job.

It’s a divine calling.

Errors and Trials

As a beginner, the writer will do everything BUT write his or her painful story. Writers will start writing about something that doesn’t touch their heart. Something that won’t put the  light on the big elephant in the room. 

As they wrote a meaningless story, people will read it and say ‘so what?’  And that hurts their feelings.  

What the novice writer doesn’t know, is that he/she is learning the craft.

Mediocre writing is VITAL if the writer wants to get better.  

They need to write again and again. Soon enough, the writer will realize that if she/he wants to get noticed, he/she needs to let the demons out and write about something that triggers a strong emotion.

The Writer is Born

Writers at work will bleed at every sentence, will put their guts on paper, will walk through dark tunnels and will live with uncomfortable thoughts. 

Once the piece is written, and if proactive, the writer will send his/her work at every publisher, agent, manager, producer, editor… If they’re lucky, they get a rejection letter. 

Otherwise, they’ll be ignored which is the worst kind of rejection.  

Rejection is unpleasant; it affects the writer’s self-esteem. If combined with another emotional knock-back such as a breakup, a divorce, problems at work, loss or unemployment, the dark cloud becomes bigger and thicker than ever before.

See post: Dealing with Rejection

The Fall

If not looked after, the writer could fall in the trap of addictions. 

Indeed, the depressed writer will find ways to shut down the voices inside telling him or her that ‘they don’t have it; they are unworthy and should stop writing’. As a writer is often a lone wolf, he/she can sink into deep depression without anyone noticing. In self-doubt, the writer is tempted to give everything up.

The Awakening

Then one day, the writer will learn to treat depression as an ally and not as an enemy. He/she will see it as a sign, an inner voice that needs to be heard, a problem that needs to be addressed or even better, a story that needs to be told. 

As the writer has learned to tell a story, he/she will spend time a lifetime learning about human nature. Soon enough, he/she will understand a strange fact: everybody is in pain, everybody struggles. 

That’s the true beauty behind the writer: feeling empathy and compassion for others. She/he can feel his own pain but also others’.  

His/her main skill is the capacity to put himself inside everyone’s shoes: old, young, wild, poor, rich, shy, gay, straight, man, woman, black, white, a single mother, a doctor, a womanizer… It can be pretty messy inside his/her head. Borderline schizophrenic even.

But this pain will fuel the writer’s creativity. He/she will use it to connect with people, to be relieved from past traumas, to transmute unmet needs, to give inspiration.

See post: Journaling for Healing

The Return

After each defeat, the writer learns to bounce back like a ball. He/she will get used to rejection. Of course, he or she will be affected, but not as much as before.

The writer is both sensitive and tough. He/she is both depressed and strong. He/she is a dreamer and a business person. 

The writer spends hours writing stories to entertain the world, to help people to think, to react, to act, to dream, to hope…  

A writer is an alchemist who is able to transmute feelings and experiences into words of wisdom.

And yes, the writer will not touch everybody’s souls. He will touch one person or more and that will make his/her day.

So dear writer, please don’t give up: Someone out there needs your stories. Keep writing.

The Mentors

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Picture by Mohamed Hassan @Pixabay

You might come across them in stories or in real life.

They wear all sorts of disguises.

So who are the mentors? What is their purpose and why do we need them?

Let’s dive in…

1. The Master of Craft or the Expert

In The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler gives his definition of a mentor in fiction:   ‘a mentor is often former heroes who have survived life’s early trials and are now passing on the gift of their knowledge and wisdom.‘

Whatever your field (IT, cooking, hairdressing…), you need to know who the experts are.

As Inside the Writer’s Bubble is dedicated to screenwriters and writers, my masters of craft are Yves Lavandier and Linda Aronson, simply because they both know the craft inside out. They have spent their life studying, working, exploring narrative and screenwriting in an almost scientific way. To me, they have WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and a modern VISION of the craft.  Moreover, I find them incredibly humble and approachable considering the level of knowledge they both have.

Who are your masters of craft? What do you admire from them? What can you learn from them?

Why do you need them?

The masters of craft will not only teach you the universal laws, they’ll also help you to breakthrough any barriers you may have.

In fiction, some examples of masters of craft: Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, or Yoda in Star Wars.

2. The Mentor-Model

The mentor-models are the ones who made it at the level you’d like to reach (or your hero would like to reach).

For me, being a Sarah Treem or a Damon Lindelof would just make my day. My life even.

Of course, there are hundreds of screenwriters out there I admire but the ones who make me incredibly jealous of their writing (in a very reverential way) are Sarah Treem and Damon Lindelof.  Each time I read one of their scripts, I die with envy, wishing I could write exactly like that. 

Why do we need them?

While perfection is totally unreachable, EXCELLENCE should be the goal. I encourage you to study your models, you will learn a lot about your craft.

Example in fiction: Tony Stark (Ironman) with Peter Parker (Spiderman).

3. The Inspirational Mentor - The Connector

The inspirational mentors are the ones you don’t expect. They come out of nowhere. They show up on your path and nothing will be the same again.

In our interview, Geoffrey D. Calhoun explains that: ‘a mentor is someone who has traveled the path before and can take you to the next level’.

It happened to me in 2016. I left my house in Dorset at 4am in the morning, started driving, thinking to myself, gosh, it’s dark! Soon after I realised I was wearing my sunglasses instead of my driving glasses!!! What I didn’t know then, was this event was going to be my metaphor for the weekend. 

I arrived in London. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to meet the woman who was going to change my career. Graceful, mysterious, and fascinating, in one weekend, the screenwriting goddess removed the sunglasses I was wearing all my life. Suddenly, I could see clearly.

This is what inspirational mentors do; they bring CLARITY. She blew my mind with her knowledge, her strength, her character and her public speaking skills. She was the inspiring mentor I desperately needed and I didn’t even know it. (I couldn’t believe it when I found out we were sharing the same master of craft: Yves Lavandier!).

Why do we need them?

They will bring clarity on your next step. They will help you to get to the next level. They will warn you of the pitfalls. They will introduce you to a community that will bring you more friendships, collaborations, support and inspiration.

Example in fiction: The Godmother in Cinderella.

Picture by Geralt @Pixabay

4.The Peer-Mentor - The Ally

The peer mentors can be your work colleagues, family members or friends. They guide you on a professional level but also on a spiritual path too. There is no ego involved. They want you to succeed.

Why do we need them?

They keep you safe. They watch over you. They catch you when you fall or defend you when you are being unfairly attacked. Lucy V. Hay calls them ‘the allies’.

Cherish these people. Always.

Mentors like this in fiction: Hermione Granger in Harry Potter or Sam in Lord of the Rings.

5. The Mentor Coach

One of my mentors always says it: When the student is ready, the teacher appears…

After meeting my inspirational mentor, I realized I still had a lot to learn about my craft. Humility hit me. I was ready to be a student again and other teachers appeared.

I cannot hide the fact that one of my biggest influences these past years is my co-writer. He calls mentors ‘truth tellers’ because they often are authentic. They can see through you, they know what you are capable of and will push your limits. My co-writer is mine.

He taught me to ‘take imperfect actions‘,  ‘to scare myself every day’ or ‘to ignore the haters because they make you lose your focus‘, his support is priceless.

Why do we need them?

These mentors will give you INSPIRATION, ACCOUNTABILITY and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going. They won’t tell you what to do though, they will only suggest possible paths.

Mentors like this in fiction: Genie of the lamp in Aladdin.

6. The Mentor-Challenger or the Mentor Antagonist

The mentor challenger is not there to massage your ego. He/she is here TO SHAKE YOU UP but in the most positive way.

I call them the Ace cards.

One of my mentor-challengers is ruthless with me but I am not playing any game without him.

He tears my writing apart, gets me at every single wrong turn and sends me back to my script when it doesn’t hit the mark. However, he does it with kindness and with the desire to make me to be a writer better. And frankly, I wished I had known him earlier.

In fiction, Linda Aronson calls them the ‘Mentor antagonists’. Their function is not to please the hero; but to make her/him react. Often a mentor Antagonist will be mysterious or sinister, he/she will make a nasty comment and it will fuel your hero to prove them wrong.

Walt Disney once said: ‘You may not realize it when it happens but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you’.

Why do we need them?

They will point out what you keep doing wrong, place you in the right direction and give you the push you need to go further in the game.

Examples in Fiction: Brad Pitt in Fight Club or Paris Geller in Gilmore Girls.

7. And finally...The Force

Came the day where I had to stand in front of my own students. I remember having the urge to give them everything I knew and to warn them about all the traps they needed to avoid.

Once, we talked about this young American man called George. He wrote a story about evil and good and a force within each of us. The filming was chaotic, the budget kept shrinking.

When the filming was done, some people even laughed at him when he showed them the first footage. George was feeling very low. When the film was finished, the distributor released it on the day where no one went to the cinemas.

The world was against him… yet he felt the force, telling him to TRUST.

Against the odds, millions of people rushed to watch George’s movie.

Forty three years later, the film is a cultural phenomenon. George was right.

Trust yourself. You have the answers to your questions. Mentors are here to enlighten the possible paths for you, but you are the one who decides. Of course, you’ll make mistakes along the way, as well as I’ll make mistakes and your mentors will make mistakes but it’s the only way to grow, to learn and to become better at what we do.

Example in fiction: Luke Skywalker once hero… then mentor, just like you.

Good luck my friends!

To my mentors: Lucy V. Hay (writer and goddess), Kary Oberbrunner (my amazing and inspiring co-writer), Sally Bibb (friend and Ace card),  Phil Clarke (Ace card), Sara McDermott Jain (Ace card), Elinor Perry-Smith (Ace card), my soul sister Joy, my brother-in-law Dan (who catches me when I fall), my accountability partner Anne, my great students, my lovely children, Yves Lavandier (master of craft), Linda Aronson (master of craft), Sarah Treem (model), Damon Lindelof (model), and of course Yoda (favorite character).

Thank you all for inspiring me and guiding me on my journey.

Interview with Phil Clarke

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Phil Clarke (aka Philmscribe) is a UK-based script consultant and screenwriter with over twenty years service to cinema.

After years working at the coal face of film on such features as Sleepy Hollow, Enigma, The Beach and two of the biggest box office franchises: Star Wars and Harry Potter, Phil turned to writing – both for the page and the screen. His screenplays have been optioned both in the UK and Hollywood and his books have been published worldwide.

 
Sophie: Phil, thank you so much for accepting this interview.

Phil: Pleasure!

Sophie: Why is it so important for a screenwriter to work with a consultant?

Phil: It’s that vital second pair of eyes. Writers of their own work often are unable to see the wood for the trees. They are understandably too close to the project. Consequently, they only have a subjective view of the story and script. Someone who has no affiliation or attachment to the project but who has demonstrable industry experience and has made it their career to learn about screencraft and has helped countless others can provide that all-important objective viewpoint. 
 
When a novelist attached to a publisher releases a book, it’s not published sight unseen. It’s checked, proofread, edited, revised. Often an editor is assigned to the author who works with them to tighten, clarify, hone the story’s telling. Why should screenplays be any different?

Sophie: You often say that the writer’s voice is important, why?

Phil: First, let me try to explain what the writer’s voice is, for those who might not be aware…. It’s the overall style of the writing. How the writer phrases a sentence, communicates story aspects to the reader. Word choice, tone setting etc. For instance, we can tell the difference between reading a book by Stephen King and one by Hilary Mantel… and not just from the contrasting genres. 
 
And the key reason why the writer’s voice is so vital is that producers and production companies aren’t solely looking for that one-off project; they’re seeking a writer with a clear, assured, fresh writing style. Why? Because even if they don’t particularly go for the script, they may think you’re perfect for another project they have on the pile. So essentially, your spec script is a calling card for you as a writer. It’s a writing sample. This is how many professional screenwriters get their break. 

Sophie: Do you think screenplays competitions are still worth it? And if yes, which ones? Which events a screenwriter should attend?

Phil: Some are, for sure. Although you do need to place highly. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself why you’re entering a script contest. Do you want to get your script optioned or sold, get it in front of those who can actually make your project? Or do you just want an ego boost? Many writers, if they’re truly honest with themselves, just want the latter. They want to get that First Place or Honorable Mention award even if it’s from Backwater Nowhereville Script Competition. But it’s not really worth anything. These small script contests can’t offer a way in, can’t truly link you to the people who are willing to stump up the dollars to option or make your project. 
 
And while we’re on the subject of script contests: please watch out for script contests’ free feedback incentive. As a freelance script consultant of many years standing, I have seen countless examples of this “free” feedback sent to me from confused clients. It’s as if they’ve not really read the pages. And often those that are hired to provide these ultra-brief notes aren’t experienced enough to give such notes. You don’t know who you’re getting them from, so why should you trust what they say? Another reason why you should seek out a reputable script consultant who has proven industry nous, who has a face, a name, an identity you can talk to rather than “free” feedback (which isn’t free as you’ve paid to submit your screenplay!)
 
Here’s a list of the good guys when it comes to script comps. But beware: these are tough to win. If you do manage to place highly in these, then you should give yourselves a pat on the back as you’ll likely get a very solid shot at becoming a pro within the industry. 
 
Nicholl Fellowship
Final Draft Big Break
Screencraft
Page
Bluecat
Script Pipeline
Austin
Scriptapalooza
Save the Cat Screenwriting Competition
Image by olilynch @ Pixabay

Sophie: Who is/was your mentor and what has she/he taught you?

Phil: I never had one single individual who acted as a mentor; it was more of a collective. The years spent working for movie productions, on the sets of major films, seeing first-hand how the likes of Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, George Lucas, Chris Columbus, Michael Apted did their thing was a huge learning experience for me. I was fortunate to closely shadow Chris Columbus on the first two Harry Potter films, was with him on-set, in the rushes theatre watching dailies, in the production office, in editing, and accompanied him to all departments during principal photography and this priceless level of access – not to mention having the chance to bend his ear and get his take on filmmaking and writing and having him read my early work – allowed me to fully understand the filmmaking and script development processes.

I’ll never forget the best piece of advice he gave me. At the time, I was poring over paradigms and screenwriting formulae, and when I asked him about the validity of these, he turned to me and said: “Just write an entertaining story.” It was his way of telling me not to rely on these overworked plot structures, but focus on telling a story that entertains. If you can do this honestly, then you’re on the right track.

Image by qimono @ Pixabay

Sophie: What inspires you?

Phil: Great writing. Indomitable perseverance. Plucky underdogs. Unwavering self-belief. Beautiful cinematography. Effortless prose. Unyielding passion. 

Sophie: Which screenplay do you wish you had written?

Phil: Oooh good question!  Hard to pick just one.  Those that come to mind right now — Se7en. Back To The Future. Raiders of the Lost Ark.  There are also some I wish I’d written as I feel I’d have taken them in a different direction… but out of respect, I think I’ll keep these to myself!

Sophie: What is the project that challenged you the most? How did you get through it?

Phil: That’s a tough one to answer. I can’t really go into specifics about a particular script, but consistently the projects that tend to challenge me the most are those for which I’ve been hired to perform an Anglicisation Edit. I do have quite a number of writers who don’t count English as their first or main language but have written in this tongue and wish for me to improve the authenticity of their dialogue and action. This can be quite the task, particularly when the writer’s intention isn’t clear. Consequently, there is a lot of back and forth to establish intention so I can communicate exactly what the writer requires. 

Sophie: What do you do when you get stuck on your writing?

Phil: Ask questions. Work out WHY I am stuck. What am I struggling with. Then study the answers I’ve come up with and within these should be the way forward on how to get unstuck. Sounds simplistic, but it works. 

Image by Lukasbieri @Pixabay

Sophie: Are you writing at the moment? Can you tell us something about it?

Phil: I’m always writing. Whether it be lengthy reports on scripts, script commissions, polishing other people’s projects, rewriting, creative email correspondence, articles on writing etc etc… But I assume you mean, writing my own creative projects. The answer’s yes though only when I can spare the time as my clients’ work comes first, always. Right now, I’m doing some major world-building on an ambitious time travel idea. That’s about all I can say right now.

Sophie: If you could share one secret about screenwriting, what would it be?

Phil: These days, I don’t believe there are any secrets about screenwriting. There is no magic formula to success, no shortcut to making it. You just need to do the hard graft, keep practising, keep honing your craft, work on your storytelling abilities and writing style and build that portfolio of solid, engaging, entertaining work. Secrets suggest there’s some kind of hidden way, that all the people who have made it and are working in the industry are aware of it and aren’t sharing. Not so. 

As well as a writer for hire, Phil works as a script consultant; his clients have won or placed highly at major script competitions, had their projects optioned, while others have gone on to be produced, the best debuting at Cannes.
 
He can often be found spouting screenwriting advice or talking all things film on social media via @philmscribe on Twitter & Instagram, www.facebook.com/philmscribeconsultancy and writes an occasional newsletter packed with writing tips, news, interviews and exclusive offers that goes out free to all subscribers (known as Philmscribers!) – those who are interested can sign up at the bottom of any page of his website: www.philmscribe.com 

10 Screenwriting Books to Read in 2020

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Here is a list of books that have changed my craft. I really hope some of them will help you too.

So to be clear with everyone, I don’t get sponsored for this list and these books are not classified in order of importance either.

1. The Idea: the Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction by Erik Bork

‘The hard part is creating something that the ‘right people’ would be excited by if they read it.’ Erik Bork

It’s THE book that explains what a strong concept is and why it’s so important to have one before starting any writing. This book is well-explained and down to earth. I also liked the practical and humble voice of the writer.

Why would you need this book?

  • To make sure your idea is bullet proof before embarking on a long writing journey.
  • To become the best at coming up with marketable ideas.
  • To have a clear insight on how the industry works.

2. The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

‘Write something that may change your life. This is a very high standard, but it may be the most valuable piece of advice you’ll ever get as a writer. Why? Because if a story is that important to you, it may be that important to a lot of people in the audience. And when you’re done writing the story, no matter what else happens, you’ve changed your life.’ John Truby

This book is a classic for screenwriters especially for those who think that most films are predictable. Mr Truby has a way to ask the right questions so you can write your story ‘organically’ and not generically. Brilliant book, great teacher.

Why would you need this book?

  • Your story is too predictable and you don’t know what to do about it.
  • You want to write a story that feels organic and original not a copycat.
  • You want to create characters who feel real and multi-dimensional.

3. The Coffee Break Screenwriter by Pilar Alessandra

‘Ten minutes gives you the ‘ticking clock’ every writer secretly needs: a deadline.‘ Pilar Alessandra

Pilar Alessandra is well-known in the industry, she was the Senior Story Analyst at DreamWorks SKG before becoming the Director of the writing program On the Page. The Coffee Break Screenwriter is always on my desk. Each time I get stuck on a script, I can count on this book to sort me out. I would also recommend any of her seminars. She is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Why would you need this book?
 
  • You always complain that you don’t have time to write.
  • You don’t know how to organize your writing sessions.
  • You want your characters and story to be multi-layered.

4. Writing Diverse Characters For Fiction, TV or Film by Lucy V. Hay

‘Bad characterization feels two-dimensional, wooden, unbelievable and inauthentic‘. Lucy V. Hay

Lucy V. Hay is an author, screenwriter, producer, script editor and, founder of one of the most popular blog for writers: Bang2write. Always ahead of any trends, Lucy knows her stuff inside out. Characterization is one of the most important element of your screenplay. If the reader doesn’t feel for your main character, you’re out, as simple as that. It doesn’t mean that your character has to be lovable though…

Why would you need this book?

  • You get notes from professional readers telling you that your characters are clichéd or two-dimensional.
  • Your characters look the same (slim, young and white) and thus don’t represent the majority of your audience.
  • You feel your story is boring and going nowhere.

5. The 10-Day Screenplay Solution: Learn How to Write Lightning Fast by Ken Miyamoto

‘Writing a screenplay is no simple task. While it’s great to study up on the various formulas, directives, structures, and methods, all that you really need when you finally start a script are the basics. Everything else will fall into place. Embrace the Less is More mantra, and you’ll have better dialogue and better scenes.’ Ken Miyamoto.

Ken’s book is about uncluttered writing. I call it ‘Feng Shui writing’. Ken’s philosophy when it comes to screenwriting is: Less is More. I love it. Ken Miyamoto also has a website that no screenwriter should ignore: ScreenCraft.

Why would you need this book?

  • You write too much prose or/and dialogue.
  • You want to learn how to write great descriptions.
  • You want to avoid making mistakes that gatekeepers are tired of.

6. Getting It Write by Lee Zahavi Jessup

‘Always be writing. Actively, continuously, on an ongoing basis. The more you write, the better you will get. It’s as simple as that. Your third script will be better than your first; the fifth better than your third. As a working professional, it’s your job to continuously come up with exciting new work.‘ Lee Jessup

This book is not about how to write a screenplay but how to build a career as a screenwriter. It gives a good guidance on the strategy to follow. And needless to say, it’s a proven strategy. Lee Jessup is another big name in the industry. Her honest approach might scare some, but she is right when she says: ‘your writing habits are to put your head down and do the work.’

Why would you need this book?

  • You want to be a screenwriter but you have no idea how to get there.
  • You need an insight on how the industry works.
  •  You want to go from amateur to professional screenwriting.

7. My Story Can Beat Up Your Story by Jeffrey Alan Schechter

‘Beyond wish fulfillment, a good story should offer a fully dimensional emotional experience’. Jeffrey Alan Schechter

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for this book. I have read many screenwriting books in my life but this one is different. Expect some a-ha! moments while reading it.

Why would you need this book?

  • You are confused on structure.
  • All your characters always sound the same.
  • You are looking for a method that allows you to be creative.

8. The Guide For Every Screenwriter by Geoffrey D. Calhoun

‘Talent can be cultivated. It can be learned and taught with the proper instruction and a good mentor. No one is born a blacksmith. They became one with hard work. So too does the screenwriter’. Geoffrey D.Calhoun

In this guide, you’ll find all the tools you need to write your screenplay from choosing your theme, your concept, characters, structure, plots, format… to what comes next, such as: the rewrites, the coverage, the synopsis template and networking. Geoffrey was listed in the top 100 Indie writers in the world and was the founder of wefixyourscript.com.  This guide is for every screenwriter: the newcomer and the experienced writer. Excellent book.

Why would you need this book?

  • You are looking for an all-in-one book on screenwriting.
  • You need to learn the main steps of the creative process.
  • You need to learn the specific features of each step.

9. The 21st Century Screenplay: A comprehensive Guide to Writing Tomorrow's Films by Linda Aronson

‘All of us, experienced writers and newcomers, need to take on competition in the way that Olympic athletes do: calmly, consciously and consistently aiming high, pushing our imagination and talent to the limits.’ Linda Aronson

I cannot write a post on screenwriting without mentioning Linda Aronson, who is famous for her work on non-linear structure and complex multiple storylines. Linda also knows the rules of storytelling inside out and will break them one by one with ingenuity. She has a ‘real but unusual’ insight on writing screenplays. I like the fact Linda invites us to adapt the structure to the story and not the other way round. Exceptional book. Not to be missed. Expect some light-bulb moments reading this too.  For more information, I invite you to visit Linda’s website https://www.lindaaronson.com/

Why would you need this book?

  • You would like to go off the conventional way of telling a story.
  • You want to master the art of flashbacks and non-linear structures.
  • You want to write complex multiple story-lines.

10. Writing Drama: a Comprehensive Guide for Playwrights and Scriptwriters by Yves Lavandier

‘In every conflict, there are seeds of misfortune and destruction but also seeds of union, understanding and enrichment. Conflict makes things move forward‘. Yves Lavandier.

Last but not least: La Dramaturgie (Writing Drama) by Yves Lavandier. I first read this book in 1997. Even today, I often find myself reading some chapters over and over again. Whether you are writing a novel,  a play or screenplay,  this book covers it all: structure, characterization, conflict, dialogue, comedies, short films, documentaries… It’s my precious book, I swear by it and I know that I’m not the only one.

Why would you need this book?

  • You want to know what lies behind the rules of storytelling.
  • You are craving to add some depth to your writing.
  • You are done with gurus and ready made formulas.

Happy reading and keep writing!

10 Characteristics That Successful Writers Have In Common

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Is there a secret path that leads to a successful career? Do you need to be some kind of genius to make it in your field? Or is it just that some people are more lucky than others?

In my career, I had the opportunity to meet very successful people and even though they were all from different backgrounds or did different things, I noticed they all share the same characteristics that make them incredibly successful.

1- They Take 100% Responsibility for Their lives

If they fail, they don’t blame anyone for their fall. They take full responsibility. They never point a finger at someone for their mistakes. They ask themselves: ‘what did I do wrong?’ ‘How can I rectify this?’ ‘What can I learn from this setback?’ or ‘How can I improve myself’? And If they don’t like a situation, they review their strategy and move on.

2 - They Are Reliable

When they say ‘yes’, they mean it. They show up on time and assume their choices even if the result is not what they expected. They don’t mess people around. They know that time is a precious gift. They don’t like wasting it and they don’t waste others’ either.

3 - They Make Quick Decisions And Take Immediate Action

They don’t go into analysis paralysis. If they fail, it’s not a big deal for them because they see failure as a way to learn and grow. They also know that they need to take drastic action in order to achieve what they want. They also have have strong methods to fight against procrastination. See post: 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination

4 - They Are Authentic And Respectful

They are honest, respectful and authentic. What you see is what you get. They surround themselves with people with identical values. Respect is important for them and they honor any kind of people regardless of their background. They are good listeners and curious about others which make them exceptional writers too.

5 - They Are Givers

They are generous people. When they give, they give with all their heart and don’t ask for anything in return. They have a real wish to help or inspire people. They are never jealous of others’ success either. In fact, they are very happy for them, they encourage people to succeed because they know that creating a Mastermind group will help them to grow further in their career.

6 - They Love What They Do

It’s like the old saying: ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life‘. They work everyday and are happy to do so. Their mind is always working. They find inspiration everywhere. Life, for them, is exciting. They are enthusiastic in everything they do.

7 - They Don't Suffer Fools

They have values and stick to them. When someone crosses their line, they’re out! They don’t suffer fools. They don’t justify themselves and don’t feel they have to either.

8 - They Show Up Everyday

They show up every day. Even when they’re not feeling like it, whether they are tired, sick or just can’t be bothered. They are confronting the reality of their demands. People might think that they might have some kind of supernatural powers or something, they don’t. They simply  persevere and work harder than others. They always push their own limits to attain their goals.

9 - They Are Positive People

There is a positive vibe about them, you feel good around them. They never criticize others. They know that on this planet, everybody is doing the best they can and therefore they don’t judge people if they are not on the same level of understanding than them. They know that everybody here is ‘in becoming’ to quote Dr. Cha-Zay. Their minds are too busy creating, they don’t have time for negativity.  You are either a Creator or a Critic.  They have chosen their camp. They have decided to change the world not to look at it.

10 - They Face Their Fears

They know what scares them. They consider their fears and decide to do something about it. They confront them instead of avoiding them. Once they’ve gone through them, they feel good about themselves and that’s why we think they have so much confidence. See post: Face Your Fears And Create Amazing Characters.

Wishing you all great success in your career!