Writing

Rolling The Dice

/ J. Paul Cooper / 1 Comment

As I’m writing this blog post, an independent film company is considering one of my screenplays. I have no idea how many other movie scripts they’re reading. For all I know, they may be looking at hundreds of screenplays by more talented writers.   It’s easy to talk yourself out of submitting your writing, just by thinking about how tough the competitions is, but that isn’t fair to you or your potential readers.

If you say to yourself, I’ll never be able to write like Suzanne Collins, or J.K. Rowling, the only answer I can think of is, “Good.” Why would anyone want to read a book by a writer who is just copying a famous writer’s style, when they can enjoy the unique voice of another writer? Although I think The Hunger Games and Harry Potter series were both very well written, I love reading books by new writers (or at least new to me), and immersing myself in the worlds they create. The series I’m reading now is The Expanse series by James S.A. Carey, and before that, the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve.

Is your writing good enough? That’s a difficult question to answer, because writers can have perfect spelling and grammar, yet no one reads their books. What one reader considers a cliche, might be considered appropriate for the situation by anther reader. When I read The Meg by Steve Alten I thought it had too many cliches, but it was a bestseller, and it was adapted as a movie as well.

It’s really about style. My wife didn’t enjoy reading The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, she found his detailed description of every rock and shrub irritating, just too much detail. I didn’t finish reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis because it didn’t include enough detail for me to enjoy the story.

You, the writer, have a choice to make. There’s no guarantee the book you submit to an editor, or self-publish, will be a bestseller; but it may be. It’s likely that some readers won’t appreciate your writing style, but even the most popular books are disliked by a portion of the people who read them. Whether you choose traditional publishing, or self-publish, the only way to discover how much potential you have as a writer, is to keep submitting material; and roll the dice.

Copyright © 2020 by J. Paul Cooper

 

 

 

You’ve Been Busy!

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

Come on, you can admit it; you dream of walking the red carpet, and accepting an award to thunderous applause. What you may not have considered, is that if you’re writing a short story or novel, you’re already creating a movie in your mind. And what’s really amazing, you’re the whole crew.  

First of all, you’re the Screenwriter, because the story idea originates with you. There’s no movie without a script. And, since you’re the person who initiated the process and are responsible for it’s completion, you’re also the Producer.

Another major decision is where the film will be shot. Because you, as the writer, is making that choice, you’re the Location Manager. Whether it’s being filmed at an outside location or inside a studio, someone has to make sure everything is in place to create the correct atmosphere for the scene being filmed. You’re responsible for what’s revealed to your readers, so you’re also the Set Director. 

Aren’t stressed-out enough by your hectic schedule?  When you make yourself a sandwich and brew a cup of coffee, you become the Caterer. If you’ve ever been on a film set, you know that the individuals who make sure Actors and Background Performers are ready when filming starts, are the Production Assistants. The voice in your head, telling you to get back the keyboard and keep writing, that’s you, the Production Assistant.

And last, but not least, someone has to bring all the elements together, and take control of the story. That’s you, the Director. So, if you ever find yourself exhausted after spending a couple of hours writing, now you know why….You’ve been busy! 

Copyright © 2020 by J. Paul Cooper

No Wasted Experiences

/ J. Paul Cooper / 1 Comment

To begin, I want to make it clear I’m not implying that simply writing about an experience will make the pain and suffering disappear. What I do believe, is that the experiences we have, gives each of us our unique perspectives.

A writer who has lived in a war zone, has endured unimaginable terror. Having lived in a peaceful country like Canada,  I can write a battle scene, or perhaps a story about an alien invasion. What I can’t do, is inject the same raw fear that comes from the real life experience of someone who has heard bombs exploding around them, and witnessed the carnage of war. Their writing will have a much more powerful impact on the reader.

Have you ever won a trophy, or run across a finish line first? If the he answer is yes, then whether it was when you were twelve or thirty-two, the thrill of winning is burned in your memory. You can use that to your advantage, because when you write about a character that has just been elected President, you can remember the unbridled enthusiasm, and your description of her emotions will be genuine.

Recently, I used that same principle to write a short story, “An Appointment With Life.” In my case, it was the experience, many years ago, of being rejected by all the law schools I applied to, and watching a dream come crashing down. The good news is the story was accepted and published in the Spring/Summer 2020 issue of the Ambrosia Literary Review: http://www.ambrose.edu/ambrosia-literary-review. If you’re interested, you can download the issue in that website’s Archives section.

What unusual events have occurred in your life, that could be included in a novel or screenplay? There are over seven billion people on the face of the Earth, and not one of them has had exactly the same experiences as you. You’re a one of a kind person, which also makes you a one of a kind writer. Keep writing, because the world is a boring place without your voice, your passion.

Copyright © 2020 by J. Paul Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps Now, Is The Time To Start Writing….

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

Many people are watching movies or Youtube videos, reading books or blogs, to relax and get through the Covid 19 Pandemic. Everyone is, to some extent, a consumer of entertainment. The question is: Do you find it satisfying? If not, it may be that you are a creator and need to express your ideas.  Perhaps, you are a Writer.

If you’ve just finished watching a movie, and immediately think, “wouldn’t if be great if….”, you’re probably a writer. It’s like when an Italian chef smells freshly cooked pasta, and starts imagining all the dishes she could prepare. If your mind is continually thinking of new story concepts, it isn’t something about yourself, that you should ignore.

Why is it important that you write? The world needs YOUR VOICE, because variety is what makes life interesting. Consider how many movies are based on established franchises, with the same themes and characters recycled for another release. Is it possible that you have a story concept that no one has every thought of before, but no one will be aware of it, until you start writing?

The world also needs YOUR PASSION. The entertainment industry has a significant impact on how people think. I remember many years ago seeing a young man walking along a street wearing a long black leather jacket, black combat style books and sunglasses. One glance, and you knew he was a fan of The Matrix series. How do you want to influence the future?

If you find the concept of writing intimidating, start by jotting down the main ideas, writing one scene, or describing a character. The main thing is to overcome the inertia and get started. All short stories, novels, and screenplays begin with an idea, and someone who is willing to start writing.

 

 

 

 

Reading Screenplays

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

If you’ve been trying to write a novel, but seem to be to be suffering from writer’s block, perhaps it’s because your story would work better as a screenplay. How do you learn to write screenplays? You read screenplays. Here’s a primer on how to get started.

Two Excellent Sources: The Internet Movie Script Database http://www.imsdb.com offers a huge selection of screenplays to read. You can search alphabetically or by genre; some of the screenplays are shooting scripts (the final script used by the Actors and Director), while other screenplays are earlier drafts. You can also find screenplays on the BBC Writersroom website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom. You’ll find them listed in the Script Library.

Which screenplays would professional writers suggest you read? Members of the  Writers Guild of America are the professionals that many Hollywood companies hire to write their screenplays, and they’ve voted on the best. Visit http://www.wga.org, go to Writer’s Room, and under the 101 Best Lists, click Screenplays.

To find out if a script is an original screenplay, or an adaptation, visit the Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com. Writers (both screenwriters and the authors of the source material) are listed below the Director.  Keep in mind that the title of the movie may be different than the source material. Blade Runner (1982) was based on Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

If it’s not an original screenplay, it’s better if you read the source material, before reading the screenplay, so you can see how the writer adapted the source material.  Since most extras included with DVD’s tend to focus on special effects, this will help you learn about the writing process. You can gain even more insight by searching for interviews with the screenwriters on http://www.youtube.com.

Movies create thousands of jobs, make actors household names, and earn studios huge profits, but it all begins with the story. It all begins with writers like you.

P.S. My short story, “Harold’s Muse,” was published in Issue #12 of Polar Borealis Magazine. http://www.polarborealis.ca.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Library Book

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

The library book has a coffee stain on one page, and a piece of dried oatmeal under the back cover, but it doesn’t bother me. I like that fact that other people have also had the pleasure of reading this book. And reading, is a unique experience.

When you go to a movie, you sit in the same type of seat as everyone else, and you see exactly the same images. The lighting isn’t affected by the time of day, so other than the fact you’re viewing the screen from a slightly different angles, or eating licorice instead of popcorn, you have the same experience as everyone who sees the same movie.

With modern technology people can watch the same movie in a variety of different environments, on televisions, laptops, and cell phones, but the images stay the same. Reading a book isn’t like that. Everyone sees different images in their minds as they turn the pages. Think about that for a moment; when you write a story and a thousand people read it, you create a thousand different movies.

The worn pages of a library book also remind you that other people have enjoyed reading the book. When you borrow an eBook, you can’t tell whether it has been borrowed a million times, or if you’re the first person to read it. I sometimes visit library websites to see if my eBook, What If? A Collection of Short Fiction by J. Paul Cooper, is being read by someone, and sometimes it is, but I can’t tell how many times it has been borrowed from any particular library.

Don’t stop until you’ve finished that novel you’re writing, because there are readers who would love to see it on the shelves of their local library.

Here are some of the books I’ve read lately:

Talking To Strangers: What We Should Know About The People We Don’t Know (2019) by Malcolm Gladwell

Leviathan Wakes (2011) and Caliban’s War (2012)  by James S.A. Corey

Note: These are the first two books in The Expanse series, and James S.A. Corey is actually the pen name for two writers working together:  Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.

Chosen By God (1986) by R.C. Sproul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow-Up

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

So, you’ve submitted a short story to a literary journal or a screenplay to a film company, and now you have to cope with the deafening silence. Waiting is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the process.  If your work is accepted, that’s great. If you receive a rejection, you can send it to another editor or producer. It’s the time between the submission and the response that’s incredibly frustrating.

Before you submit any material, check the Submission Guidelines, because it usually tells you how long it should take to receive a reply and how long to wait before sending a follow-up inquiry. Reading the Submission Guidelines may seem like a no-brainer, but when you’ve just finished a writing project, you may be tempted to “just get it out there.” I’ve done it before, and it’s embarrassing when you realize that you haven’t formatted the file as requested by the editor, and perhaps lost an opportunity because of your impatience.

What if there are no guidelines regarding how long you’ll have to wait, after submitting material? One option is to e-mail the editor and just ask how long the normal wait times are, and how long you should wait to inquire about your submission. If the wait times aren’t listed, I usually wait three months before sending a follow-up for literary journals, or six months if I’ve submitted a screenplay to a film company.

My experience with literary journals, anthologies, and magazines is that you always get a reply. You may wait longer that you originally expected, but you will receive an answer. That isn’t the case with film companies.

Some film companies say they’re willing to read one of my screenplays, but six months later, won’t acknowledge my e-mails. It might be a legal issue, if they’re working on a project that bears some similarity to my screenplay. One producer states clearly on his website that he can’t accept screenplays directly from writers, because he has been threatened with lawsuits, for supposedly stealing intellectual property.

Waiting can be frustrating, but don’t let it discourage you to the point where you stop writing. Consider this reason for why you should continue writing: There are 7.7 billion people on the face of this planet, but you are the only one who can write with your voice, your passion. Keep the words flowing….

Note: I recently had an essay published in an anthology; Writing Better Fiction: Craft Tips From Some of Canada’s Best Writers and Editors. It was edited by Brent Nichols and was released at When Words Collide in August 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discouragement

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

You can’t climb a mountain, unless you believe you can make it to the summit. You have to be optimistic, in order to overcome the inertia and start moving. At the same time, you have to risk the disappointment that will result, if you don’t make it to the top. That is the writer’s dilemma.

Earlier this year I sent a follow-up e-mail to a producer I had submitted a screenplay to. I didn’t receive an answer from the producer, as if I wasn’t even worth the few minutes it would have taken to write a reply.

If your work is refused, and it will be, what are your options? If you stop writing, then you’re allowing the individuals who rejected your work, to decide your future. Why should their opinion prevent you from reaching your full potential as a writer? Some of my short stories were rejected several times, before they were published.

If you’re convinced that a short story has great potential, but it keeps being rejected, perhaps you could take it to a Writer-In-Residence at a local library or university. If you’re a member of a writing group, you could submit it to be critiqued at the next meeting. Since this may not be possible in your situation (or you’re concerned your story might be stolen), another option is to set aside the short story for a few weeks and work on another project. Returning to a story after a break will allow you to see it with fresh eyes, and you may discover new ways to improve it.

If you’re discouraged, learning how bestselling writers approach their careers can be a great help, and Youtube is an amazing source of information. Several successful writers are featured in Evan Carmichael’s “Top 10 Rules” series. You can also search your favourite authors’ names, and you’ll find videos with them delivering keynote addresses at writer’s conferences, speaking at libraries and being interviewed.

I hope you keep writing, because every time a new, passionate voice is heard, the world becomes a more interesting place.

Copyright © 2019 by J. Paul Cooper

 

Jump-Start!

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

It doesn’t matter if you have a successful writing career, or you’re just getting started, Writer’s Block can be devastating. Here are some ideas to help you get back on track.

Read or listen to: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. Discouragement begins when you’re hoping for that big break, but it seems as if you aren’t making any progress. Jeff Olsen reminds readers that it’s all about consistency and persistence; very few people are overnight successes.

Read or listen to The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. This book contains great advice regarding how to develop positive attitudes and start moving toward your goals.

Watch this three-part video featuring Canadian science fiction writer, Robert J. Sawyer. Recorded at the 2010 Ontario Writers’ Conference, Word by Word, Robert J. Sawyer discusses the process of building a writing career. You can find it on http://www.youtube.com listed as : Robert J. Sawyer -P1 of 3 to P3 of 3 – OWC 2010. It takes about 25 minutes to watch all three parts. (I’ve mentions this before, because it’s a message that every writer should hear, and Robert J. Sawyer is an excellent speaker.)

Watching videos of novelists and screenwriters discussing their craft is an excellent learning opportunity. If you’re serious about a writing career, why not learn from the best? It’s essential to watch how they conduct themselves while speaking to audiences and being interviewed, since those are skills you’ll need to develop.

If you’re writing a novel, but suffering from Writer’s Block, write an essay. If you’re writing a screenplay, but need to take a break, write a short story. The key is to switch gears, but keep moving forward as a writer. Give your subconscious some time to work on the problem, and when you return to the project in a few weeks, you’ll probably have a solution. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, a novel, a screenplay, a short story, essay or stage play, the world needs to hear your unique voice.

Copyright ©  2019 by J. Paul Cooper

Three Questions

/ J. Paul Cooper / Leave a comment

Do you have a story idea that you’re convinced is great, but you don’t know where to start? You can begin by writing scenes, without worrying about where they will fit in the story. It’s better to get started, because if it really is a great idea, everything will eventually fall into place. Directors rarely film all the scenes for a movie in chronological order, because they have to work according to when film locations are available. And when it comes to that movie being filmed in your head, you’re the Director!

Have you just received a rejection, and you’re having a difficult time dealing with it? To keep from slipping into a deep depression, remember that publishers and editors are inundated with manuscripts, and they can’t publish all of them. Rejecting your work involves risk on their part as well, as they may have just turned down a brilliant piece of writing. 

Do you feel like you aren’t making any progress, and want to give up? Although it feels great when you do get published, it’s important that you keep writing when you’re going through a dry spell. You don’t know which short story, article or novel manuscript is going to make a significant difference. More importantly, if writing is your gift, if it’s what your were meant to do, then you need to write.

Keep writing, let the world hear your voice and feel your passion!

J. Paul Cooper