Welcome to the world of story-writing! Everyone has a great story in their soul. Some actually envision it in their minds. Fewer still dare to begin to write. The rarest breed of all is those called “writers” (they write nearly every day…year after year). Here is my advice for those who are beginning to actually write a story.
1. Right, rewrite, and rewrite again. Most good scripts take four years to develop. Thus says Robert McKee, author of Story. I highly recommend the book and strongly discourage attending his seminar. Here are other story resources I recommend.
2. Get a small team of people around you who can read your work as you are writing it.
3. Have 30 to 40 people read it once you feel it is ready for a public viewing. Make sure you ask people who will give you honest and helpful feedback.
4. Consider paying for professional help. This would be a script consultant for your script or an editor for your manuscript. I have a few names I could recommend.
5. Make sure you honor the rule of three.
6. Write consistently. Make sure you put in time at least four days a week. You have to push through the pain and the blocks. Brian Bird says, “We have a word for someone with writer’s block who writes for television…unemployed.”
Story is a very elusive art, but one at which Christ-followers must excel for the sake of the kingdom.
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