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PREFACE
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1
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1. THE BASIC PATTERN
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6 |
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2. MEANING
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12 |
A. The first point on the line
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12 |
B. Why determine the meaning
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15 |
C. Finding your general intention
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20 |
D. Beware of possible traps
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25 |
E. Beyond the general intention
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28 |
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3. THE LOGLINE
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32 |
A. Protagonist-Objective-Obstacles
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33 |
B. The one-sentence summary
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35 |
C. Conceiving the logline
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37 |
D. The plot-character spectrum
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41 |
E. Keep testing your logline
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42 |
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4. THE CHARACTER ARC
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43 |
A. Three emotional questions
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43 |
B. Beware of dogmas
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45 |
C. Four must-have narrative moments and
work analyses
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49 |
D. Creating the inner journey
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67 |
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5. THE FOUNDATIONS
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72 |
A. The title
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73 |
B. Characterizing the protagonist
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74 |
C. The inciting incident
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79 |
D. The general objective
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82 |
E. The stakes
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85 |
F. Characters other than the protagonist
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88 |
G. Motivations, subgoals and means
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93 |
H. The first act/second act transition
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94 |
I. The arena
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95 |
J. The obstacles
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97 |
K. The climax
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99 |
L. The dramatic answer
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100 |
M. The third act (simple structure and enriched
structure)
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101 |
N. Major dramatic ironies
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104 |
O. Major diffuse dramatic ironies
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107 |
P. The major plot points (midpoint, twist,
point of no return...)
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108 |
Q. Comedy
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112 |
R. The arc elements
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112 |
S. Three examples of foundations
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113 |
T. Allow the foundations to mature
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120 |
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6. CHARACTERIZATION
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121 |
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7. THE STEP OUTLINE
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131 |
A. Milestones and sequences
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132 |
B. Three examples of milestones
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134 |
C. From the milestones to the step outline
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138 |
D. Three extracts from step outlines
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147 |
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8. THE TREATMENT
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149 |
A. Local foundations
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149 |
B. No deus ex machina or easy outs
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153 |
C. Three extracts from treatments
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156 |
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9. THE FULL SCRIPT
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162 |
A. Dialogue
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162 |
B. Exposition
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165 |
C. General suggestions
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167 |
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10. SPECIFIC WRITING FORMS
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176 |
A. Book adaptations
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176 |
B. Children's writing
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177 |
C. The short narrative
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179 |
D. The documentary
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179 |
E. The series (TV, Web, Comics)
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180 |
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11. FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
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182 |
A. Be clear
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183 |
B. Make choices
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185 |
C. Be ferocious to your protagonist
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185 |
D. Be relentless with yourself
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187 |
E. Keep it simple and exploit
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188 |
F. Make the audience participate
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190 |
G. Enter other people's minds
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193 |
H. Understand all your characters
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193 |
I. Dramatize
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194 |
J. Show, don't tell
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195 |
K. Use more powerful language
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195 |
L. Create connections
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196 |
M. Be credible
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197 |
N. Be specific
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198 |
O. Resolve your narrative
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199 |
P. Entertain yourself-and others, too
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201 |
Q. Cherish comedy
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203 |
R. Be patient and tenacious
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204 |
S. Have others read your work
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209 |
T. Set it aside
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210 |
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| CONCLUSION |
211 |
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| GLOSSARY |
212 |
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| INDEX OF TITLES |
229 |
| INDEX OF PERSONS |
240 |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY |
242 |
