@LordMatahari asks: @VikRubenfeld How do you deal with 2 different views (good & bad) about the same manuscript? I wanna fix it but some said it's not broken? — Mat Atahari (@LordMatahari) January 10, 2015 This is an excellent question. People offering criticism are providing great input. It’s up to us to make the best possible use of it. It … Read More
How Much of the World Do You Include in a TV Pilot Script?
@imagechaos asks: @VikRubenfeld when conceptualizing an idea 4 a pilot, how much of the world do you plan 2 include in the script? How 2 avoid narration dump? — Andrew Eckhart (@imagechaos) January 7, 2015 This is an excellent question. It’s a great idea to have a world that is far bigger than can be included in the pilot script. This … Read More
How Many Characters is Too Many?
Ray asks: In world building for an epic fantasy. I’m using the characters thoughts and actions (both heros and villains) to reveal more off the world. My biggest problem is too many characters. I already cut like 6. How can i tell if there are still to many? …and adds: @VikRubenfeld ty! Please keep in mind that i intendon writing … Read More
About Having Multiple Villains
@Sylent_steel asked: @VikRubenfeld I'm writing a novel and putting a heavy dose of villains in act 2. Is that advised? — R Cox (@Sylent_steel) January 1, 2015 I replied: @Sylent_steel I love this question! Are the villains all working together? — Vik Rubenfeld (@VikRubenfeld) January 1, 2015 @Sylent_steel: @VikRubenfeld yes. All are part of same organization performing different functions and … Read More
Make Story Up as You Go, Or Work Backwards?
@sharkimellow asked: @VikRubenfeld with stories that reveal something in the end, do you make it up as you go or do you work your way back and build up to it — Shaakira (@sharkimellow) December 19, 2014 To be sure, this is a matter of personal preference. At the same time, I replied: @sharkimellow In most cases it's better to … Read More
Tips for Novelists Interested in Writing for TV
@sedoster asked: @VikRubenfeld Any tips for writers wanting to transition to tv? I write novels and comics, but know scripting for tv is much different. — GeekyAcrylics (@sedoster) December 30, 2014 This is a great question. And too big to be answered via Tweets alone. Here are a few tips. You can have a great novel without an antagonist (e.g. … Read More
All-Time Best Novels for Young Adults
@bookuphoria asked: @VikRubenfeld What is one of your favourite novels of all time? Something you would recommend a young adult to read? — Rachel (@bookuphoria) December 17, 2014 I replied: @bookuphoria I thought about this quite a bit. For young adults—Huck Finn, "All the Mowgli Stories" from The Jungle Books, &Sherlock Holmes. — Vik Rubenfeld (@VikRubenfeld) December 17, 2014 Timeless novels … Read More
The First Key Decision to Make When Starting a New Story
I posted this on Twitter: Got a question about how to plot a story for novel/tv/film/play? Ask and I will answer via Twitter or blog post. 🙂 #amwriting — Vik Rubenfeld (@VikRubenfeld) December 14, 2014 I’m excited about this. I got my first question this morning: @VikRubenfeld Want 2 write 3 short stories with the same theme either for tv or perhaps … Read More
From GATSBY—Fastest Example Yet of What a Work of Art Does
I was having lunch a couple weeks ago with two business colleagues. I was trying to express to them what it is that a work of art communicates. I tried this Robert Frost poem, but it didn’t “connect.” Then I tried the last line of Gatsy – one of the most famous sentences in the history of the novel: So we beat … Read More
Hamlet is a Huge Personality
I was reading Hamlet recently. You know the story – he comes home from studying at university on the occasion of his father’s funeral, only to find that his mother has already gotten remarried to Claudius, the brother of Hamlet’s father. And as if that isn’t bad enough, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and tells Hamlet and two of his … Read More