Columns

What Works & What Doesn't: 'Lost in Translation'

September 4th, 2015

Discussing the craft of screenwriting by analyzing (modern) classic film scripts, and asking the essential question: what works and what doesn't? Welcome once again to What Works & What Doesn't, a monthly column dedicated to the craft of screenwriting. Last time, we talked about Chinatown, which is one of the best examples of a classic three-act structure.

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Turning a Phrase: How to Write Historical Dialogue

September 4th, 2015

Human speech can change extremely quickly. Words that were trending last year are now passé, and terms from ten years ago can seem ancient. When done correctly, historical dialogue can be used as a tool to add polish and an air of authenticity. Done incorrectly, it can completely eject a reader from the story.

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Is 'Go Set a Watchman' Really THAT Bad? (Spoiler: Kind of, yeah...)

September 3rd, 2015

It feels like years ago that I wrote my column: Controversy Be Damned: My High Hopes for Harper Lee's New Novel. It feels like years ago that my hopes for the novel were that high. That I believed the release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman could be a good thing. That girl...well, she wasn't wrong, not exactly. But she certainly wasn't right.

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LitReactor Community Spotlight: September 2015

September 2nd, 2015

Aww, it's good to see you guys again. Sorry for having been away for so long. I'm ready to return as the hero you deserve, so long as you don't need me to leave the couch here. Somehow, LitReactor's boards muddled along without me, and you guys were up to all sorts of things this summer. I have a bit of a backlog to address in the Spotlight portion of this column, and I have enough exciting things to talk about without rambling up here, so let's get started.

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UPDATED WITH WINNER - LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: August Edition

September 1st, 2015

Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess. How It Works We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or prompt. You write a flash fiction piece using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.

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What Works & What Doesn't: 'Chinatown'

August 31st, 2015

Welcome to What Works & What Doesn't, a new monthly feature here at LitReactor, dedicated to the craft of screenwriting. So what's this all about? And how does Chinatown fit into the scheme? 

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5 Lessons For Your DIY Audiobook

August 31st, 2015

It takes a special kind of nerd to get excited about meeting George Guidall. You might not know that name, but you know his voice. If you're a fan of audiobooks, you definitely know his voice.  I'm a special kind of nerd, and I was pretty damn excited to hear George Guidall speak in my hometown. 

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6 Ways to Save a Mary Sue

August 28th, 2015

Today we're going to talk about the Mary Sue—the over-powered character found in the works of many novice writers. If you've realized that you accidentally wrote a Mary Sue, this article will help you fix your story and improve your character. But before we get into that, let's discuss the Mary Sue at a broader level.

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Writing And Parenting: A Survival Guide

August 28th, 2015

There's something about becoming a parent that fundamentally rewires your brain. From my experience, at least. For a long time I was always on the fence about having a kid. It seemed like a thing I would eventually do, but it wasn't something I was rushing toward. And then my daughter arrived. Some days when I'm at work I get depressed because I'm not home with her. So I have to flip through goofy pictures of her on my phone and it only makes me feel a little better. 

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What the Fuck Are You Writing For?

August 27th, 2015

So Why Do You Write?             This has to be a question you’ve asked yourself. Or read in a writing forum somewhere. We all ask ourselves this at some point, usually when the need to justify the time, effort and anguish becomes intense. After a slew of rejections or when an acquaintance gets published. Or when you read over what you wrote the day before and wince. Why the fuck am I doing this?

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