What The Writer can learn from The Virus

So, here we are . . .

As I write this, we’re in the third week of March 2020 - in the middle of a developing global crisis.

Although we have hopes and expectations of better times, at present we’ve no idea how this will all resolve itself.

I’ve heard from several writers and some are struggling right now. They’re naturally afraid and unsure and many have told me that they feel a real powerlessness. Many have found it difficult to keep writing.

And, as I take the precautions I need to take to keep myself and my family safe – while trying to go on with as normal a life as I can manage – I’ve been thinking about writers and other artists, and trying to sort out how I should approach what’s happening and what I should be learning from this experience.

Let’s start with what I know for sure:

Writers have historically been the Canaries in the Coal Mine for society.  

At our best, we constantly take society’s temperature. We hold up the mirror and demand that we look at ourselves in the light of day, and then seek to make sense out of what we see.

Through comedy, we encourage and bring respite.

Through drama, we enlighten and bring insight.

We tell the stories about how we, as a people, cope with adversity and difficulty in our lives. Our works document the lives of our species, illuminating where we’ve been and seeking to prepare us all for the uncertainties to come.

So, here are some thoughts on how writers can use the situation we’re all in.

The Lessons from within yourself

Inside every crisis lies an opportunity - for growth and self-understanding: Only under pressure do we really come to know what we can accomplish as individuals. And it’s times like these which reveal what’s truly important in our lives.

Things we can write about:

Explore your own feelings in this moment: Whatever you’re going through, trust that millions of people are feeling much the same thing. The spectrum of human emotions in all its forms will be on display in the coming months.  

Catalog it. Portray it in your stories. Explore these feelings in writing and share them. There is an audience out there waiting to relate to what you have to say.

Write out your fears – use them in your stories. It’s the emotions in your writing that makes the greatest connection with your readers. 

And it’s when we confront our emotions that we are the most human.

The old saying is true – “Sometimes we don’t really know what we think or feel until we read what we have written.”

Lessons From Within Your Community

Pay strict attention to what’s going on around you: Our Continuing Story as a people is playing out as a microcosm in every community affected. The best chance for you to learn is from the people directly in front of you.

People reveal their true nature in a crisis. Heroes—and Villains—will always emerge during a crisis, sometimes in the unlikeliest of places. Remember, how a person reacts tells you their character.

We’re going to see the whole of human drama in the next couple of months. The best and the worst of who we are will be on display. Already we’re seeing displays of selfishness and weakness – but we are also seeing inspiring acts of kindness and sacrifice.

Find these moments and let them inspire your writing. Chronicle how the people around you are dealing with this terrible thing.

You are currently at the center of a Master Class in the complications and complexities of the Human Experience. What you learn from just discussing it in writing can make you a better writer.

Lessons From Inside This Global Story

We draw our story models in part from the paths which human life takes, and this crisis has all the components of a compelling story. Understanding it in this way can help you understand not only what has happened but what is yet to come.

So far, we have seen…

• The Normal World before the crisis;

• The Inciting Incident in Wuhan, China.

We are currently watching… 

• The Rising Action, when The Hero (that’s us as both individuals and as a society) tries to solve the problem as we struggle to learn the rules of this New World.

• New allies and new obstacles emerge every day.

• The real tension and release of our small failures and victories as we battle the growing threat and the real power of this bewildering enemy. In each case, whether it’s the empty aisles of our grocery stores to the singing in the empty streets of Paris and Rome, we will come to know ourselves a little better.

What’s yet to come…

• The “Pinch Points” - where this Antagonist will remind us of its power and determination;

• The Midpoint Turn, where the direction of our journey changes;

• The “Dark Night of the Soul” moments when our Hero will fear that all may be lost;

• That Moment when we will muster all the resources at our disposal and confront the opposing force directly;

• The Climax, when we will see the tides turn and know that we are victorious;

• The Aftermath as when we must deal with our new reality.

As writers, you will see these factors play out in both your personal life and in our society at large.

But right now…

The world is frightened and unsure – but we can take comfort and strength in the fact that we know how this story plays out. 

After all, stories were first created so the elders of the village could tell the young people what their lives were going to be like.

We can lead the reader in finding the truth and the comfort that they need.

So write.

It makes little difference what you write. The most important thing is that you’re writing and sharing with your audience.

You can give insight and hope to your readers during these tough times.

After all… that’s what writers do.

So keep calm… take heart… and get back to work.

_______________________________

ART HOLCOMB is a writer and educator.  His most recent project is an online class entitled Mastering the Inner Journey which is available now.  He will be launching a new podcast for writers interested in how to keep their art going during this crisis.  For more information, you can email him at aholcomb07@gmail.com. He lives in Southern California.

The Destructive Power of Good Enough

Today, Art talks about why first-time screenwriters have to be better than established writers, the "Hollywood No", and the importance of the re-write.

Nearly 40 years as a writer has taught me some important lessons, one of which is that writers, whether they’re just starting out or well into their career, all need access to the absolute, straightforward truth about their craft and the journey they are taking as writers.

This is especially important for first-timers because there is so much information out there – much of it from dubious sources – which makes it very difficult to know whom to trust.

So, in this article, I will give you three points of absolute truth.

Truth One

Established successful writers – sadly – get away with mediocrity all the time.

How often have you been disappointed with a favorite author’s most recent offering? Or the follow-up movie by a screenwriter you respect?

I know I have – and often.

It’s because they already have a threshold market – a group of people whom the producer can accurately predict will buy any screenwriter’s next effort. If that number is high enough, that company will produce that writer’s next work – essentially regardless of the quality.

For example, even if a successful novelist’s next book is not up to snuff, the publisher is likely not to reject the book and risk having the author take his or her future books elsewhere.

For them, “Good is probably good enough.” And so they move on to the next project.

However, for first-timers like many of you, “Good is never going to be good enough.”

Because…

Truth Two

You must be great. Your first script must be great in order to sell.

Why? Because it has two challenges that it must meet.

First, it must be better than the mass of other submissions from first-timers. Luckily, this may not be so difficult if you do a good job.

But second, your work must be strong enough to shoulder its way through the ranks of the established writers to find a place in the production budget.

Consider for a moment the conversation being held as these decision-makers are considering your work. No one is going to back your project if they’re on the fence. “I like it – it’s an interesting idea – but I don’t love it,” is not a statement that gets you a contract.

So, in the end, how do you tell if your work is great?

Simple. It’s, of course, the money.

If the producer or agent who has just read it doesn’t want to give you a contract to purchase the piece, then your work – as it stands at that moment – simply isn’t good enough.

And this sucks. Because current sensibilities exist so that these readers will either not have the guts to tell you the truth, or are scared that they will hurt your feelings, and so instead say something like “I like the concept, but characters need a little more development, and Act II is a little thin.”

It’s called the “Hollywood No” and it borders on the unprofessional, but there it is. Something that sounds like encouragement but is really a blow-off. And unless you do what it takes to make each of your next offerings great, you better get used to it.

Also, don’t buy into any posts on social media, where someone says a professional reader read their script really liked it. This is another insult offered to writers in the 21st century. For if anyone inside the industry reads your work and doesn’t instantly contract that work for production (aka they send a check), then they don’t like it enough to produce it.

In the end, you have to wow them. Anything less leads to failure. You must understand this. Make no mistake, there is no middle ground.

For there are only two types of scripts.

A work is either

1. great-and-wonderful and anyone who reads it wants to buy it, or
2. it’s not good enough and it gets rejected.

But here is our final truth for today, as disheartening as it may sound…

Truth Three

I have built my reputation as a teacher on this one fundamental belief:

You must spend all the time, skills and talents necessary to master your re-writes.

I repeat: your success and failure as a writer lies almost entirely on your ability to rewrite your work.

You have got to have:

• a compelling, engaging Premise
• correct, professional Formatting
• great natural Dialogue
• cut-to-the-chase grabbing Description
• a wholly structured A-Story
• two or three Sub-Plots
• a superb and compelling Conflict
• fascinating Characters
• a fulfilling Resolution

And you do not ever find these in the first draft! They are only brought to life in the rewrite.

“Secure writers don’t sell first drafts. They patiently rewrite until the script is as director-ready, as actor-ready as possible. Unfinished work invites tampering, while polished, mature work seals its integrity.”

Robert McKee

I have seen more than my share of scripts, and most writers are so relieved that they have finished an actual draft of the work (an accomplishment to be sure), that they give it a quick polish and hope for the best. This leads to a pass from the reader and time wasted because the writer did not have a process developed enough to create a great script.

The art of the writer, and their dedication to craft, is always revealed in the rewrite, where – if they have done their work well enough to have created a compelling premise, did the re-write well enough to have fully explored the concept, chosen the correct main character, and applied their knowledge of structure to make the work an easy read – they have made the nine points above shine.

It sounds like a near-impossible task, but time and time again I have seen new writers embrace what is necessary to succeed. So I know it is inside each one of you to make your script great.

Because by embracing these truths and truly learning your craft, you can develop a process you can use to write compelling, exciting and page-turning screenplays.

- - - - - - - -

This is a reprint or Art's column that appeared in Creative Screenwriting Magazine in May 2016 

My new seminar series - MASTERING THE INNER JOURNEY

Here are a few questions to ask about your current project:

·         What brings your characters to life for the reader?

·         What bonds them to your characters?

·         In short, what moves the reader's heart?

Your plot must be interesting, to be sure, but what makes all the difference to the reader, whether in a novel, a film or a play, is the inner journey of the characters.  A story's plot generates excitement and interest for the reader, but it is conflict within the hero that keeps the reader involved.


For many writers, this can be the most difficult part of writing a long-form story but it lays at the very heart of what bonds your reader to you –what makes real fans out of the most casual reader.


It is this real problem that I've seen writers of all experience level that I've created Mastering the Inner Journey, a step-by-step process of crafting a compelling hero, with very human desires and the dynamic courage to face the internal change that lies at the heart of all award-winning stories.


In this new series, I will show you:

·         How your hero's personal history is the key to exciting prose
·         What brings out the truth in your story
·         How to advance and develop the hero's arc through each phase of the story
·         How to connect to your reader through your own passion
·         Where the Outer Journey and Inner Journey diverge in every story – and how each is incomplete without the other
·         The difference between conflict, turmoil, and drama
·         How secrets, surprises, and mistakes are the keys to a great character
·         How to easily turn your character's flaws into conflict
·         Finally understanding not just the nature of your hero wants – but of their NEEDS
·         Why the Inner Journey is essential to a book or film SERIES – and how to keep your hero fresh and compelling through it all


The series comes with a workbook of more than fifty questions and exercises that will lead you toward really understanding your hero and what they need to accomplish in your story to make the reader turning the pages. By answering the questions, and doing the brief exercises, you will create a compelling and very HUMAN hero - and build a story that will grab the reader and never let them go.


This course is designed for:

·         The aspiring writer who wants to understand d what really makes a hero tick – and to get that clear down on the page.
·         The working writer who is seeing his/her stories not reaching the readers the way that they should
·         The accomplished writer who wants to write at a higher level and for a bigger audience.


This is a lesson in ESSENTIAL STORYTELLING and will inform and improve all writers – for the page, stage, AND screen.  I have taught this technique to novelist, screenwriters, comic book creators and playwrights


The 5-part audio/workbook series launches on March 21st and will go on sale to the public for $197.  As a present or former student, you can per-enroll in the seminar for just $97 (half-price) if you sign up before February  25


To order, you can either:


(1)   Send $97 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com) Or


(2)   Send a check for $97 to

       Art Holcomb

       3404 Donder Court, Suite 201

       Riverside, CA 92507-4033


Don't you owe it to yourself to put your best foot forward, to learn the skills of the professionals now and to give yourself the best single chance you'll have to find the success in writing that you have longed for?  


This course will only be offered once this year.  Come and join us for what promises to be a unique trip to success.


I hope to see you there.


Art

Hi - Art here:

Recently one of my students asked me if my courses ever go on sale.  He was inspired by the Amazon Prime Day sale this week and had been wanting to take one of my classes that we haven't offered in a while

I hadn't considered it at all, but realized that it was a good idea - so here goes:

I am offering one of my best online courses to you at half price. 

It’s entitled “Two Drafts/ Two Polishes” (2D/2P), and it’s essentially just that: a process for reducing the amount of work on your next novel or screenplay down to just two drafts and two short polishes.    It’s based upon the methods I use to teach professional writers in my private practice.

• Imagine a way to get the best possible visualization of your story out of your mind and on to the page the first time.  
• Imagine being able to FULLY see your story before you even begin writing!

How many drafts and how many hours could you cut out of the process this way? 2D/2P can teach you the way that professional write and much more.

Briefly, the process works like this:

• We start with the enhanced STORY DREAMING technique, which teaches you how to SEE the entire story from the very beginning, to understand how YOU can access the stories that you are best at the very first time out.
• Then we show you the best way to create the first  (or DREAM DRAFT) of your work, naturally and organically bringing the most complete version of the story from you the first time -  and through the use of our String of Pearls Method, we can help create stories without early on worrying about strict structure
• And, since the power of writing comes from your ability to rewrite, we’ll show you the best, most efficient way to do THE REWRITE, teaching you how to quickly decide what to keep and what to cut,  how to naturally tighten, strengthen and form your Dream Draft into a compelling, easy-to-read 2nd Draft that shows off your best skills
• Then comes the AGENT’S POLISH, where we tweak and  hone the draft to make it most compelling to the Reader and Agent – greatly increasing the chances of it finding representation;
• And finally, the PUBLISHER/PRODUCERS POLISH, which targets the publisher (or film company) most likely to buy your work based on your type of story and their individual buying history.

2D/2P is a revolutionary way of looking at the writing process and is the result of my training of over 100 professional writers over the past decade.  It brings the techniques and methods that professionals use to create powerful works FAST – while teaching you how to write quickly and powerfully from the very beginning.  

Think about it! No more 8^th and 9^th drafts of the same work and being insecure about whether it is really and truly the best you can do. 

2D/2P will teach you to judge your work realistically each time and will train you to naturally create stories while teaching the fundamentals of structure, plotting, and dialogue along the way.

2D/2P is perfect for you - if you’re:

• Just starting out and don't know what your personal style of writing is yet
• More experienced and want to complete works in HALF THE TIME;
• Want to create a process that will make you more Professionally Competitive in the marketplace

The seminar series is usually $497 - but, because you have taken one of my seminars before, I'm offering you the very special introductory price of only $197 (OVER 60% off!) if you sign up before September 1st.

To order, you can either:

(1)   Send $197 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com) Or

(2)   Send a check for $197 to

       Art Holcomb
       3404 Donder Court, Suite 201
       Riverside, CA 92507-4033

Don’t you owe it to yourself to put your best foot forward, to learn the skills of the professionals now and to give yourself the best single chance you’ll have to find the success in writing that you have longed for?  

This course will only be offered once this year.  Come and join us for what promises to be a unique trip to success

I hope to see you there.

The Summer Success Boot Camp is BACK!

Hi – This is Art Holcomb.

You know me . . .

You’ve read my work and have taken my seminars, so I know I can speak plainly with you.

So, let me ask you a question:

Are you happy with your progress as a writer?

I spend so much of my time as a writing expert dealing with this seemingly simple question.

But over the years and through working with hundreds of students, I know that it really goes deeper than that.

The real questions at play here are:

· Are you finishing what you start every time?
· Do you have the skills you know you need to succeed?
· Are you afraid to face your rewrite?
· Afraid to actually send your work out into the world?
· Are you getting the valuable critique that you need to really improve your writing?

I believe that, for the vast majority of aspiring writers, the answer to this is a resounding NO!

But here is the secret that you need to know.

It’s not your fault.

You’re out there working alone, hoping that your story will succeed. Books can help, but not enough. “Top Ten” lists and writing tips from the internet never go far enough to make a difference.

And hope itself will never be enough.

You simply cannot learn to write well without valuable guidance.

Why? Because writing is a craft - a set of skills and experiences that can only come through training.  

And what you really need is:

· Real and valuable instruction on the craft of writing
· Timely feedback on your work to keep you on-track and on deadline
· A community of writers to share your successes and problems with
· And a system to get your work done right, on time, every time.

Simply put, any writer who does not have access to these four things may spend YEARS writing a story that never had a chance to succeed in the first place.

Now . . . is that you?

Have you been trying to do this all by yourself without help or feedback? Spinning you wheels and getting nowhere?

Years ago, I started offering my seminars because I found so many of you in this exact situation.

I found this intolerable and so should you . . .

And so, we have done something about it.

From June 4th to July 14th, we are once again offering the third annual SUMER SUCCESS BOOT CAMP for writers. A six-week, internet-based course designed to give you the skills you need to succeed by leading you through the writing process.

During the six-week class, you will:

· Write and complete three (3) stories for publication
· Receive written notes and feedback from an expert novelist on each story
· Get guidance through the rewrite process

· Be shown how to submit that work to publisher eager to find your stories
· Be taught you a proven system for getting your work done simply and quickly every time.

There will be a weekly seminar that you can listen to at your convenience, as well as video instruction from some of the best writers in the business. And we’ll show you the same techniques that famous writers have used to learn their craft over the past century – that is, learning the skills of the novelist and screenwriter by learning to write short pieces that will receive the critique you need to improve every aspect of your writing. And we’ll all join together on conference calls to discuss our experiences and learn from our fellow writers.

And we’re lucky enough to be once again joined by Howard V. Hendrix, award-winning author of seven novels and countless short stories, who will be providing the expert notes for each writer!

Last year, our writers produced exceptional - and marketable - short stories that represented the best work of their career thus far.

And more than half went on to have these works published in popular journals and publications.

In all, this boot camp will ABSOLUTELY make you a better writer - all in six week - from the convenience of your own computer.

This boot camp is the same tool I use in my private practice to help new writers begin their careers, now available to you.

We start on June 4th. And since you have joined us on some of our other seminars, we’re offering the boot camp to you for $595 (usually $795 – that more than 30% off).

We only have a limited on spots left and we will be closing enrollment on June 1st.

So - if you’re interested, contact me at aholcomb07@gmail.com and we’ll personally be in touch right away.

We’ve had great success with this series in the past and some of our past students will be joining us to help you along.

Don’t you owe it to yourself, your dreams of writing, and the fans that are out there just waiting for you, to join us now.

Think of it - by the end of summer, you could have stories under submission and valuable tools to use to improve your writing . . .

. . . by the end of summer, everything to change for the better.

Remember – time and space are limited. Respond today and we’ll get you started.

I really look forward to having you join us.

Keep Writing!

Art

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN NATURE - A New Seminar Series

You were the inspiration for this!

I have been, for a long time, very disappointed with the quality of stories that have been coming out of Hollywood and publishing. I have watched all of the nominated films this year and have read over 40 of the best-selling novels of 2017 and - across the board - I find them lacking.

Lacking in the power of great story-telling that was the hallmark of the stories of the late 20th Century.

And I am not alone.  I've polled some of the other leading writing teachers in our industry - McKee, Hauge, Truby, Allesandra, Vogler, Maass - and we all feel the same:

That while there is some great storytelling out there, especially in long-form television - most films and novels lack the personal drama and understanding of human beings that make a story great

For example, Robert McKee recently wrote to me and said:

"The most important source of knowledge for writers is self-knowledge. What we want in a writer is somebody who is aware of the processes of thought and feelings that go on inside of oneself, and possesses a sensitive mind to the truth of human behavior. Essentially, writers need to recognize bullshit in the people around them, and in themselves"

And the film director Tony Gilroy recently said in a speech to BAFTA:

A writer's career is capped - that is, completely limited - by their understanding of human nature."

This mirrors what I have believed for some time - that you must dig deep into what makes human being tick in order to write compelling stories.

I began approaching this in both of my recent seminar series STORYSKILLS and DEEP WRITING.  I have worked with many of my private clients on aspects of this as they seek to writing their individual stories and build their careers.

But more was necessary to make this work for each of you.

To that end, I have created a Master-level Workshop called Understanding Human Nature (UHN).  It is an eight-week audio course beginning in February 15th and will be debuted in a limited 20-student series designed for you (my dedicated readers and my past private students). This series was first offered at university late last year and received exceptional reviews, and I have created a home audio version to bring to you.

In it, we will:

·         Look at the events in your life and find how to relate them to your characters and your stories

·         Teach you how to write for real emotional impact, and to get down to the real drama that turns readers into fans

·         Show you how to make your stories have a dramatic and real effect on your readers.

This class is meant for any writer who is not satisfied with the power and impact they have in their own writing.  It's meant to bring about a life view-altering mind shift in the way you look at your life, the lives of those around you and the characters that you create.

The cost is $197 for returning and private students (it will go up to $395 when widely released) if you enroll before January 31st. It is first-come, first served and, as I mentioned, space is limited to just 20 people. Announcement to the general public will go out in the next few week.

To enroll, just send the fees through PayPal to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com and we’ll get you signed up

It has been my greatest goal as a teacher to bring back great story telling in my students and in myself. This seminar is designed to do just that.

I see this as an integral part of the work you and I will be doing in the months to come.  Please take a minute to sign up.

I hope I can see you there.  Call or drop me a line if you have any questions.

Until next time, keep writing!

The SUCCESS BOOT CAMP - Enrolling NOW!

Hi – This is Art Holcomb.

You know me . . .

You’ve read my posts here and on StoryFix.com and many of you have taken my seminars, so I know I can speak plainly with you.

So, let me ask you a question:

Are you happy with your progress as a writer?

I spend so much of my time as a writing teacher and mentor dealing with this seemingly simple question. But over the years and through working with hundreds of students, I know that it really goes deeper than that.

The real questions at play here are:

· Are you finishing what you start every time?
· Do you have the skills you know you need to succeed?
· Are you afraid to face your rewrite?
· Afraid to actually send your work out into the world?
· Are you getting the valuable critique that you need to really improve your writing?

I believe that, for the vast majority of aspiring writers, the answer to this is a resounding NO!

But here is the secret that you need to know.
It’s not your fault.

You’re out there working alone, hoping that your story will succeed. Book can help, but not enough. “Top Ten” lists and writing tips from the internet never go far enough to make a difference.

And hope itself will never be enough.

You simply cannot learn to write well without valuable guidance.

Why? Because writing is a craft - a set of skills and experiences that can only come through training.  

And what you really need is:

· Real and valuable instruction on the craft of writing
· Timely feedback on your work to keep you on-track and on deadline
· A community of writers to share your successes and problems with
· And a system to get your work done right, on time, every time.

Simply put, any writer who does not have access to these four things may spend YEARS writing a story that never had a chance to succeed in the first place.

Now . . . is that you?

Have you been trying to do this all by yourself without help or feedback? Spinning you wheels and getting nowhere?

Years ago, I started offering my seminars because I found so many of you in this exact situation.
I found this intolerable and so should you . . .

And so, we have done something about it.

From January 8th to February 16th, we are offering THE SUCCESS BOOT CAMP for writers. A six-week, internet-based course designed to give you the skills you need to succeed by leading you through the writing process.

During the six-week class, you will:

· Write and complete three (3) stories for publication
· Receive written notes and feedback from an expert novelist on each story
· Get guidance through the rewrite process
· Be shown how to submit that work to publisher eager to find your stories
· Be taught a proven system for getting your work done simply and quickly every time.

There will be a weekly seminar that you can listen to at your convenience, as well as video instruction from some of the best writers in the business. And we’ll show you the same techniques that famous writers have used to learn their craft over the past century – that is, learning the skills of the novelist and screenwriter by learning to write short pieces that will receive the critique you need to improve every aspect of your writing. And we’ll all join together on conference calls to discuss our experiences and learn from our fellow writers.

And we’re lucky enough to be joined by Howard V. Hendrix, award-winning author of seven novels and countless short stories, who will be providing the expert notes for each writer!

In all, a boot camp to make you a better writer - all in six week - from the convenience of your own computer.

This boot camp is the same tool I use in my private practice to help new writers begin their careers, now available to you.

We start on January 8th. And since you have joined us on some of our other seminars, we’re offering the boot camp to you for $495 (usually $695 – that’s nearly 30% off).

We only have a limited on spots left and we will be closing enrollment on January 1st.

So - if you’re interested, reply to this email (aholcomb07@gmail.com) and we’ll personally be in touch right away.

We’ve had great success with this series in the past and some of our past students will be joining us to help you along.

Don’t you owe it to yourself, your dreams of writing, and the fans that are out there just waiting for you, to join us now.

Think of it - by the end of spring, you could have stories under submission and valuable tools to use to improve your writing . . .

. . . by the beginning of summer, everything to change for the better.

Remember – time and space are limited. Respond today and we’ll get you started.

I really look forward to having you join us.

Keep Writing!

Art