Workshops, Guest Blogs and Articles
I offer three workshops. Is That Hollywood Calling? The differences between writing novels and writing scripts. Loglines - Just the facts, Ma’am. And Keep it moving: How thinking like a screenwriter can improve your novel. See below for information on each class.
Chapters - if you’d like me to do a workshop for your chapter please e-mail me at workshops @ cindycarroll.com (without the spaces).
If you’d like to take one of these workshops now instead of waiting for a chapter to offer them please e-mail me at workshops @ cindycarroll.com (without the spaces) to request them.
Is That Hollywood Calling?
Course Description:
Just because we can write books doesn’t mean we can write screenplays. Based on my popular 8 part newsletter article Is That Hollywood Calling? is a quick and dirty month long course on the differences between writing books and writing scripts. And how writing a screenplay can help improve your novel writing.
Topics covered:
Introduction
The Basics of Screenwriting (assignment)
Show don’t tell (assignment)
The polish (assignment)
Queries (assignment)
Contests
Meetings/pitches/conferences (assignment)
After you sell
Do’s and don’ts list
Resource list
Recommended reading list
Feedback provided for student assignments
Is That Hollywood Calling workshops in 2010
March 2010 - Lowcountry Romance Writers
Loglines - Just the facts, Ma’am
Course description:
A good logline can make people sit up and take notice. Whether you write books or scripts the logline is an essential part of your marketing material. It can also help you stay on track. Just the facts, Ma’am is a two week workshop that covers what makes a good logline and how to use it to stay focused on the story.
Topics covered:
1. Introduction
2. I already have an idea - turning your idea into a logline.
3. Generating ideas - how to generate ideas for loglines.
4. High concept - just having a high concept doesn’t mean you have a logline.
5. Staying focused - using loglines to stay on track
Feedback provided for student loglines
What people are saying about Loglines - Just The Facts, Ma’am
“Cindy has great insight into what loglines are and how to construct them. Her feedback is spot on and the workshop was valuable.” - Merrily Boone
“Thank you, Cindy. I appreciate the help you gave me!” - Dee Gatrell
Loglines - Just the Facts Ma’am workshops in 2009
June 2009 - Carolina Romance Writers
November 2009 - Lowcounty Romance Writers
Keep it moving: How thinking like a screenwriter can improve your novel
Course description:
Writing scripts and writing novels are two completely different things.
But Keep it Moving focuses on how thinking like a screenwriter can help
your pacing, keep your writing active, get you to show instead of tell and
focus on the essence of the story.
Topics covered:
1. Introduction
2. Finding the essence of your story - Loglines and three line pitches.
3. Story structure - 3 act structure, the beat sheet, storyboarding, hero’s journey
4. Show don’t tell - what it means, how you can use it to make your story better
5. Pacing
6. Active vs passive writing - what it means, examples, how active writing is more engaging
Feedback provided for student assignments
Keep it moving workshops in 2010
September 2010 - Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter
Where I’ve been guest blogging
Magical Musings - Talking loglines
Paranormality - Talking ghosts
Romance University - Talking about novels vs scripts
Romance University - Talking loglines
