Why oh why are you people making things harder for yourselves. Just use the hero's journey. Most people you want to emulate do. If you want to make a career out of this, you have to master it at some point anyway.

Don't even know what you're talking about.

Knowing who you are might convince us that you may have something in what you say...


Phil

I think what mangojuice  is trying to say is,

As (screen)writers we tend to forget about our protagonists journey - experience(s) - through the story, what he/she has learned, what makes him/her the person they are, what has changed for him/her in the end and so on.

I don't quite agree with your statement though; "have to master it at some point", It's easier said than done. Even professionals don't master it at some point, look @ some Hollywood movies..

Would be nice as dogglebe mention to know you and what you want with this...

I think the Mango is trying to invoke their inner Vogler.

http://www.dramatica.com/theory/articles/vogler-plot.html

E.D.

I think Mango's first post is a poor one -- and a tired cliche, at that.

"...making things harder for yourself" is entirely dependent upon what you are trying to accomplish through your writing -- and this will be different for every author.

Every couple of months a so-called experts chimes in.


Phil

You should not even attempt to use a formula until you have mastered the art of storytelling in your own voice.   Once you do that, you will discover the formula is inherent in you and you don't need to use someone elses.   We each have our own unique formula and that's what makes our writing stand out.

Quoted from mcornetto You should not even attempt to use a formula until you have mastered the art of storytelling in your own voice.   Once you do that, you will discover the formula is inherent in you and you don't need to use someone elses.   We each have our own unique formula and that's what makes our writing stand out.

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

HaHa...MangoJuice, that's quite funny.  Since it's still Christmas, I won't say anything derogatory about your post...like I'd love to.

Totally meaningless, stupid post.

Let's lock this one and move on to things that matter.

I think Bert's comment is important to note. I, for one, am not interested in formulas that extend further than beginning, middle and end. As far as I'm concerned, that's for people who are just starting out or people who have no imagination. The whole thing couldn't be more cookie cutter.

To be fair, I have no problem with people using these kinds of templates if they feel it helps them. But I get kind of annoyed when people suggest that's what everyone should do and flat out offended when they suggest you can't succeed without it.

Quoted from James McClung But I get kind of annoyed when people suggest that's what everyone should do and flat out offended when they suggest you can't succeed without it.

Especially when these people drop out of the sky to share their wisdom with us... like Ralph.


Phil

As Phil hinted, I'm 98% sure that a real winner like Ralph or some other trolling fellow is the source of this post.
Nate

I'm tired of being told I have to write this way or that way and then told by others that you can do what you want. Other than basic formatting there are no rules in screenwriting.

I'm confused and tired of all this. Tired of people showing up here telling everyone that they know how everything works and the rest of us are stupid.

I know one thing with certainty, I read a lot of books. I LOVE books. Most of the books I read I get really really into. Can't wait to read them, don't want them to end. I can say that it's extremely seldom that I read a screenplay I feel the same way about...

Ah, it’s very heartening to read the 11 responses to the OP's brash "statement".

Questioning artistic norms and convention is always an encouraging thing to see.

Long may this site be a breeding ground for individual minds and voices.

My favorite "formula" is reaching a point in a story and asking myself "ok, now what's the worst that could happen..." and following that road until I ask it again. It's fun.

Honestly, when you have a story to tell, you just tell the story the best way that story can be told. If you are telling a good, engaging tale, then you don't have to worry about beats because the story will have those naturally. You don't have to worry about characters or interest because a good enough story will define those for you. We all have at least one good story in us, and when you tell that story, you discover that the templates and tricks are unnecessary because all they do is show you how to do what comes naturally to you anyway.