Lucy V. Hay's Blog, page 50

Horror Vs. Thriller

At The St Albans Film Festival last weekend, I was talking Writing & Selling Thriller screenplays! I had a whale of a time and spent a good while discussing the various differences between Horror and Thriller, which is something that often confuses writers. Whilst Horror and Thriller *do* overlap in terms of dramatic context ("flight to FIGHT"), it is ultimately a about audience and what they've signed up for: Horror, it's for the scares; Thriller, the CHASE. This means they play out in very different ways, with Horror making its audience more voyeurs, whereas Thrillers will ultimately involve its audience in the mystery.

Not convinced? You wouldn't be the first! So check out my case study on the 2007 film, WIND CHILL starring Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes. I liked lots about this film and it had some great ideas, but it mixes Horror and Thriller to such a degree I don't think it *quite* works holistically. Why not check out the post, read the screenplay and watch the movie? 

Feminist Characters, Plus Free Novel Writing Pitch Template

Never let it be said I write only about Thriller Screenplays and movies! My love letter to one of my favourite EVER movies LEGALLY BLONDE was published on FuckYeahCharacterDevelopment last week. I break down my 3 Top Reasons why Elle is a Kickass character. That's right, FEMINIST. Suck on that and read the article HERE. If Thrillers *are* more your thing? Check out my books page on my website.

The Writing Café has also published one of my most popular downloads on its Tumblr, my Novel Pitch Template, plus complete breakdown, section by section, of how I used it to inform the characters and plot of my first novel. You can also download it (as a.doc) HERE.

The Decision: Jasmine's Story - COMING SOON!

In The Decision Book Series, a female protagonist is confronted with the multiple **possible** outcomes of a single dilemma. Out soon is THE DECISION: JASMINE'S STORY. Set back in the seaside town of Winby, the quiet, focused Jasmine has dreams of running for the county, possibly even The Olympics. Her best friend, Olivia, couldn't be more different: the classic "fat friend", Olivia is the life and soul of the party, but she hides a secret … Olivia is depressed and a self harmer. When Ellie, a tourist girl from "upcountry" arrives in Winby for the summer, she soon comes between the two friends with her tales of privilege and parties. When Ellie asks Jasmine to the biggest event of the year but excludes Olivia, Jasmine's decision could have far reaching effects not only for Olivia, but the whole town …

Currently on Amazon is THE DECISION: LIZZIE'S STORY, which deals with teen pregnancy. 17 yo Lizzie must deal with a number of different scenarios, including abortion, continuing the pregnancy, miscarriage and single parenthood. You can follow @LizziesDecision on Twitter right now or "Like" the Decision Facebook page for humour, quotes, chat, links and articles on issues concerning teenagers and young people.

Writing & Selling Drama Screenplays

I'm currently putting the finishing touches (A LOT of finishing touches! GNASH) to my latest screenwriting book for Kamera Books' Creative Essentials range.

The book will be called Writing & Selling Drama Screenplays (can you see a theme??) and is very different to my last tome, which concentrated on Thrillers as a whole, taking in not only all the various subtypes and what "makes" Thrillers thrilling, but also the various craft elements/approaches writers need to sell their work AND themselves "off the page" to get their scripts bought/made.

This time however will be quite different, not only because I didn't want to write essentially the *same* book again (and give writers more value!), but because I truly believe the drama screenplay is a very different beast not only to Thriller, but ALL the genres such as Comedy, Horror and so on. I believe the ONLY important ingredients to a good spec drama screenplay is authenticity, emotional truth and passion … But if drama can literally be *anything*, then where on earth do we writers start?!

After over ten years of panning the spec pile for drama gold (and reading hundreds, if not thousands of decidedly NON-shiny ones along the way!), I believe I have identified NOT a formula, but an approach of how the best writers make others as passionate about their stories as they are, by looking at elements such structure, characterisation, storytelling technique and dialogue. But that's not all: I will also be looking in detail at some brilliant produced dramas, including (but not limited to)  award winning greats like PLATOON, FORREST GUMP, BLUE VALENTINE and TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE. In addition, I will also be talking directly to the writers and filmmakers of such brilliant produced dramas as BEAUTIFUL THING, SAVING MR BANKS and HOURS, starring the late Paul Walker.

For more on the new book (due September 2014), check out my website, HERE.
 

*SPOILERS* A Glimpse Inside … LIZZIE'S STORY

"“Oh God, Lizzie. Lizzie!”

There was a crash as the door yielded and Dad was in the room. I was only peripherally aware of him and the fact I didn’t even have anything on my bottom half, yet for some reason I didn’t even care, when normally I would be mortified. But in the here and now, all I could concentrate on was the blackness that threatened to invade me: I knew I had to keep it away or I would be lost.

I tried to stand, but my knees buckled. Dad grabbed me and wrapped me in a towel, running out on to the flat balcony with me in his arms like a small child. He was shouting, pleading, but his voice seemed so far away. There were more shouts and slammed doors and Flo’s husband Jonno was out on the balcony, yelling for Pablo who came running in a dressing gown and slippers, holding keys to one of the hotel vans.

Dad grabbed them and shoved me in the passenger’s seat, turning the key in the ignition, all the time saying to me, “You’ll be okay, baby. You’ll be okay.” And I wondered why he would say that because it was obvious I was losing the baby and then I realised he was talking to me. Then I passed out."

From my novel, THE DECISION: LIZZIE'S STORY, available now.

Pitching Tips & Writing Resources

The Writing Café have reposted another of B2W's most oft hit articles, 5 Pitching Tips. This blog post contains a model pitch for writers who are attempting to answer **that** question, "What are you working on?", either in a pitchfest situation, or networking "face to face" or online. Good luck with your pitches and don't forget you access more FREE writing advice, e-libraries, links and downloads via The B2W Resources List.

Talking Thriller Screenplays

I'll be with Kamera Books talking Thriller Screenplays at The St Alban Film Festival on Saturday, May 3rd! There's a brilliant list of GREAT talks, workshops & Q&As ... I'll also be joining Script Advice Writers' Room's head honcho Yvonne Grace and BAFTA Rocliffe Forum's Farah Abushwesha. Can't wait! :D Download the festival schedule HERE or click the banner above to go straight to the site.

Free Podcast To Download On All Things Writing!

I'm interviewed on the Writers' Rebellion podcast with Chris Bell this week! We chat about traditional publishing versus self publishing; fiction versus non fiction; writing processes; challenging yourself as a writer; turning novels into screenplays AND MORE. Don't miss it! 

Submissions Insanity

One weapon in writers' armoury is KNOWING how best to approach agents, publishers and filmmakers - but also, how others before them have screwed up! This is why I attempt to demystify the spec pile wherever possible.

On this basis, I'm a Script Magazine columnist. My monthly advice page is called - you guessed it - Submissions Insanity! Check out some of the articles posted already:

The Basics Of Online Submissions

Familiar Ideas To Avoid 

How To Win Or Place Highly In Screenwriting Contests

And keep an eye on my Scriptmag Author Page, here for more articles, updated every month.

Also, check out my tweets about 2013's London Screenwriters' Festival Script Labs submissions.

You can also read previous looks in the LondonSF spec piles:

The LondonSWF Short Script Challenge (2010)

Laugh A Minute 1 Page Comedy Script Contest (2011)

4 Nights In August (2011 Short Script Contest)

Inside The Spec Pile: Script Labs 2012, Part 1

Inside The Spec Pile: Script Labs 2012, Part 2

There is also now a submissions bundle at The B2W Required Reading List - find stacks of links here on how to find agents etc and most importantly how NOT to submit!

So really: there is NO EXCUSE for half-assed approaches to the people who are assessing your work ... Make sure you reader-proof your work by ensuring you don't drop those OBVIOUS (and not so obvious) clangers. Get cracking! And good luck ...

What Is Transmedia?

My agent, Blake Friedmann, has reblogged my article "What Is Transmedia?" So if you're wondering what Transmedia is and how you use it to your OWN project's advantage, make sure you take a look! Here is also a Storify of LIZZIE'S DIARY, instalments 1-4, which ran during March as part of the distribution campaign for THE DECISION. If you want quotes, pics, polls, links, articles and more about issues concerning teenagers and young people, then make sure you follow The Decision Book Series on Facebook and on Twitter as @LizziesDecision (follow Blake Friedmann as @BFLAgency). If you are already, please help get the word out by sharing and RTing. Thanks! :D