Crafting Stories

Exploring the Madness of Writing

“There’s a certain kind of madness to being a writer.”

• Writers often project aspects of themselves onto their characters.
• Evan Smoke, the protagonist, embodies qualities of obsessive-compulsive detail and minimalism.
• The governing principle: “How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Key Insight: Orderliness as a Creative Tool

• Flaubert’s philosophy: “Let your life be orderly and predictable, that your creative life can be chaotic and wild.”
• Writers balance meticulous planning with creative chaos.

Character Development: Evan Smoke

Duality in Evan’s Life

• Home: Pristine, minimal, and controlled.
• Example: Vodka bottles aligned equidistantly.
• Missions: Chaotic and unpredictable, requiring him to adapt and improvise.

Human Connection

• Contrasts his sterile environment with the vibrant, messy life of a single mother and her son.
• Represents intimacy and humanity he desires but cannot attain.

Moral Compass

• Operates outside the law but adheres to a strict ethical code:
• Will never harm innocents.
• Accepts consequences for his actions: “If I’m ever caught, you should kill me.”

The Writing Process: Mind, Heart, and Gut

Writing from the Gut

• Instinctive Creativity:
• Writing emerges naturally when in a “different state.”
• Avoids overthinking and rigid plotting.
• Creating Moments:
• Example: Shocking narrative twists that feel both surprising and inevitable.

Balancing Structure and Spontaneity

• Uses a “rolling outline”:
• 15-25 pages of bullet points, dialogue snippets, and plot ideas.
• Dynamic process that evolves as the story unfolds.
• Allows characters and events to guide the narrative organically.

Respecting the Audience

Subtlety in Storytelling

• Less is more: Remove overt lines to let the scene hold emotional weight.
• Example: “I love you” implied through actions rather than words.

The Power of What’s Left Unsaid

• Inception and The Sixth Sense: Demonstrates how withholding information engages the audience’s imagination.

Navigating Feedback and Collaboration

Editorial Notes

• View feedback as an opportunity to identify underlying issues, even if the note itself seems off-target.
• Example: A “boring” third act might indicate problems in the second act.

Collaboration in Film

• Screenwriting involves letting go of control:
• The screenplay is a recipe for collaboration.
• Trust actors, directors, and other creatives to enhance the story.

Crafting Complex Characters

From Villains to Antagonists

• Compelling antagonists make protagonists more relatable and realistic.
• Focus on ambiguity and moral complexity.

Self-Reflection in Writing

• Writing as an excavation of personal truths and flaws.
• Joan Didion: “I write so I know what I think.”

The Ethical Weight of Storytelling

Responsibility of the Artist

• Does violence in stories translate to real-world impact?
• Stories must respect their audience without pandering or propagandizing.

Propaganda vs. Story

• Propaganda dictates; storytelling explores.
• Writers should discover the story’s direction organically rather than imposing pre-conceived ideologies.

Adapting Stories Across Mediums

Maximizing Each Format’s Strengths

• Novels allow for depth and introspection.
• Screenplays rely on visuals and brevity.
• Comics can juxtapose thought and dialogue uniquely.

Adapting Literature to Film

• Successful adaptations capture the story’s DNA rather than rigidly adhering to the source material.
• Examples: Clockwork Orange and Apocalypse Now.

Conclusion: The Power of Narrative

Narrative and Identity

• Stories shape our perception of the world and ourselves.
• They have the potential to inspire, mislead, or challenge.

Final Thought

The balance between chaos and control in writing reflects the human condition, making storytelling an enduring art form.