BtO Contest: Win Linda Cowgill's The Art of Plotting

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A friend gave me a brand, spanking new copy of Linda Cowgill's guide for screenwriters, The Art of Plotting: Add Emotion, Suspense, and Depth to Your Screenplay and asked if I'd like to give it away on the blog.

I seriously thought about swiping it for my own, but since my to be read pile threatens to scrape the ceiling, I've restrained myself.

To be eligible to win the drawing, all you have to do is post a comment telling us what future writing-related topics would you like to see us discuss in future posts here on Boxing the Octopus.


Linda Cowgill is a screen and TV screenwriter, instructor, and author of several books on writing. You can read more about her here.

Comments

Suzan Harden said…
If you're willing to give the information...


Have you become faster in writing a first draft as you gain more experience? What tips would you recommend for us newbies besides having a detailed outline (and other than sending the family to the in-laws and the dogs to the kennel)?

NaNo is starting in a week and a half, and I need all the help I can get. LOL
9:45 AM
Lark said…
I love the business of writing info you give. Working with agents and editors is something I think a lot of people are interested in. What should a writer expect and what is expected of us?

Also revisions--I've heard some authors say they never have them, others talk about 10+ page revision letters. If an agent or editor "loved" the work, what kind of revisions are they likely to want?

Missed reading your blog while I was away. It's part of my daily routine which no longer includes ANY Twitter!!
10:42 AM
Colleen Thompson said…
Lark,
Wow, I'm impressed that we rate higher than Twitter in your book. :)

Great topics, you two!
12:37 PM
Anonymous said…
I think I would like to hear about how much you plot, plan, know before you start a ms. Panster that I am, I'm trying to start with a very sketchy outline just to see if I can stick to it. Maybe this will cut down on the revisions. But I've tried to write a synopsis before I began on a ms and I never stick to it...my brain can't seem to harness my imagination!

Tessy
7:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Yea, Colleen!

Topics:
1) Things no one tells you about pacing.
2) Creating a sense of fear and thrills when the villain is already known.
3) Creating a sense of credibility and logic... even when dealing with outlandish and convoluted fictional elements.

Thanks!!

Hugs,
Diane
10:21 PM
Christie Craig said…
Colleen,

I so respect your knowledge in contracts and the things writer's should watch out for in contracts. I think blogging about that would help a lot of writers.

Thanks...

CC
7:31 AM
Anna Phegley said…
Hi Colleen. I read your blog but haven't left a comment til now & tonight you rate higher than Facebook. :-). I've sold 3 books without an agent but I now find myself writing a rom/com mystery & feel like I'm going to need an agent for that book. Discussion of contracts would be interesting especially what to watch for, like basket accounting (which happend with my last contract). I had no clue. Thanks Colleen -
Anna Phegley
8:44 PM
Colleen Thompson said…
Thanks for all the great suggestions! We'll try to address them in the next few weeks. Especially now that we rate above FB, too. In some (okay, one)circles.

Tessy, you're the winner of the drawing! I'll bring THE ART OF PLOTTING to the Todd Stone workshop in case your there. (Please remind me.) If not, I'll contact you later for a mailing address. Yea, you! Congrats!
8:59 PM
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