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Words on the page

Logic and Gimmickry

Episode - 309

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July 18, 2017 Awards, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Tools, Words on the page

John and Craig step up to the whiteboard to look at the story logic in our scripts, then examine how tricks and gimmicks can help keep scenes interesting.

Lying builds character

May 13, 2017 Psych 101, Words on the page

When we see characters lying, we know more about what matters to them.

Pour one out for “Hold my beer”

March 9, 2017 Hive Mind, Words on the page

“Hold my beer” is getting clammy, but it’s worth exploring why it works as a Twitter joke.

The Workaholics list of banned phrases

December 5, 2016 Rant, Words on the page

John Quaintance recently tweeted photos of two whiteboards listing phrases banned in the Workaholics writers’ room. His tweet has been widely shared, and is a mitzvah to all writers. These phrases are all clams — jokes that aren’t funny anymore and therefore need to die. When you include them in a script, you’re evoking the […]

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