John August

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Verbs are what’s happening

Episode - 42

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QandA, Scriptnotes, Words on the page

This week’s episode finds Craig and John answering questions about agent etiquette, business cards and those troubling rewrites that unravel everything.

From there, John goes on a small tirade about weak verbs and Dungeons and Dragons-style scene description. Good writing: It’s not just for novelists.

There’s some language geekery as well, with a look at the hidden micro-classes of verbs that prevent a reasonable speaker from saying things like, “Whisper Tom the joke.”

All this and more in the 42nd installment of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Chicago Fire](http://www.nbc.com/chicago-fire/) on NBC
* [Flight](http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/flight/) trailer
* [Buddha Jones](http://www.buddhajonestrailers.com/) trailer house
* [*Th*-Fronting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th-fronting)
* [The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670063274/?tag=johnaugustcom-20), by Steven Pinker
* [NYC Subway by Embark](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nyc-subway-by-embark-new-york/id450991137?mt=8), the transit app for iOS
* [MacBook Pro with Retina Display](http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/)
* INTRO: [Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCr3ZVZZjYA)
* OUTRO: [Verb! That’s What’s Happening](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWnO98eoZ-o), a Schoolhouse Rock cover by Moby

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_42.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-21-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-42-verbs-are-whats-happening-transcript).

Getting to page one

Follow Up, Screenwriting Software, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

On the 41st Scriptnotes, John and Craig discuss screenwriting software, knowing when to start, and the Game of Thrones finale. But before moving on to new business, they update us on two topics of podcasts past.

Last we heard about Disney and Amazon Studios, there was a [vacancy atop the former](http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-disney-dilemma), and the latter had [decided to become a WGA signatory](http://johnaugust.com/2012/amazons-new-deal-for-writers). Now, Disney has hired Alan Horn as chief, and Amazon has announced its first project — but with no mention of the writer.

After they weigh in on these new developments, John tells us about the pros and cons of writing his most recent script in Scrivener, which opens up into a larger discussion about where screenwriting software seems to be heading.

Craig and John then adress a common frustration of beginning screenwriters: How do you know when you’re ready to move from the planning phase onto page 1? Diving into a script too quickly is a recipe for second-act problems, but overplanning can be just as dangerous. Where’s the sweet spot? What must you know about your story before you start, and how much familiarity is overkill?

They then move onto a listener-requested discussion of the Game of Thrones season finale, plus this week’s two One Cool Things.

Rawson Marshall Thurber, enjoy this Google alert made specially for you, courtesy of episode 41 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Scrivener](http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php)
* [Fountain](http://fountain.io/) and [Highland](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland/)
* [Fade In](http://www.fadeinpro.com/)
* [Final Draft iPad Writer](http://www.finaldraft.com/products/mobile/writer/)
* [Bronson Watermarker](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/bronson/)
* [Stencyl](http://www.stencyl.com/)
* [Flight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnVNNR6CEOE) trailer
* [Craig’s Wordplay post](http://www.wordplayer.com/pros/pr14.Mazin.Craig.html) on building marketing hooks into your screenplay
* INTRO: [Silver Spoons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71RyZuJHpj0) opening
* OUTRO: [Garden of Your Mind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM&feature=youtu.be) by Mister Rogers (remix)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_41.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-14-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-41-getting-to-page-one-transcript).

Death and feedback

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John talk about Craig’s decision to abandon [his once-bustling blog](http://artfulwriter.com/), while John weighs the pros and cons of comments and community.

How important is feedback? The Scriptnotes podcast gets [overwhelmingly positive](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) reviews — 99% are five stars — but how much of that is helpful or constructive?

We also go into follow-up about The Death of Screenwriting (as a career) and announce the first-ever Scriptnotes Live podcast, coming this October at the [Austin Film Festival](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/).

LINKS:

* [The Artful Writer](http://artfulwriter.com/) (Craig’s blog)
* [UC Verde Buffalo Grass](http://ucverdebuffalograss.com/)
* INTRO: [I Learned It By Watching You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Elr5K2Vuo)
* OUTRO: [Black Sally](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdEONARGHCM) by Funkoars feat. Maurice Greer

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_40.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-7-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-40-death-and-feedback-transcript).

Littlest Plot Shop

Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

Craig and John take a look at the difference between plot and story with some help from the Littlest Pet Shop and Game of Thrones.

Plot answers the “what” questions: What happens next? What is in the mysterious vault? What secret was the dowager keeping?

Story, however, is much more concerned with the “whos” and “hows” and “whys.” Characters have their own needs and impulses. The trick of good writing is to match up what the characters want to do (motivation) with what the screenwriter wants them to do (plot).

Mild spoiler alert: In the last few minutes, we discuss recent developments on Game of Thrones, but in a general-enough way that it’s not likely to impact your enjoyment if you’re behind. Still, caveat spectator.

Finally, two bits of housekeeping:

* We post [full transcripts](http://johnaugust.com/transcript) of every show a few days after they air.

* If you [subscribe to us](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) on iTunes, please leave us some feedback. For next week’s show, we’ll read the reviews ranked “most helpful” live, no matter what they say. Which may be a terrible idea. We’ll see.

LINKS:

* [Littlest Pet Shop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRgWqd36Mww) videos
* [Plot Wizard](http://plotwizard.com/)
* [Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935639188/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=plottomatic-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1935639188&adid=1GY1MPCHFA0R96HJ5TC6&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fplotwizard.com%2F)
by William Wallace Cook
* Craig recommends Joe Nienalt and Daniel Vang’s [Will-Read-Your-Script Fundraiser](http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=67391) for the American Heart Association
* John recommends this [all-your-barcodes-together card](http://keyringthing.com)
* INTRO: [My Little Pony](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9J2vF3Q3o8)
* OUTRO: [Black Horse and the Cherry Tree](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz_1UXMXKP0) by military band Sidewinder at the White House

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_39.m4a).

**UPDATE** 5-30-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-39-littlest-plot-shop-transcript).