Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️

Retired Police Detective helping authors & screenwriters. Host of the Writer's Detective Bureau podcast & YouTube channel. INFP-A

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

The Writer’s Detective Bureau is finally a VIDEO podcast. https://t.co/Gw1DUP9B1n

[Tom Vaughan @storyandplot]

Screenwriting notes often come in the language of emotion rather than craft.

- I liked this. I didn't like this.
- If I were you, I would do this...

It's up to us to determine what's actually wrong.

Here are 15 common notes and their most likely structural fix. 👇

1. It took too long to get started.

The inciting incident is coming too late.

2. It starts slow.

The writer is taking the “ordinary” in the “ordinary world” too literally.

3. I didn’t care about the characters.

Act 1 needs work. Give special attention to the relationships and the protagonist's emotional desires.

4. It took too long to know what it was about.

The central dramatic question comes too late.

5. It felt like two different movies.

The dramatic question changes.

6. It felt too simple.

The supporting characters and subplots aren't bringing anything to the party.

7. It just seems to plod along.

All plot, no story and/or not enough great scenes.

8. It started well but dragged as it went on.

Weak midpoint.

9. It’s slow.

Not enough great scenes and/or a failure in scene-to-scene narrative momentum.

10. It’s all over the place.

The story is not clearly defined, and/or the plot lacks story discipline.

11. I don't know what this is about.

The story is not clearly defined, and/or the plot lacks story discipline.

12. Nothing is unique here.

You lack a concept that generates great scenes.

13. You didn't take advantage of your own idea.

You have a concept, but you either lack great scenes or they're too generic and unrelated to the concept.

14. It ended too quickly.

Act 3 was too short and unsatisfying.

15. The ending wasn’t satisfying.

All plot, no story, and/or Act 3 wasn’t an answer/response to Act 1.

-

These aren't definitive; they're just the first place to look.

There are endless variations to all kinds of notes, and the skill comes from identifying the source problem.

But this is why we learn story structure. It's not just about writing that first draft.

It's about knowing how to fix what isn't working.

That's a wrap for this post!

If you enjoyed this post and are interested in screenwriting:

1. Follow me @storyandplot for more of these.

2. Share this post. It just takes a click!

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@CapitalOne locked me out of my account while traveling abroad. Sent in my ID. Now I have to “wait 7 to 10 business days” for the fraud dept. to call me back & unlock card. Now I get to switch all reservations to other cards & pay phone company $10/day to wait for their call.🤬

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@lisabilyeu Thank you so much for your keynote at #VidSummit yesterday. 💯% life-changing advice for working with your spouse. Cheers to playing doubles!

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache, and I could solve some mysteries too.

RIP 🦜JB🦜

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@LarryDWilcox Happy birthday!!

[Cristela Alonzo @cristela9]

One thing about the WGA strike that I constantly think of is the studios saying they will continue to pay late.

When I signed my deal for my sitcom, I waited a YEAR to get paid. My boyfriend at the time borrowed money from his family for us to get by.

Always remember the fight.

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

In this ✍️🕵️‍♂️ podcast ep., I answer writers’ questions about DA Investigators, the legalities of warrantless arrests in a home, and what it takes to run a cover-up.
writersdetective.con/135

[Atria Mystery Bus @AtriaMysteryBus]

The former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs on DEAD FALL by @BradThor.

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@cookson_emma 💪💪💪

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@JoshOnAir The Wire.

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

Threads App, Life Insurance Lookups, VINELink, Confidential Name Chances, Restraining Order Violations https://t.co/GwriOp7u2v

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@MichaelMatteoRo

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@FinishLineScrip I figure stuff out and then show people who know to type how they can do it too.

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

Uhh…it’s probably easier if you just find me on 🧵🪡

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@robertoblake Thanks for sharing this. Nate’s great!

[Joel Eisenberg @joel_eisenberg]

#Writers, NEVER “read the writing on the wall.”

Was w/friends. He wants to #write a novel and is in his 50s. His wife said, “Read the writing on the wall. You’re too old.”

Reminded me of an ex who still can’t believe I published my first novel AND joined the #WGA in my 50s.

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@TubeBuddy Detective helping writers

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@robertoblake @PatFlynn @seancannell @patrickbetdavid @theChrisDo 💯

[Writer's Detective ✍️🕵️‍♂️ @WritersDetctive]

@themilwaukeemob @JackCarrUSA 💯