Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing!

I'm teaching a dramatic truth workshop for the Willamette Writers Conference on Sunday, August 9th.

TWITTER
I now have a Twitter address. I'll be posting some short tweets about writing. I'd be happy to respond to short questions.

A third edition of A Story is a Promise and Deep Characterization is now available. This new edition explores how some writers struggle because they make a main character an extension of the author to act out personal issues. A short video about the new work is available; the video is included with the book.

A Story is a Promise & Deep Characterization is available using this PayPal link. The cost of $17.95 includes media mail shipping in the United States.

Overseas mailing, $24.95. ***********************

This site offers writers of all levels and genres new ideas on the essential elements of storytelling:

creating dynamic characters...

identifying what's at stake in
a story...

and ensuring that both the plot and story lines converge into an emotionally fulfilling resolution.

Reviews of popular novels, plays, and screenplays highlight those aspects of storytelling essential for fulfilling a writer's promise to the reader.

The essays on this web site are part of my exploration of what it is to both tell and enjoy a story. I welcome everyone who shares that journey.
--Bill Johnson

What's new:

Expressing Deeper Dramatic Truths
This essay reviews how Richard Yates conveys the dramatic truths of his characters in the novel Revolutionary Road.

Question, Answer, Question
This essay reviews the preface to Twilight, the popular novel by Stephenie Meyer. The process of engaging the attention of readers that I call question, answer, question is explored. I speak about this process on this video posted on YouTube.

Writing a Novel with a Dual Timeline
This essay reviews Sara Gruen's novel, Water for Elephants.

Writing a Puzzle Piece
An essay about what made The DaVinci Code the novel successful and the movie under whelming.

Writing a Novel With a Wounded Main Character
An essay about Prince of Tides and how a novel can be written with a wounded main character, a choice that can lead to difficulties if not handled correctly.

Writing a Novel With a Stuck Main Character, Notes on The Kite Runner
An essay about how a popular novel was written with an emotionally stuck main character.

About the Author:

Vita
Film Scripts
Q/A
Site awards

I speak about the Deep Characterization process on this video posted on YouTube.

All material on this web site Copyright 1998-2009 Bill Johnson; all rights reserved. I welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any questions about the story issues raised by my essays, for a response, write me at bjscript at teleport.com.
Thanks for visiting this site.

SCRIPT SERVICES
I review screenplays, novel manuscripts, and plays.

OREGON WRITERS SPEAK
I've created a new web page where teachers like Elizabeth Lyon and Eric Witchey speak about the craft of writing fiction. Mike Thaler, author of The Teacher From the Black Lagoon, offers a video tour of his work studio. Christina Katz (Writer Mama, Get Known Before the Book Deal) speaks about her Northwest Author Series.

Karen L. Azinger's debut epic fantasy saga has been acquired by HarperCollin's Voyager imprint. Voyager acquiring all five books in the untitled series.
I helped Karen with the first two books.