Invader Stim Homerpants

Small Update to the Site + AI Dungeon Shoutout

It’s been a week since I posted. Not proud of it, but I had some health issues, so I better not beat myself up over it. Anyway, while I felt alright today, I made changes to the site, my Patreon, and got started on a new article.

Because of my health I’ve been unable to write my draft. Imagine there are hundreds of flies buzzing around your head and getting in your ears. It’s painful! However, I worked on worldbuilding using AI Dungeon. It can be dodgy, forgetting about key factors and not letting you make new paragraphs, but after using the revert action a few times, you’re on your way.

Not only that, but you can make up a prompt and start from there! But the server is highly expensive ($1/user. Imagine how many users they have!) and they rely on patron support. I’m not in a position to pledge, but please support them. (Not sponsored)

Back to my site. You may notice, if you look at the homepage, that I’ve added a new page: Critique Info. It’s subject to revision, but it explains my services regarding draft critiques. If you wish to hire me or just support, you’ll find Patreon and Ko-fi buttons all over the site. Remember to read the info page before jumping in.

Other than that, I’m working on a new blog post. Watch this space! If the info page is unclear, I’ll work on it when I can.

Hot Tips for Script Drafts

Read to the end for info on critiques

Here it is, the one you’ve all been waiting for! You’ve mastered the basics of scripts, and crammed in some practice! Is there any way to improve on your etiquette? “Stim, you said to forget about novel writing for these exercises.”

The answer is yes. That’s what this article’s for. So, let’s dig in.

Pacing

Screenwriting is a simple medium, but pacing still matters. When a critic or director reads a script, they expect ths each scene. It gives an idea of how they should visualise the moment as if already produced. That’s why actions, sight, and sound matter most.

Leave Your Prose at Home

I’m guilty of this one. Don’t write your scenes like a novel. Don’t worry about picking words because you already used it before; pick a word because it feels right for the scene.

Plotters might already know about beat sheets. Turns out I forgot about them, but having remembered, let’s touch on that. A script has beats, too. That’s what those white spaces between lines are. If you can understand that, you’ll find it easier to pace your scenes.

Useless Details

If you have a paragraph with useless information, the director will think “When does the action come in? I have to cut all this shit out so I can do my job.” They don’t need to know how lovingly detailed and shiny your princess dress is – just say it’s pink with gold embroidery.

Let’s take a scene where everyone’s on the same set. If the focus is on one character, we don’t need to know what the other characters are saying, unless the MC overhears a shocking, plot-related detail. Extras and minor characters still need cues, though, as this adds to believability.

If the character is offstage, leave them offstage until their cue.

If the Format is Animation

The only relevant actions are what’s on screen. Let’s take The Simpsons. If Bart walks off screen and the focus is on Homer, we need to know more of what Homer says rather than what Bart has up his sleeve. This is not just for the director in this case, but also the storyboarders and animators.

Formatting

If you can help it, don’t adjust the formatting. It’s generated that way to look professional. Bolds and italics blend much easier than all caps, therefore they get lost while the director skims your script.

If you need to bold sluglines because your eyes have trouble finding them, go for it.

In Case You Misunderstand Dialogue Cues

This is incorrect:

BYAKUYA
(Holding a teacup)
That was derivative.

This is correct:

Byakuya glares. Picks up his teacup.

BYAKUYA
That was derivative. Try harder.

At least it’s easy to edit. Notice how clean it is. There is no paranthetical, either; if you can read Byakuya’s body language, then your imagination fills in the blanks. Dialogue can call for this if:

The line is sarcastic.
The line has a different vibe to the actions.
Your character speaks with a foreign accent.
Imitation is present.
Comedic timing is present.

If a Whole Building Matters

Say your slugline is of a hotel, but this isn’t home. You can label this as “HOTEL – FOYER” and “HOTEL – BEDROOM”. It cuts confusion.

Find Writing Communities

This is general advice, and more experienced writers know this tip. If I hadn’t joined the Screenwriter’s Network Discord, I’d have lost my way quicker, and not gathered these nuggets of wisdom. It’s worth having beta readers, kids.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed the Script Draft series. While I have my own drafts to write, I’d love to critique yours! Scripts and prose are both accepted! If you would like a free reading, message me with one page and I’ll write a basic overview of your work. For full readings there’s a price. At the bottom of my home page I have Patreon and Ko-fi buttons.

Patreon

Becoming my patron is only $1 a month. At the end of each month, your name goes into a hat. If it gets pulled out, you win a FREE full critique. I analyse all aspects of your work, including grammar, prose, wordiness, and structure.

Ko-fi

Do you need a full critique here and now? With Ko-fi you can pay what you want. Drop the link to your work in a private message and I’ll get to it.

Requirements

Page minimum is 3. If your work is in literary form, the font must be either Arial, Calabria, or Times New Roman, size 12.

What about your work, Stim?

If you wish to see tidbits, I’ll gladly show them. A third of my first chapter is in the script stage as of this post, but I’d love to keep you posted. Happy writing!

New Year Musings

Today was another lazy day. I don’t have the Script Draft final ready, but that’s okay – I’m dealing with stuff, relaxing until I’m ready to set off. The goals aren’t written yet, but after a nice refreshing shower I’ll get it ready for the year.

I just had an idea. There’s a whiteboard around here somewhere. If I can find it, sorting goals will be easier, and I don’t have to waste paper each time I set a new goal. Otherwise, paper it is. Poor trees.

Mum gave me a scratchie. Nothing big, but I won a free ticket. If the newsagent is open tomorrow, I’ll head over and get another.

No updates on my drafting. Still thinking about the structure of my plan after a trial. I’ll decide whether to finish the whole script before moving onto the second draft is a good idea later.

Anyway, I hope 2020 goes well for you! After a whirlwind decade, the world deserves it.

New Year’s Eve

It occurs to me I may not have time to finish the Script Draft series tonight, so I’ll do a quick post.

My goal is to post at least once a day for a week. It’s a problem when you’re regaining energy you’ve missed for months. Anyway, later on I’ll write down my goals and wildcards on a piece of paper where I can see and focus on it. Better have it done by tomorrow.

Does anyone have any little goals they’d like to begin in the New Year? People give theirs up every year but that’s either because they don’t write it somewhere accessible or they choose too many goals.

It’s best to choose a main goal, then one or two wildcards. When you have one goal it’s easier to get in touch with your needs. Wildcards are for the Impossible Goals.

You may already know my writing plans but I won’t reveal my wildcards 😉 That spoils the surprise!

Right now I’m dreaming of drafting. I’m not home, so it’s time to pine over the first chapter.

Drafting in Script Form

It’s drafting time!

Yesterday, we looked at the benefits of script drafts. If you’re here, you likely read the previous article. If you missed it, I suggest doing so. For now, it’s time to learn.

I hear you now: “Where in tarnation do I start?” Let’s do a little checklist.

A screenwriting program, site, or app (there are lots of free ones out there. I use Fade In)
An outline (even a sentence describing one chapter will do)

It’s probably best to test your skills on a small piece to gather your bearings. For all intents and purposes, I will use examples from a fun piece.

Set the Scene

The scene is the first thing people notice. Sight and Sound are fundamental. Interactions take care of the rest. New scenes are indicated like so: INT./EXT. (interior or exterior) LOCATION – TIME OF DAY.

Describe the surroundings:

INT. GREEN ROOM – NIGHT
Cream walls. Green carpet. Coffee station. Muzak plays on PA system. Art Nouveau painting on the wall.

See how I wrote the line? Everything is brief. I did say it looked boring, but you’ll retain it this way. A lot of writers still use full sentences, but this is personal preference.

Introduce the Characters

BYAKUYA TOUGAMI (20s), a bleach blond man with glasses and sharp eyes, walks in. Stares at the painting. Strokes his chin.

This is a new paragraph. Even characters get basic descriptions. Note how is Byakuya is a new character. New characters’ names are written in all caps the first time. Afterwards, capitalised as normal. The age bracket is used for actor recruitment, but gives an idea of their appearance.

Byakuya’s Not Alone?

Let’s assume he’s not for this exercise. To depict two characters, separate their actions between lines.

Byakuya takes a sandwich. Looks back at the painting.

Larry watches. Holds his coffee in both hands.

What about the Painting?

Is it important? Maybe take a closer look. Your new line is a SHOT. Find the shot option in your program.

PAINTING
Abstract. Thick brush strokes. Bright colours.

How does Byakuya feel about it?

Byakuya cocks his head. Grimaces.

What about dialogue?

After a line, press TAB and fill out the name and dialogue. No need to insert quotation marks.

BYAKUYA
(Under breath)
What is this mess?

The cue in parentheses is for physical delivery such as imitation or distinct accents. To insert this quickly, press TAB after entering the name.

Never use this for emotions. Use actions to convey emotion, like I did in the previous step. Silence and screaming are actions, therefore they don’t belong in dialogue.

My Character’s Face is Concealed?

Indicate this when you plan to hide their face in-story. Don’t forget to describe their face at the reveal! Use (O.S.) or (O.C.) beside the character’s name in dialogue.

There You Have It!

Your first scene is complete, and the basics are down pat! The rest is history. Now, do it again. I’m tempted to post more tips on script etiquette, but we’ll leave that for the final addition: Hot Tips on Draft Scripts.

It would be awesome to read your scripts! I have my own to write, but surely I can find time in my day. If you wish to send me yours, drop it in the comments with your work and I’ll give you a summary of my thoughts.

3 Benefits of Script-Form Drafts

When you have an idea, it’s so easy to jump in and give it your all. You have 3000 words now, and nothing has changed for five weeks. You’re stuck.

Sure, there are future events rattling in your skull, but none of them get to the immediate scene. Why not outline? Not even a little? Nah, too hard. You got nothing. It would be nice to get it all down, even if it’s sloppy. If only there was a way…

Now wait just a hot minute there, Mr Golden Pants, I’ll have you know there’s a way around this. Because I’m a scriptwriter! And we type simple stuff down all the time!

Scriptwriting! You might be thinking, “no thanks, Stim, scripts aren’t my area of expertise.” Don’t knock it till you try it! It might sound scary, but trust me – you’ll wish you learnt this earlier. When you’re a literary writer, you have to forget about everything you know about prose and quotations, but that’s for a later post!

Here are the benefits of drafting in script format.

It’s easy to understand
A script is the bare bones of your work. You have a basic description of the surroundings, your characters, and lines tagged with the speaker. There are no big paragraphs. Not only is it quicker to absorb the information, it helps you think about the wording of your literary draft. The word count doesn’t matter, either, but scene length can indicate pacing and chapter length.
You get a better picture
Scripts are designed with visual mediums in mind, such as TV and comics. If you’re more of a watcher than a reader, you’ll find you follow the draft as if it’s an HBO series. With the format, each paragraph is a cue of each character’s actions, and you recognise when a character is first introduced to the plot. More of this in a later post.
Fewer plot holes
When you forget a small detail, people will point it out and get mad! In a scriptwriting program, you can go back to earlier scenes in a click and double check the events. Hollywood screenwriters are guilty of this, but only because they have a deadline and 350 pages to write.

That being said, it’s still handy to compare with the outline and write down questions in case you get three acts in and have seven left. Tune in for the next additions to this series: How to Draft in Script Format, and Hot Tips for Script Drafts.

Update: My Writing Plans 2020

My base plan is as follows: I script on the weekends, then adjust my outline accordingly. Weekdays are when I type out the novel drafts. There’s a teensy problem with that.

I’ve adjusted the weekend weights to 0, meaning my weekday target stands at 301. Hopefully I can cram in enough script to last the week. At least this way, pieces of plot uncover themselves. I noticed as I described the mall, there needed a reason to have so much activity after midnight.

There’s also the case of future chapters. I don’t even know what I’ll put in them yet, but I have unsorted pieces scattered around. It would be nice to place them somewhere.

My Writing Plans for 2020

So as it says in my bio, I’m currently writing a novel, which I’ve had trouble with since the Accident. Back in April, I had big plans to draft it and send it off somewhere. I did alright in June, but then personal problems got in the way and I lost motivation. Seriously, 2019 sucked!

And I’m still dealing with the tail end of my problems. But soon, I’ll be back on my feet and working out my plan. First, though, I would like to scream and cry about how it sucked.

Two hours later, I’ve yelled at myself in the mirror and burnt a stick. I’m feeling better already. Blog time!

I already know there are obstacles on my path, but I’ll make the best of it. For instance, watch my behaviour during February-March. According to WriteTrack, to reach my deadline I have to hit 215 words/day from now on. Note: it was originally 100 words.

There’s not much time left to reach my target, so I’ll have to make the most of it. I’ll Ramsay myself every morning and night to keep motivated. It’s not all negative – when I’m proud of myself I’ll give just rewards.

My plan is to use Fade In for sticky scenes where I can’t word it right. Then, in Bibisco, I write a summary of what’s written and detail it further. If I can get the first draft done before the deadline, I’m set. In fact, it seems like the most efficient way to reach the daily target and beyond. At some point, I’ll have to figure out a schedule for that.

Does anyone else make plans for the year? It’s recently I’ve realised that if I want to get serious I need to make plans. Seeing it in this perspective is scary, but that’s where the Ramsay Method should come in handy. Enjoy the last four days of 2019!

Free-to-Use Programs for Easy Writing Needs

There are so many methods in drafting your next piece of text. Each one works depending on the writer and what they find comfortable. I, for one, am a Pantser by Nature. Because of that, I miss little details.

Plotters might get it all on one page, and for that I envy them. It’s good to have a balance between these styles if we want the best for our works. For us Pantsers by Nature, it’s worth help from a computer program.

There are big names like Scrivener and Final Draft which are great! But they’re not accessible for a budget queen like me or beginners. Yes, these are ideal, but there’s a learning curve.

Expensive doesn’t mean Better.
Common Proverb

You heard it here first, folks. Starry-eyed you buys a shiny, prestigious product excited to jump in and write that manuscript. You unpack it, open it up, create the document, and then…

Uh-oh.

Where’s the tutorial? It’s so hard to navigate through the teeny-tiny icons and unexplained jargon. Okay, you found the tutorial but it left you with more questions than answers.

This program doesn’t click with you as expected. Congratulations, you just spent US$250 on a program you’ll never use for the rest of your life.

On my ventures searching for hidden gems, I found free programs which are not only intuitive, but free to use. Most tools on this list have payment options, but for free you get all the essentials.

Note: These are summary reviews. If you wish to see a full review of a program, drop a comment!

I am in no way affiliated with the following developers. These are non-sponsored plugs.

yWriter by Spacejock Software

This one’s oldschool. You get simple tools such as chapters, scenes, and important objects. Best of all, it’s free. Simon Haynes, the creator, prefers the “pay what you like” model, as he mentions on his website.

It’s easy enough once you understand the program, but there’s the possibility of making a small mistake in the structure. The tools provided don’t explain their purpose clearly to jump in. Luckily, Simon has uploaded video tutorials on the website. You can track word goals, and get free reports.

Other neat features include text-to-speech and previewing on yBook.

yWriter is available for free on Windows, and paid on Android & iOS. The MacOS Alpha test was released this year.

Would I buy it?

To support Simon Haynes? Absolutely! The money goes towards developing his software. If you register your copy, you may recieve discounts on manuscript evaluation and ebook creation services. He also has a Patreon if you would rather send regular payments.

Link: http://www.spacejock.com/index.html

It’s also worth looking at BookDB, yBook, and yRead.

SmartEdit Writer

This is a fully free app, which works differently to yWriter. Not only do you get a word count and night mode, but you get a built-in editor. It doesn’t nag you to fix style choices like other grammar checkers.

I found it rather useful and might consider using it for later copies of manuscripts.

Would I buy it?

No. Absolutely not. The paid versions are add-ons for Microsoft Word. I’m glad they’re one-time payments, because we all know how Microsoft Office gets with its subscriptions. The basic package has a free trial, and SmartEdit suggests you try before buying. It’s US$77, which, for an add-on that looks cleaner, I don’t think is worth the money. SmartEdit Pro is $139 for PDF reports and projects. As Fran Drescher once said: “stick with the cupid peeing”.

Link: https://www.smart-edit.com/

Bibisco

This is an open source planner by Andrea Feccomandi, walking you through the process of novel writing. While it doesn’t provide for drafts, it does help you understand your story’s direction. It works much like yWriter, but I find it more accessible. The first time I saved chapters and checked the analysis, I had eureka moment after eureka moment. For a layout so simple, it offers so much.

Would I buy it?

God, yes. For 13 Euro or more, you get to use global notes, the Timeline and Objects functions, dark theme, sequel creation, and more! It’s well worth the price. Definitely buying it.

Link: https://bibisco.com/

Fade-In

This is screenwriting software, which is handy if you’re looking for a reliable, free program. It’s great if you’re drafting in screen format – displaying all the tools in a sidebar. You also get instant scene reports and how much screentime they would take.

I not only use this for comprehension, but also for first drafts. If you want to know how I do this, I’ll post about it sometime. And after ten minutes of writing, it forces you to… save your document. That’s it. You can save as many documents as you like.

Would I buy it?

For a single payment of US$79.95, you get SO much more than the major competitors. Not only that, but you get free updates – for Final Draft, this costs $99.95 for an upgrade. It also includes collaboration, scene versions, dual dialogue, and so much more! If I could list all features, we would reach double the current word count. So, in short, hell yes.

Link: https://www.fadeinpro.com/index.pl?reopen=true

Grammarly

You know, the one on the ads. It checks your grammar and style choices, suggesting improvements. If you make an account and download the Windows app, you can save as unlimited documents, and Grammarly will point out mistakes no matter the word count. You can also set the tone for your piece.

Would I Buy It?

I’d like to. For a month you pay $25, and you receive advanced error checking, plagiarism checks, and human proofreaders. It would be nice to at least try.

Link: https://app.grammarly.com/

ProWritingAid

For those of you who don’t know, this site is Up There. Before it switched to its current layout, you got basic checkers to analyse every part of your document. It’s more intuitive now, with live edits and comprehensive reports. The only downside is, nowadays it reads up to 500 words.

Would I buy it?

Funnily enough, I’ve bought the yearly subscription before. I think they’ve actually gone down in price since then, and that’s fair for what you get. They also have the lifetime subscription for $240, which would serve well at a half-price sale.

Link: https://prowritingaid.com/

WriteTrack

This handy site is written by David S Gale, who I believe deserves so much. This site is free to use, but it’s so worth donating. This not only tracks your daily word count, but adjusts it to help you keep up. You can also adjust “weights” to increase or decrease that day’s target. It also syncs with the NaNoWriMo site if you partake in that challenge.

Link: http://writetrack.davidsgale.com/

Hemingway

If you’re a WordPress user, chances are you know of this app already. It’s simple, pleasant to the eye, and doesn’t nag like other editors. The site will always be free, but if you want this offline, you can buy a desktop version for $20. It doesn’t have as many issue detectors as Grammarly, but on the app you can upload directly to WordPress or Medium. I’d say it’s worth a go if you’re on a budget and want something less stressful.

Link: http://www.hemingwayapp.com/

Prod.uctivity

Thought I’d give this a mention. Not only is there EditMinion, but there is also fun writing games such as Write or Die and Wordwar. There is also Undeadlines, which I would like to test against WriteTrack. From what I can see, it also tracks time spent writing and has a social feature.

Link: https://prod.uctivity.com/

Introducing Invader Stim

You may have stumbled upon this blog on accident, asking yourself “who is this blogger?” Fear not, for I am Invader Stim, a humble writer. (If you were also wondering why this had one line before, it’s because WordPress and my browser aren’t compatible)

My expertise is fiction and screenplays. Easy comprehension, good character interaction, and well-placed comedic timing are my favourite aspects of a story. The Simpsons, music, and video games are my inspirations. When I was a kid, my favourite art style was that of 80s cartoons like Jem and the Holograms.

One thing I’d love to do is critique others’ writing, but I’m not much of a reader. If I get around to it, I’ll to work my way up to it and proofread for other people.

I hope you enjoy reading my posts in the future. Happy aliens!