[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: How do you begin writing a new story?
Steve Harper, Screenwriter/Writing Coach/Podcaster/Youtuber: I think everything that I write that’s original comes out of some inner obsession, something I am freaked out about or obsessed with or afraid of or that I can’t stop thinking about. There’s always some core kernel of interest that comes out of that space.
One of the examples that I often use, and I haven’t written anything about this, is for whatever reason I’m not a coffee drinker but I know a ton of almost everybody is a coffee drinker. If I start with that kind of the question, underneath that for me would be:
–Why are people so interested in this thing that I’m not interested in?
-What does that mean about me?
-What does that mean about them?
-Can I mine that into a story about how valuable coffee is?
-Perhaps it’s contraband in a world where coffee is rare?
-Perhaps there’s somebody who doesn’t like coffee who’s hoarding this substance?
Suddenly I begin to brainstorm something from this obsession that starts to manifest into a big question and then a character.
-Who is that character?
-Who is that character up against?
-Who is the person who’s trying to get the coffee from this person?
Suddenly my brain is populating with all these ideas. Then I will solidify the character, solidify that antagonist, make clear decisions around what they’re trying to do and maybe there are other things they’re up against. Maybe it’s illegal to hoard the coffee and the police are involved, I don’t know?
Then I will create a logline from that and begin to sketch out the beginning, middle and end and then start using index cards to think of brainstorm moments. Then I’m off to the races. I’m sort of into the space of outline from that kernel of an idea…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
STEVE HARPER’s TV writing includes Co-Executive Producer duties on Tracker and D.C.’s Stargirl and wrote episodes of God Friended Me, Tell Me Your Secrets, American Crime and Covert Affairs. His web series SEND ME earned a 2016 Emmy Nomination for series lead Tracie Thoms. Through his company Your Creative Life he coaches writers, posts advice on YouTube and co-hosts The Secret Writer Podcast – heard in 21 countries. He graduated from Yale, the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard and the Juilliard playwriting program.
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