I’d doing a webinar on “Finding the ‘Story’ in True Stories” for The Writers Store on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 1 PM Pacific. It’s a ninety-minute powerpoint/audio program where I discuss all the key lessons I’ve learned in adapting various true stories into scripts (from Band of Brothers and From the Earth to the Moon to quite a few others that you might not have seen).
If you can’t be there live, you can still register in advance, and will be sent the webinar to watch/listen to at your leisure. It’s on sale for $69 through 10/20 (after which the price goes up). My past webinars are also available online through their archives.
Here are some of the points I cover:
- The key differences between “history” and “story”, “truth” and “fiction”.
- How to avoid the dreaded “highlight reel” or “anecdote fest”.
- Why “the research” cannot run the process, and how to put it in its place!
- The key elements of a viable story problem an audience might care about.
- Finding the narrative spine – and how the Save the Cat “genres” can help.
- The role of fictionalizing, creative license, and having an authorial “take”.
- Why aiming for “true in spirit” is a better goal than “true in every detail”.
- The importance of continuously subjective main character point-of-view.
- Why it’s best to avoid a “spec miniseries.” Can it be a feature instead?
- How to deal with the real people involved in your story (if you must).
Here’s who might want to check it out:
- Writers who are considering adapting a true story (or have done so).
- Writers who want feedback on a story concept based on actual events.
- Writers who want to resolve their love/hate relationship with research.
- Writers who want overall guidance on the key elements of a good story.
- Writers wanting to know what gets buyers interested in a true story idea.
- Writers or aspiring writers living anywhere in the world.
- Writers or filmmakers in any medium working on a history-based project.
- Writers looking for inspiration and guidance from someone a lot like them.
