Paul Kalburgi - The Writers Toolkit: Exercises, Techniques and Ideas for Playwrights and Screenwriters

Paul Kalburgi

THE WRITERS
TOOLKIT

Exercises, Techniques and Ideas
for Playwrights and Screenwriters

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

For my boys,
Lohit, Zane and Zeven

Dream big. Who said you cant have it all?

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things you didnt do than by the ones you did.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

INTRODUCTION

Procrastination is the thief of time.

Edward Young

American playwright James Thurber once said, Dont get it right, get it written. A productive motto, which I try to keep in mind whenever I sit down to write, and something I always share with fellow writers in my classes and workshops. Just as an Olympic athlete must push through the pain barrier to achieve success on the track, writers must push past writers block to achieve success on the page especially when inspiration is fleeting. Sometimes, this is easier said than done, of course. Writing is a creative process, which I believe cant be forced, so how do we keep writing and remain productive, when we are in a slump?

If a script is beginning to feel forced or sluggish, or you find yourself unable to write through or around a roadblock for lack of motivation or ideas, I suggest stepping back from scriptwriting and refocus your creativity by simply writing. Remove the confines of structure, story beats, and the pressure to produce work that needs to be good enough to one day share with others (hopefully an audience), and allow yourself to indulge in the craft of writing. Discover how writing exercises and prompts can free you of expectation, judgement and the need to deliver. Sometimes we all need to throw a little sand outside of the sandbox, colour outside of the lines, and give ourselves permission to make a mess, in order to inspire real creativity.

If you are on a roll, however, and just need a little help to shape, improve or invigorate a scene, then a related writing exercise can help to highlight any sticking points and may suggest a new way forward. In this book I will share specific activities for the critical elements of scriptwriting, which will allow you to fine-tune your script and inspire new ideas.

Perhaps you are looking for inspiration for a new piece of writing? I have included 101 quick-fire writing prompts, so set a timer and get to it. There are no rules, just read the scenario, pick up a pen or open your laptop and start writing. Its amazing how satisfying it can be to create a series of short, complete scenes in a brief amount of time, and this can provide a positive start to your writing session.

In this practical guide, I will share with you a bounty of original writing exercises and activities, as well as my riffs on some classics. Also included is an introduction to immersive writing and meditative writing. The latter is something that I have found hugely beneficial for the heart, mind and soul at the start and end of a writing session. Included are three mindful meditation exercises to try before your writing sessions, and a relaxing Savasana to finish your practice. I hope you will enjoy exploring the creative and spiritual benefits of meditative writing and find it a productive and enriching addition to your process.

The exercises in this book can be applied to any work-in- progress or used as a jumping-off point for a new piece of work. I hope that playwrights and screenwriters of all levels, including those who are new to the craft, will find them both refreshing and inspiring.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.

William Wordsworth

This book is divided into eight parts, each designed to help with a different part of the writing process. Writing is essentially an art form, not a science, and so the rules, devices and pointers given are provided as a guide and are not intended to stifle your creativity. As such, not every exercise will be relevant to every script, nor every writer, so run with the exercises which speak to you and feel free to adapt others to best serve your purpose.

Part 1 provides a collection of mindful meditations, created to provide a sense of calm and relaxation as a precursor to a productive writing session. Each one is roughly five minutes long and I hope that introducing these into your daily writing practice will make a positive difference to your day.

Part 2 offers a selection of warm-up exercises, designed to make sure your writing muscles are limber and to switch your creative mind to writing mode. The exercises in this part are shorter than the rest and are great to do without the thought or focus of applying them to a bigger piece of writing. They are quick and inspiring great for those days when you dont have time to work on your current writing projects but still want to stay productive.

Part 3 is the largest section of the book, including exercises based around the fundamental elements of writing for stage and screen. These include character-based exercises, techniques for improving dialogue, how to include subtext in your writing, giving your scripts a strong sense of place or setting, as well as useful plot devices to heighten drama and raise the stakes.

Part 4 explores immersive writing techniques. See how you can lift the world of your script off the page and bring it into your writing space, to shape and mould in a physical sense. Similarly, it explains how you can physically enter the world of your script. Physical experiences and the use of props can add additional layers of texture to your writing.

Part 5 looks at how to master the ten-minute play. With so many playwriting competitions and festivals offering opportunities to get your work on stage and in front of an audience, a solid ten-minute play is a good thing to have in your arsenal. Ten-minute plays demonstrate lean and economical writing, and are great to attach to an email when reaching out to agents or industry professionals, and for building your writing resume.

Part 6 will help you to examine your work, making sure its in great shape for sharing and submitting. The submission surgery provides exercises for fine-tuning your dialogue, scrutinising your scenes and also looks at the importance of hearing them off the page.

Writing prompts offer an inspiring jumping-off point from which to write a short scene. Part 7 offers 101 writing prompts. Why not try a new one every day before you sit down to work on your current project? They are so easy, you could even do one whilst travelling to work, or waiting for the barista to make your latte.

Part 8 rewards a productive writing session with a little self-care. Just as mindful meditations are a great way to begin a writing session, practising Savasana is a wonderful way to relax and replenish the body, mind and soul when you have given so much to advancing your work. Savasana, or corpse pose is simple to perform and provides balance whilst releasing stress.

If you have cleared out a day in your diary to dedicate to writing, you might include the exercises in this book and plan your day like this

Begin with a mindful meditation from Part 1.