The Breakdown - Week of 5/18/20

Hey, hey, hey! I’m just hittin’ ya’ll up with another edition of “The Breakdown!” For regular readers, this edition has a special section designed to highlight some great contests I found, so be sure to check those out.

For new readers, “The Breakdown” is a weekly newsletter where I provide you with news and article highlights from the publishing & entertainment industries, and on occasion, an article focusing on the writing craft. You’ll also get five scene-specific creative writing prompts, drawn from my book “What Would Your Character Do? - Writing Prompts to Help You Destroy Writer’s Block, Write Faster, and Write More” (Up on Amazon and free in Kindle Unlimited!)

But first, let’s take the temperature of the room.

So, remember how I offered the next 25 subscribers premium access for six-months for free in the last newsletter? Well, those slots filled up fast!

Awesome!! 🍾🎉  

And, earlier, remember how I’d said that our first batch of critiques in the Query / First Five Pages Workshop would come from my first 50 subscribers, either free or paid? Well, to reconcile those two initiatives, I’m opening up 25 more slots for six-months of premium for free and then, that’s it! We’re done! (Although you’re always welcome to become a free or premium subscriber at any time.)

In any event, I should have the first premium article for you—which will look at why the Wattpad Development Fund is so revolutionary—in about a week; and hopefully, the first workshop critique within the next two weeks. These will come as posts and emails separate from, and in addition to, these weekly emails.

Want to know more about my critiquing background? In addition to critiquing for four traditionally published colleagues, I worked in development at HBO, and I also ran a critiquing contest called, The Standouts. Check out the props from contestants, the pitch assessments, and the lessons learned from the contest here.

Alrighty then! This is all fab, but let’s get cracking with the next edition of “The Breakdown!”

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Prompts

As mentioned before, these prompts are from my book, “What Would Your Character Do?” They’re designed to give you momentum if you ever find yourself stuck in a scene. If these five prompts don’t work for you, hang tight! You’ll get another five in a week, or you could just buy, or check out, the book to pick from over 500 more.

If you're stuck in a scene, try to have your character:

1. Remember a disturbing event

2. Comfort someone

3. Give in to a superstition

4. Take their anger out on someone

5. Tune someone out

Sit with these prompts a bit, and if they’re not working for you, you’ll get five more next week! And please do comment if a prompt helped you. 😊

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Note - This first news bite is dedicated to my very first, paid premium subscriber, Rodney V. Smith, award-winning author of “So I Might Be a Vampire?” and “The Canefield Killer”. Thank you, Rodney!

News

(Click title links for the articles)

Get Ready For A Whole Lot Of Vampires On AMC and A new ‘Twilight’ book is coming and then there’s also The Return of the YA Vampire

So, are vampires back? Are they? Are they really?? Well…the answer is “yes” and ”no.” I think, given the chatter I hear from agents and editors on Twitter, Vampires are indeed making a comeback. However, they keep saying that they want to see totally new takes on them (A gender-fluid vampire based on Indonesian folklore, anyone?) Or, they want a work that can draft off of all the anticipated Twilight buzz, but the subtext there is often that they want it from a well-known (i.e.; multi-published) author who already has an audience. Now, this last bit they don’t openly admit to; but, if you’re covering familiar story ground, based on my experience, that’s what they really want. An example of this might be Crave, a YA vampire fantasy with strong plot similarities to Twilight (I’ve read it and can confirm this) getting picked up by Universal Films, pre-publication. Had this come from a newbie writer with no track record, it might felt too derivative to take a chance on; but the author is multi-published, so that tack record can overshadow other concerns.

Adam Goodman & Michael Bay Team On Pandemic-Themed Thriller ‘Songbird'

So, this piece is interesting to me not only because it’s another pandemic-themed story coming our way (I also noticed that there’s yet another thriller being published and even a non-fiction title that got picked up, written by the creator of a COVID-coping Facebook group for parents), but also because they’re getting creative with their production techniques so they can start shooting within five or so weeks. According to the article:

Former Paramount production chief Adam Goodman’s Invisible Narratives has teamed with Michael Bay to produce Songbird, a pandemic thriller that plans to take an unusual approach to shooting a movie in Los Angeles during the lockdown. It will begin production within five weeks, and might be the first film to shoot in the city. The filmmakers are providing remote training for the actors. None of the participants would say exactly how they plan to shoot a movie at a time when the guilds are still compiling their own safety protocols so that production can resume; but apparently, the filmmakers behind Songbird have screened their plans by the guilds, and they are good to go.

I wonder if we’ll see more—I’m going to guess—social media-based thrillers coming our way, à la Searching and if it’s worth it to brush off that social media horror, thriller, or social commentary story you’ve been sitting on? Hmm…it might just be a good time for that. 🤔

Tom Hanks WWII Film ‘Greyhound’ Alters Course In Apple Deal: Film Will Premiere On Apple TV +

So, this could herald a huge win for streamers if theatrical movie distribution doesn’t open up by summer’s end. For someone of Tom Hank’s stature to allow his pet project (I’m guessing it’s his baby since he both wrote and starred in the film) to premiere on Apple+ instead of in movie theaters with Sony is very significant. Certainly, this move was spurred by the COVID crisis; however, with streaming premieres now often scheduled on the same day as theatrical releases, and this all happening pre-pandemic, perhaps this was inevitable. While this sort of news doesn’t affect you and me directly—unless you have a development deal that I don’t know about—it does point to one of those fundamental shifts in the business that affects the kinds of stories Hollywood is eager, and willing, to tell. And with drive-ins now opening back up and major motion pictures from the likes of Christopher Nolan dropping their trailers in Fortnite instead of on TV, the whole landscape is shifting, so it’s up to us to figure out where in it we might just fit.

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Contest Alerts:

Pipeline Media’s - 2020 Unpublished Authors Contest, 2020 Book Adaptation Contest & 2020 Movie and TV Show Contests

So, I don’t typically go around touting contests that you have to pay for, but these are a bit different from most. They also provide one of the best shots an unpublished and/or unproduced author or screenwriter has of getting their work optioned, outside of knowing the guy who cuts Keanu Reeves’ hair or does Spielberg’s lawn. Mind you, your chance of getting far in any of these contests is still infinitesimally small (it’s a law of numbers and there’s tons of competition); but, there are factors that set these contests apart.

First and foremost is the fact that the judges are high quality and very legit (check under the “Industry Reviewing” or “Judging” tab to learn more.) They’re established and up-and-coming publishing agents and well-known literary managers from management companies that actively produce mid- to low-budget films.

Also, and they didn’t do this when I’d entered about five years ago, they now offer feedback to every entrant. This might only be available for the adaptation and screenwriting contests, though. And granted, you’re not going to get the sort of in-depth feedback you’d get if you used one of their critiquing services, but it’s a professional- level assessment and any competent feedback is helpful.

If you can’t afford the entrance fee or don’t like to enter contests, then at least make note of the professionals participating. Use them to make a list if you’re ever interested in submitting because these are the professionals who are often much more hungry for new talent.

Sunday Times Crime Club - Elizabeth George Crime-Writing Competition

I also found this contest that seems like it’s pretty easy to enter, and best of all, it’s free! Now, I’m gonna guess they’re looking for a UK-bent on the stories and most likely UK authors, however stories from any part of the Commonwealth might still appeal to them. Plus, the chance to get some mentoring from Elizabeth George and the eyes of a commissioning agent on your work is hard to pass up.

Women In Film, ReFrame & IMDbPro Launch Two-Minute Film Contest Amid Lockdown

I know the deadline for this one is fast approaching, but I think any chance where you can submit a short, easy-to-shoot film—using your mobile phone or a digital camera, for example—is worth a shot…no pun intended.

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Final Thoughts

I hope you found value in today’s issue of The Breakdown. I’m so stoked I was able to find some really interesting contest for you. While the barriers to entry as far as the publishing and entertainment industries have come down, somewhat, you still have to be creative and proactive in order to find your way in. The right contest can serve as that avenue.

Also, I want to get to know you better, dear readers! Drop a comment and let me know a bit about the project you’re currently working on. It’ll help me keep an eye out for stories that might help you even more!

Until next time!

~ Paula G.