Writing Secrets: The more “unreal” the character, the more realistic they should seem
The wonderful thing about writing is that you can show us our everyday lives, so that we recognise every detail of it, or you can make us believe in, even […]
Monday Motivation: Four thoughts about writing, reading and books
I wonder if I might, this week, trip lightly through a not-very-well tended garden of thoughts about writing, readers and books. There’s no theme connecting these thoughts; they are if […]
How to make it as a scriptwriter
Michéle Rowe, who designed and runs our ‘Screenwriting Crash Course’ course with Richard Beynon, has followed her passion for story telling from television to film to crime writing. [...]
Writing Secrets: On darlings, and why they deserve to die
What is a “darling” anyway, and why should it be murdered? I was asked this in a workshop recently, and it brought me up short. We are used, as writers, […]
Monday Motivation: The authenticity of filthy language
Are you offended by the ripe language that so many modern novels seem to relish? By their apparently gratuitous use of the f-word and the c-word, to mention just the […]
On love: Quotes from our favourite writerly couples for Valentines Day
Love has inspired writers for centuries. Some of the greatest writers of history concerned themselves with love as a theme or subject, such as Kahlil Gibran and Shakespeare. To this […]
Turn your idea into a script that producers will drool over
All About Writing provides aspirant script and screenwriters with both the skills and advice they’ll need to turn good ideas (we’ll even help you with those!) into the sorts of […]
Writing Secrets: When to switch off a manuscript’s life support
There are times when you just have to let go of a project. Last week, I spoke about having faith; putting in the hours even though your manuscript is a […]
Monday Motivation: A character who enjoys arranging things in rows
Not everyone you encounter – or create – has a dome-like head, or eyebrows that bristle comically, or sports a distinctive portwine mark on her cheek, or is invariably accompanied, […]
A twist of romance – or not: February/March Writing Challenge
All About Writing’s latest writing challenge offers the winner a literary assessment on 5000 words of writing worth R 2750 / £ 150 or a voucher to the same value to use […]
Writing Secrets: It’s like religion – you’ve got to believe
In a Creative Writing class I was teaching recently, I suggested that, if you’re not sure of an aspect of your writing – like which point of view would be […]
Lights, camera, action: Bookings open for our Screenwriting Crash Course
Never has so much excellent television drama been produced across the world – and binge-watching has become the not-so-secret addiction of millions. This has put pressure on local South African [...]
