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TeamLCTFL's favorite resources

If you haven't used SceneWriting: The Missing Manual for Screenwriters, you are seriously missing out.

We've been at this for a while, and each of our members has used various resources on their journey to publication. Which resources, you ask? TeamLCTFL tells all...

Mary Taggart

"Save the Cat! keeps me accountable I constantly skim through it as I write to remind myself to pace the beats. The writers guides go everywhere with me! They are simple but so valuable when you're stuck on how to express and characters emotion, understand their work or setting experiences. The guides let my brain rest and recharge with bits of ideas that spark more of my own." 

Audrey D. Brashich

"I am a plotter not a pantser, so I do best with a roadmap to follow when revising. The book I wish I'd discovered about 583 drafts ago is SceneWriting: The Missing Manual for Screenwriters by Chris Perry and Eric Henry Sanders. It says it's for screenwriters, but it's really for anyone who's crafting any sort of story. It encourages writers to figure out their character's goal and the obstacle they're facing in every scene (yes! every scene!). There's literally no way your writing won't improve if you do it. I'm also a big fan of the classic Story Genius by Lisa Cron, which encourages writers to graph their scenes against a matrix that helps illuminate the thrust of each scene in your WIP and how it relates to your Major Dramatic Question."  

Robin Morris

"I came across Stephen King's On Writing at Boulder Bookstore when I'd just started dabbling in writing in high school, and his no-nonsense, heartfelt approach was a game-changer. My other favorite writing resource is a podcast called The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (#TSNOTYAW) because it's like an MFA in writing. It's practical, approachable and the community its created is invaluable. I'm always fascinated by the author interviews because of the varying experiences in publishing and approach to craft. No two interviews are the same. I listen when I need to feel connected with the writing community, because it can be very lonely experience. My other favorite podcasts: Crime Junkie because I'm a true crime FANATIC. And Two Girls One Ghost because I'm a FREAK for all things paranormal, and Sabrina and Corinne make the episodes feel like I'm hanging out with two good friends." 

Natalie Derrickson

"Save the Cat! really helps break down the components of a well-structured piece of fiction. For those of us, myself included, who don’t think about genre when selecting a book from the library, nailing this all-important piece feels impossible. But Save the Cat! Aligns with my mutual love of movies, so its breakdown of scenes has led to many OMGs while cleaning up my latest work. It would be a disservice to overlook the litany of incredible MasterClass courses on writing and creativity. Some recent favorites include those by Shonda Rhimes, Joyce Carol Oates, Aaron Sorkin, and Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein. Most frequently, I listen to these on audio mode on my excessive commute while bookmarking sections to revisit later. Plus, where else could you learn from this level of talent?"