Special Writing Show Interview: Writer/director Dan O'Bannon's Screenwriting Structure
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
With Diane O'Bannon and Matt Lohr
A Writing Show special: Dan O'Bannon's screenwriting structure.Famed writer/director Dan O’Bannon, best known for his work on “Alien,” was a legend. At the time of his death, in 2009, he was working with a protégé named Matt Lohr on a book that outlined his own proprietary screenplay structural method, which he called dynamic structure. He had taught this system at USC, Chapman University, and other institutions.
After Dan died, his wife, Diane, asked Matt to complete the book, Dan O'Bannon's Guide to Screenplay Structure: Inside Tips from the Writer of ALIEN, TOTAL RECALL and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Matt and Diane finished the book, which has been published by Michael Wiese Productions, the publishing house behind such popular film production and screenwriting books as Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder and The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler.
Dan's structural system is a unique look at story, re-conceiving character and conflict in a revolutionary style that breathes new life into standard screenplay structural models. Unlike other such systems, Dan's has a proven track record, as the billion-dollar worldwide grosses of his films (not to mention ALIEN's place in the National Film Registry) attest.
Interviewees: Diane O'Bannon and Matt LohrHost: Paula B.
Date: February 18, 2104
Running time: 01:11:04
File size: 25 megabytes
Rating: PG. Passing sexual reference.
Download and listen to Dan O'Bannon's screenwriting structure
A Writing Show Farewell
Sunday, December 02, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
The Writing Show is ending!We've had a lot of fun over the last seven years, but it's time to move on to other things. Thank you for listening, for donating, for sending in your contest entries and slush pile chapters, for your helpful suggestions, and for helping make the writing field ever more vibrant!
I will continue to be involved in the writing field, although I'm not sure in what capacity. When I figure it out, you'll hear about it!
Best wishes, and keep writing!
Your host,Paula B.
Host: Paula B.
Date: December 2, 2012
Running time: 05:17
File size: 3 megabytes
Rating: G
Slush Pile Show #32
Saturday, October 13, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: October 13, 2012
Running time: 53:36
File size: 26 megabytes
Rating: G
Download and listen to Slush Pile Workshop #32
Slush Pile Workshop #31
Saturday, September 15, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: September 15, 2012
Running time: 48:09
File size: 23 megabytes
Rating: G
Slush Pile Workshop #30
Saturday, August 18, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: August 18, 2012
Running time: 45:36
File size: 22 megabytes
Rating: PG (profanity and dark subject matter)
Slush Pile Workshop #29
Saturday, July 21, 2012
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: July 21, 2012
Running time: 48:57
File size: 23 megabytes
Rating: PG (some profanity and sexuality)
Download and listen to Slush Pile Workshop #29
Slush Pile Workshop #28
Saturday, June 30, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: June 30, 2012
Running time: 01:20:41
File size: 38 megabytes
Rating: PG (some violence and profanity)
Slush Pile Workshop #27
Saturday, June 02, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: June2, 2012
Running time: 01:11:18
File size: 34 megabytes
Rating: PG (some sexual content)
Slush Pile Workshop #26
Saturday, April 28, 2012
With Writing Show host Paula B.
This podcast series is designed to help you practice capturing readers’ attention. Inspired by literary agent Kristin Nelson’s two-page pitch sessions, Writing Show host Paula B. will play agent and comment on your anonymous submissions on the show.
Host: Paula B.
Date: April 28, 2012
Running time: 55:29
File size: 27 megabytes
Rating: G
Writing Show Listener Art
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Writing Show listener Jeff Evans illustrates his own books and is available to work on yours. Here are some samples of his work. Isn't he amazing? You can reach Jeff at riverlilly at gmail.com. Visit Jeff's Smashwords page.
Check out my 99-cent article, "42 Common Mistakes Novelists Make" at the Kindle store:
Story consulting from Paula B.
Are you having trouble writing your story? Getting nowhere with agents? Writing Show host Paula B. helps writers get unstuck. Time to break through that barrier and make your dreams come true. Details here.
"In practically no time, Paula grasped our complex sci-fi time-travel thriller, wrote three tiers of outlines, and provided a full analysis of its strength and flaws. She assessed our story against multiple story structures; made countless suggestions to increase reader interest, boost suspense, and develop our characters; and helped us bring out the theme in our story. But most of all, we felt she really understood what we were trying to say. As a result, we now have a much improved book with a strong theme, higher suspense, greater conflict, and more compelling characters. We highly recommend Paula's services, and we plan on working with Paula for years to come." --Edward Miller and J.B. Manas
"I would recommend Paula to anyone (and have been), and will be calling upon her often in the years to come. Here’s to you, Paula!" --Marty Young - Australian Horror Writers Association Founding President, 2005-2010
The Writing Show is now all slush pile workshops
How to participate (it's free!)...
The Writing Show Slush Pile Workshop is designed to help you practice engaging readers. In each workshop podcast, Paula B. plays agent and comments on your anonymous submissions. Does she want to see more, or does she lose interest?
We’re sure you know how important it is to hook a prospective agent or publisher in your first couple of pages. But if you send your work out before it’s ready, you could squander an important opportunity. Don’t risk it. Try your material out on us first—for free!
Submissions selected for the show will be available to read from our site at WritingShow.com.
We know how hard it is to put your work out there, so we want to stress that all pitches will be anonymous! (We must know who you are because we need a disclaimer from you, but we won’t divulge your identity.)
Listen to our slush pile workshops:
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #1"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #2"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #3"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #4"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #5"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #6"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #7"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #8"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #9"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #10"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #11"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #12"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #13"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #14"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #15"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #16"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #17"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #18"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #19"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #20"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #21"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #22"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #23"
Download and listen to "Famous Books Slush Pile Workshop with Neil Trigger"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #24"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #25"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #26"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #27"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #28"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #29"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #30"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #31"
Download and listen to "Slush Pile Workshop #32"
Paula's Self-Mentoring Checklist for Novelists available at the Amazon Kindle store for 99 cents! Check out my Writing Dialogue series too. Five articles for $3.99. Such a deal.