Story Line
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“An instant classic that is going to rock the worlds of a lot of writers in Tinseltown and elsewhere. It has already rocked mine. I know because before I even got halfway through, I was pleading for extra copies to give to my friends. Story Line is not just for writers or artists; it’s invaluable for anyone seeking insights into the story and drama of their own lives.”
—Steve Pressfield, author, The War of Art
“Story Line is eminently readable…like peeking into someone’s diary and learning something about yourself. Jen’s passion for screenwriting, writers and stories is palpable. It’s like therapy and graduate school wrapped into one delicious how-to-guide.”
—Jackie de Crinis, senior program executive, USA Network
“Jen Grisanti gets to the heart of what makes us want to be storytellers in the first place—to share something of ourselves and touch the spirits of others in the process. Her book is a powerful and compassionate guide to discovering and developing stories that will enable us to connect—with an audience and with each other.”
—Diane Drake, writer, What Women Want, Only You
“Every writer knows the horror of coming face to face with a blank page, armed with nothing but the glimmer of an idea and coffee. This is a gentle guide through the terrifying first step. Jen Grisanti shares her years of experience in the business as well as tremendous heart and a good dose of common sense. You’ll read Story Line and think, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ You didn’t, but fortunately, Jen did.”
—Deb Cahn, TV writer, Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing
“As writers, we are often told to write what we know. The meaning of this is often lost on describing the world we inhabit instead of the world which inhabits us. Story Line reminds you that you are not just telling the story, but that you are the story.”
—Anthony Grieco, co-author, The Pocket Screenwriting Guide: 120 Tips to Fade Out
“Like many great books, Story Line requires time, patience, and reflection. Each section and each chapter takes you deeper into the process of writing great and insightful screenplays. Jen Grisanti is walking that perilous tightrope between pure fiction and autobiography. But this is a tightrope that must be traveled by every great writer, or every writer who wishes to create great stories. This book is a must for any serious writer.”
—Mark W. Travis, director and consultant, author, The Director’s Journey, Directing Feature Films, and The Director’s Bag of Tricks
“Jen Grisanti has spent her entire professional life around writers and writing. Her new book is nothing less than an instruction manual, written from her unique perspective as a creative executive, that seeks to teach neophyte writers how to access their own experiences as fuel for their television and motion picture scripts. It aspires to be for writers what ‘the Method’ is for actors.”
—Glenn Gordon Caron, writer/creator, Moonlighting, Clean and Sober, Picture Perfect, Love Affair, Medium
“I would recommend this book to any writer—experienced or new to the craft—who wants to learn how to deepen characters’ emotions and raise dramatic stakes. Jen has a way of getting to the heart of the matter—the emotional truth of any story—and laying it bare.”
—Vanessa Taylor, television and screenwriter, Tell Me You Love Me, Jack & Bobby, Everwood, Alias, Gideon’s Crossing, Cupid
“In Story Line, Jen Grisanti encourages an examination of one’s own feelings and experiences in order to find truthful, universal moments. And then teaches how to take these personal moments and fictionalize them into compelling, sellable stories. An honest, soul-baring approach to scriptwriting. When you’re through reading this book you will have learned as much about yourself as you have about writing scripts. A must read for beginners and veterans alike.”
—Jason Filardi, screenwriter, 17 Again, Bringing Down the House
“Jen shatters the myth that writers are the lucky few who have been touched by the hand of fate. A writer can be anyone with the courage to tell their story. This book will help you tell yours.”
—T. J. Brady and Rasheed Newson, writers, Lie To Me
“This book teaches you exactly how to get to the heart of great writing—with a great story. Then it shows you not only where that story is going to come from—within—but also how to pull it out and put it on the page. Clear, concise, and not like any other book out there, it’ll make you a better writer by this afternoon.”
—Tracy McMillan, television writer, author, Mad Men, United States of Tara, Life on Mars and author of the memoir, I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway
“Jen Grisanti cuts through the showbiz lingo with a practical guide for anyone interested in creating memorable characters and stories. Story Line will inspire you to dig deeper into your personal stories and teach you how to use them to create unforgettable scripts. After reading this book, you will definitely become a better writer and maybe even a better person.”
—Karen Horne, entertainment executive
“Jen Grisanti spins the hardships of life into real gold. With her warm and honest writing style, Grisanti guides writers towards delivering authentic and engaging stories that grab the attention of studios and audiences. Story Line is a great resource for writers as well as for people trying to make sense of their lives.”
—Kim Hudson, author, The Virgin’s Promise: Writing Stories of Feminine Creative, Spiritual, and Sexual Awakening
“In Story Line, Jen Grisanti gets to the challenge of writing; we all have something to say, it’s the getting our personal stories on the page, and into the world, that is the hard part. This book helps make that difficult task easier. Story Line is a detailed, well-crafted, and passionate roadmap to finding our own inner stories and then figuring out how to transform those stories into storytelling.”
—Michael Rauch, showrunner, Royal Pains, Love Monkey, Beautiful People, Life Is Wild
“Jennifer is one of those amazing and gifted writers you want to introduce to everyone. In her book, as in her life, Jen encourages aspiring scriptwriters to reach inside themselves and to draw from their personal story and fictionalize it into their writing. This book is a powerful guide to help you express yourself and your story through writing.”
—Noelle Cooke, president, The Arterie
“Industry veteran Jen Grisanti takes us on an in-depth exploration of the deceptively simple idea that our life experience and our emotions can dramatically improve our story writing. In doing so, she helps us become better writers and learn much more about ourselves.”
—Don Schwartz, CineSource magazine
“The way that Story Line is written (asking you to examine your own life story while reading) guarantees that no two people will have the same experience reading it. Accessible for writers of all genres, this is a well-written and interesting take on the world of storytelling and storytellers in life.”
—Erin Corrado, www.onemoviefiveviews.com
“Every writer is told, ‘Write what you know.’ But how exactly does one do that? Jen’s book is the first to take you step by step through the process. By sharing her life experiences and vulnerabilities, Jen inspires writers to embark on their own journeys of self-awareness. This self-awareness results in a reservoir of authentic emotional material; the kind a writer needs to create original characters and truly compelling stories. Stories that decision-makers buy.”
—Carole Kirschner, career consultant, speaker, author
“As an author, I’ve read many books on writing, yet when Jen Grisanti shared her stories in Story Line, it did more than inspire me; it motivated me to write fiction again after two years away from it. The exercises in her book can’t help but get your creative juices flowing and your delicious stories overflowing. Enjoy this book over and over because you
r stories are always evolving!”
—Jessica Sitomer, author, And…Action! Powerful, Proven, and Proactive Strategies to Achieve Success in the Entertainment Industry
“The insights and exercises in Story Line are dangerous in that they may well shatter the way you’ve been writing and send you in a whole new direction—which would also be quite wonderful for you and for your audiences.”
—Pamela Jaye Smith, author, producer/director, MYTHWORKS founder, Alpha Babe Academy co-founder
“I have had the good fortune to read Story Line as I excavated two pilots from the writing pit. And, I’m honest in saying that having Jen’s voice and instruction in my head as I wrote drove me to produce the best scripts I can.”
—Charles Murray, writer, Third Watch, Day Break, Castle
“Never before has a book focused so successfully on the most important part of writing: saying something uniquely and deeply personal. Jen’s book takes you to those profound, private places…the only places great writing ever truly lives.”
—Chad Gervich, writer/producer; author, Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer’s Guide to the TV Business
STORY LINE
FINDING GOLD IN YOUR LIFE STORY
JEN GRISANTI
Published by Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
tel. 818.379.8799 | fax 818.986.3408
mw@mwp.com | www.mwp.com
Cover Design: Johnny Ink www.johnnyink.com
Cover Photograph: Monika Kritikou http://fiorello.carbonmade.com
Book Design: Gina Mansfield Design
MWP Editor: David Wright
Editor: Chitra Sampath
Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan
Manufactured in the United States of America
© 2011 by Jen Grisanti
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Grisanti, Jen, 1966-
Story line : finding gold in your life story / Jen Grisanti.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-932907-89-6
1. Authorship--Vocational guidance. I. Title.
PN147.G765 2011
808’.02023--dc22
2010031111
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Foreword
How to Use This Book
How This Book Is Organized
Who This Book Is For
Word on Words
Exploring Story by Understanding the Value of the Log Line
How to Apply This Book to Your Creative Process
INTRODUCTION
1. What Is a Log Line? How Do You Learn to Identify Log Lines in Your Own Life?
2. Create Universal Moments in Your Story Lines
PART ONE – SET UP
3. Writing Your Log Lines and How They Apply to Your Story Lines
4. Identifying Your Universal Life Moments
5. Write a Log Line for Your Script
PART TWO – DILEMMA
6. What Is a Dilemma? What Are Your Dilemmas? What Are Your Goals?
7. What Is Your Central Character’s Dilemma Stemming from or Leading to Their Goal?
8. How Does Your Backstory Influence Your Goals and Dilemmas?
9. How Does Your Central Character’s Backstory Influence His/Her Goals and Dilemmas?
PART THREE – ACTION
10. How Did Your Life Dilemmas Unfold? What Was the Sequence of Events? Did They Influence Your Goals?
11. How to Structure Your Central Character’s Dilemmas and Goals into a Compelling Story Line.
12. What Obstacles Have You Faced in Your Own Life in Pursuit of Your Goals?
13. What Obstacles Does Your Central Character Face in Pursuit of His/Her Goal?
14. What Is the Worst That Could Happen in Your Own Life If You Don’t Solve Your Dilemmas or Achieve Your Goals?
15. What Is Emotionally at Stake If Your Central Character Does Not Solve His/Her Dilemmas and Achieve His/Her Goal?
16. What Are Recurring Symbols/Themes in Your Own Life?
17. What Is the Theme of Your Story? How Do You Use Symbolism?
18. What Drives You to Succeed?
19. What Drives Your Central Character to Succeed?
PART FOUR – GOAL
20. Did You Achieve Your Life Goal? If So, What Does It Feel Like? If Not, What Does This Feel Like?
21. Does Your Central Character Achieve His/Her Goal? If So, What Does It Feel Like? If Not, How Does It Change Your Character?
22. What Is a Recurring Message in Your Own Life?
CONCLUSION
23. What Is the Message in Your Story?
Book Recommendations
Recommended Websites
About the Author
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story has been a lifelong dream of mine. I have been fascinated and enthralled with story since I was a child. I was very blessed to have a mentor in Aaron Spelling. He taught me to believe in my talent and started the path to my career in analyzing story. My goal in my company and with this book is to stop isolation and create community through the revelation of story.
The day that I found out Michael Wiese Productions was going to publish my book was a very good day. I am forever grateful to Michael Wiese and Ken Lee. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to David Wright, copy editor, for his tremendous contribution and to Gina Mansfield, designer, for her artwork and vision. A heartfelt thank you goes to my editor and friend, Chitra Sampath.
I would like to thank all the writers who’ve entered my life over the past 20 years and inspired me in more ways than they could possibly know.
I would like to thank my closest friends: Catherine Aquino, Deb Cahn, Noelle Cooke, Chayse Dacoda, Melinda Demsky, Diane Drake, Vanessa Taylor, Andy Elkin, Tracy McMillan, Gano Lemoine, Stephanie Goldsmith, Shanna Rosen Belott, Suzie Roth, Marcie Hartley, Melinda Moore, Hoyt Richards, and Roger Wolfson.
And lastly, I could not have done any of this without the love of my family. I would like to thank my father, Dr. Michael Grisanti; my mother, Mary Martin, who is also my rock; my beautiful sister, Maureen Simon, and her husband, Matt Simon; my brother, Dr. Mike Grisanti, and his wife, Linda, and their son, Nicholas; and my dad’s girlfriend, Debra Harvey, and her son Derrin Harvey and his wife, Ramie.
Everyone mentioned is a large part of the gold in my story.
FOREWORD
I believe that we are all storytellers, so I am delighted to write a foreword for Story Line.
Jen Grisanti has written a very useful book for any writer who wishes to improve his craft. What is unique to this book, and very close to my heart in my own work, is that the writer must accept that he is a character in any screenplay he writes.
This is not a philosophical idea. Rather, Jen invites us to use our own life experiences to provide new fodder for screenplays and to use the log line format to frame important events in our lives. Then, her book shows us how to transform these events by fictionalizing them. To do this, Jen offers practical exercises so that we can mine our own experiences. To illustrate her points, she compares some of her own life events with scenes in existing movies.
Jen’s belief that the stories inside us yearn to be expressed is something that every writer understands, and her gentle style of encouragement is very persuasive. She is a generous teacher, and that is worth gold.
Anyone who reads this book will benefit from Jen’s insights and practical applications.
Marilyn Horowitz
Author, Writing Coach, Script Consultant
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is designed to guide you, as a writer, to deepen your writing, increasing your audience’s connection with your story on a stronger emotional level. It will show you how to elevate your story lines and humanize your writing by digging deep into your well of experience, adding truth and authenticity as a way to help us see you in your story.
By going into your well, you will discover your true wealth. You will understand that all of your emotions are the gold in your well. By looking at your life through a fresh perspective and doing the exercises found at each chapter’s end, you will find new value that has not been realized. You will connect with self in the process. You will find your voice.
Understanding your story is the key to connecting with your audience. This book will guide you through a structured approach to understanding your life in terms of story and show you how to apply it to your story lines.
HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED
This book is organized into sections to help you write your best story lines: Set Up, Dilemma, Action, and Goal. These are the components of strong log lines (a brief description of your plot in one or two sentences) and unforgettable stories.
Set Up—This section covers log lines and universal life moments. This is where story starts. If you learn to start each script by writing a strong log line first, you will be amazed at how it transforms your process. With regards to your universal life moments, this is about learning to identify them, draw from them, and fictionalize them in your writing.