Story Learnings: Plot Turns

The happy and helpful people over at ScreenwritingU posted a lovely overview of the different types of plot turns. I found it well worth my time:

http://screenwritingu.com/screenwriting-articles/211-10-ways-to-create-a-plot-twist.html

Once I had stuffed myself full of anagnorisis, Chekhov's Gun and noted to my satisfaction the warnings of using Deus Ex Machina in any significant way, I noticed that the list was originally written by a certain T. N. Tobias. A particularly uncommitting fellow, who is struggling to keep up with his reading list (aren't we all?). He has since taken down his list and points to Wikipedia instead.

Wikipedia, who as it turns out, has a far superior list of types of plot turns, even more worth your time:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_twist

Who would have known?

Post Scriptum

I shall shortly dismantle this blog and simply redirect to Wikipedia henceforth. All resistance is futile, and I have accepted that this singularity of knowledge is inevitable.

Wow

Wow!

I get ahead of myself.

London Screenwriters Festival today announced the long list of their 50 Kisses screenwriting competition.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/50-kisses/50-kisses-longlist/422240594485043

The competition will eventually have 50 winners, who will have their contributions made into a feature film for theatrical release on Valentine's day 2013. The organizers received an astounding 1870 submissions. Today the long list consisting of 500 candidates was released.

Back in May, a colleague forwarded me the competition details. "Considering as you seem to have a good hand at writing", she said. She must have been referring to all the silly nonsense emails (a topic for multiple posts in the future, no doubt) I dream up, and bombard my colleagues with on a daily basis. I objected that "there is big difference between spewing silly nonsense with fancy words and telling a good story that tugs the heart strings." And then put a story together in a lunch break. "You miss a 100% of the shots you don't take", said Wayne Gretzky. So why not?

It sure felt good seeing my name on that list today. Who knows what other adventures are waiting out there?