Larry Brooks has created one of the best blogs for writers at storyfix. In a recent post entitled “Suffering Is Optional” he says this:
If you can’t describe your story in one compelling sentence, you probably can’t write it in 20,000 compelling sentences, either. Why? Because to write a story successfully, you need to be in complete command of what the story is about, at its highest level of intention and focus.
Reminded me of Blake Snyder’s advice to screenwriters in Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need
And concentrate on writing one sentence. One line
Because if you can learn how to tell me “What is it?” better, faster, and with more creativity, you’ll keep me interested. And incidentally, by doing so before you start writing your script, you’ll make the story better, too.
One thought, one line, one point. Where did we ever get the idea that as writers, communicators, teachers, and preachers we need to cover multiple points in long, drawn out presentations?
After nearly two decades being in front of people weekly, I’m learning more each day the truth of Brooks’s words: If you can’t tell it in one sentence, you can’t tell it in 20,000.
