Sticky Notes Blog

A blog of writing news, tips, and inspiration from Fat Plum

How to be cleverer

Here's a nice blog by screenwriter Jane Espenson. In the most recent post, she laments overused punchlines and exhorts us all to skip easy, lame dialogue in favor of something fresher:

I have it on good authority that no fewer than three of the new pilots for Fall series use "That went well" as a punchline. Nooooo! Have I accomplished nothing?!

I also hereby call clam on these mollusks:

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

And

(sing-song) "Awkward!"

And

"I said, 'good day, Sir!'"

Really, people, even in real life, don't use these! They're past their expiration date and they will make you ill. An excellent rule of thumb is "if you've read it, don't write it; if you've heard it, don't say it." Adapt it, sure. Or make fun of it if you want -- use it ironically. But don't expect a genuine laugh.

We all fall prey to such lazy writing, especially in early drafts. Let's all take a vow to push beyond and be better in rewrites.

(Link thanks to the hilarious, always surprising John Hodgman.)

Posted by Cindy on July 20, 2007
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