Thinking About Writing
A podcast which aims to explore and demystify some of the terminology and techniques involved in script writing. This is a show for anyone who is writing or thinking about writing for TV, film, theatre or audio. Hosted by comedy writer and script editor unextraordinaire, Robin Taylor. https://twitter.com/writing_pod
Episodes
34 episodes
Finishing Your Script (How to Write a Script)
The final episode of How to Write a Script is here, and fittingly it's looking at finishing your script. We have a think about endings, titles, page counts and proof reading. All this plus contemplating what to do with said finished script, bef...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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48:42
Writing and Rewriting (How to Write a Script)
It's the penultimate episode of the season, and this time we're thinking about how to get the writing done. Methods to stay motivated and make everything feel more manageable by setting targets and taking on the script in sections.We th...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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45:26
The First Ten Pages (How to Write a Script)
This episode we go over some of the aspirations of what a script can accomplish in its first pages in the hopes of making a reader or audience excited about the project and want to see more. Instigating incidents, using time efficiently, teaser...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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46:52
Finding Your Voice (How to Write a Script)
In the fifth examination of how to write a script, we take a look at dialogue and voice. What makes for effective dialogue? How might a writer express their voice and style? And why did Robin go to karaoke the day before recording this ep...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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47:24
Bonus Content - Talking About Mr & Mrs Smith
We're taking a little mid-season break, but in the mean time you can listen to Robin having a ponder about Amazon Prime series Mr & Mrs Smith, why it's good, and what it says about current TV and streaming in terms of utilising familiar IP ...
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27:29
The Anatomy of a Script (How to Write a Script)
Hello script fans! In part four of the How to Write a Script odyssey we have a quick think about research and the instruments we might use to do some writing, before delving into the anatomy of a script. We'll ponder elements such as sc...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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47:52
Plotting (How to Write a Script)
Like an unstoppable freight train, we move on to plotting, thinking over establishment, escalation and resolution, things to bear in mind when formulating beat sheets and scene by scenes, and how a plot can evolve, or emerge from different dire...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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47:37
Character Creation (How to Write a Script)
Now that we've got a decent sense of the concept we want to write, it's time to start filling in the details, starting out with the important act of character creation, since most scripts without characters in them tend to be on the less intere...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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47:28
What Do You Want To Write? (How To Write A Script)
A new season begins, dedicated to how to write a script. And it's all about beginning the journey of deciding what it is you want to write. We'll think about the medium you might want to write it, the core of your concept, how that can ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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43:32
Introducing Season Three: How To Write A Script
The podcast for writer types is coming back, and for season three we're breaking down how to write a script. Over eight episodes host Robin will explore things to think about and techniques to apply as you see a writing project through fr...
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Season 3
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5:33
Thinking About Writer's Block
The season two finale is here, and we're finishing off by thinking about the struggles writers can face when a big old writer's block lands in their path. We'll be going over four potential causes of the condition and suggesting some ways for o...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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31:06
Talking About Audio with radio producer Penny Leicester
This week we're joined by radio producer/director/editor/writer (So many slashes!) Penny Leicester to talk about the joys and opportunities in writing for audio.We discuss the imaginative options in audio, the power of using sound effec...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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55:41
Thinking About Funniness
This week we're thinking about what makes something funny, and what could be more amusing than some theories from classic comedy icon, social psychologist, Erving Goffman? We'll be talking about interpretations and formations of funny m...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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37:33
Talking About Writers' Rights with William Gallagher from the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Following on from last week's episode about forging a career as a writer, we get some insight on the Writers' Guild of Great Britain and everything they do for working writers, with special guest and deputy co-chair of the Guild, William Gallag...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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41:42
Thinking About Being A Writer
This week we get a bit more practical with our thoughts as we consider ways that people might turn their writing into a career. We cover topics like building up solid sample scripts, how to get noticed, creating and maintaining contacts and the...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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35:26
Talking About Theatre with Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder from Box of Tricks Theatre
This week we're joined by Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, the co-founder of Box of Tricks Theatre, a new writing focused theatre company based in the north of England. We learn about the many initiatives they run, as well as generally discussing why the...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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55:56
Thinking About Genre
Comedy, drama, comedy drama, we're thinking about all of them this episode. What defines different genres? How much does it matter? And how many times will we refer to Fleabag. Find out by listening in!You can follow the podcast on soci...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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30:06
Talking About Sketch Comedy with Gemma Arrowsmith
This week we're joined by Empress of the sketch, Gemma Arrowsmith, as we think about the mechanics and qualities which can make for hilarious and effective sketches, how to be economic with your writing and extolling the virtues of creating com...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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52:08
Thinking About Character
This time we're taking a look at characters, how they can make strong impressions, the balance between clarity and complexity, and how audiences may respond to characters. It's an accompanying piece to Thinking About Protagonists from series on...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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32:40
Talking About Writing with Jonathan Harvey, creator of Beautiful Thing and writer for Coronation Street
The first special guest of season two is Jonathan Harvey! Having written for theatre, TV, film and radio, he offers his perspectives on the different mediums. He also looks back at the journey of his classic creation Beautiful Thing, the joys o...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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51:19
Thinking About Believability
I don't believe it! We're kicking off season two by thinking about believability, how to make writing feel authentic and why it may or may not matter. There's a plethora of terminology to demystify, including emotional reality, internal logic a...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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30:13
Season Two Teaser
It's time for Season Two: Electric Boogaloo. So here's a little explanation of what you can expect from upcoming episodes. More interviews, slightly more concise and consistent durations, ongoing strange singing choices. You can follow ...
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Season 2
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2:13
Thinking About Structure
It's the final episode of the season, and in this last act we're thinking about structure. We examine some of the traditions and expectations of story structure, ponder some familiar act structures and discuss how important or useful formulas m...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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40:38
Thinking About Editing
This time around we cover the idea of editing and how it can be a vital tool in the writing process. As the saying goes, writing is rewriting, and that involves editing. We'll think about how to approach an edit, the tools you can use when edit...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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36:11
Talking With Jessica Loveland from BBC Writers
Well this different, isn't it? In this episode we have an extra special guest, Jessica Loveland, the head of new writing for BBC Writers and BBC Drama Commissioning. (This was pre-branding change to BBC Writers, so we say Writersroom a lot, lik...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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59:14
