| Only Charlie Kaufmann can write Charlie Kaufmann movies. Only Woody Allen can write Woody Allen movies. And only you can write your movies. In screenwriting, a unique voice is prerequisite, and all imitations fall flat. But finding your voice can be difficult, and many writers struggle to define a perspective that differentiates them from the writers they admire. |  |
They see a movie that they enjoy and they decide they are going to write something similar.
In doing so, they unwittingly abandon their voice in favor of someone else’s. The resulting script, no matter how technically proficient, lacks heart, character, that ‘certain something.’
Writers assume that just by writing, they are writing in ‘their voice,’ but without making deliberate decisions about what kind of writer they are, they fail to execute their world view to its fullest potential.
The question is, how can you articulate your unique voice in your writing? Keep reading.
In doing so, they unwittingly abandon their voice in favor of someone else’s. The resulting script, no matter how technically proficient, lacks heart, character, that ‘certain something.’
Writers assume that just by writing, they are writing in ‘their voice,’ but without making deliberate decisions about what kind of writer they are, they fail to execute their world view to its fullest potential.
The question is, how can you articulate your unique voice in your writing? Keep reading.
You and Your Character
Think about the writers that you admire. More often than not, their work is defined by a unique character archetype that is uniquely their voice.
Woody Allen is the most obvious example. His go to character is highly educated, self-employed and neurotic. While this hero isn’t present in all his work, it defines his voice in many ways.
Allen’s plots are born from this character, as are almost all story decisions. His stories take place in big, culturally rich cities. They center on plots of infidelity and insecurity. All the while commenting on the absurdity of general existence.
The first step to realizing your brand is defining your character. Often times, this character will be a reflection of who you are as a person, so it can be helpful to look first to yourself for inspiration.
Flaws typically define protagonists, so it will be helpful to take an honest look at your shortcomings, and explore how that might work cinematically. To start, list your flaws. Then ask these questions:
What are your defining experiences, and how did you behave in those moments?
What about you motivated that behavior?
Which of your flaws motivates your bad decisions?
There won’t be a clear answer at first, but see if you can identify some patterns in the way you’ve lived your life. Just like good protagonists, we are all active agents in our own lives, constantly making decisions that impact the stories we’re living.
Find your defining flaw, and you’ve unlocked an active, motivated hero that you know very well. Repeat this exercise with friends and relatives, and the worlds you create will be rich with real, complex characters.
Too often, writers equate writing in an actor’s voice with having their own voice. They’ll say things like, “This character is Seth Rogen.” The problem is that while that character may sound like Rogen when they talk, that is where the comparison will end.
The character will ultimately lack a compelling flaw, they will make decisions for the wrong reasons, and they will flounder. Once you find your character, they can talk like any actor out there, all the while remaining uniquely you.
What Freaks You Out?
Successful writers also demonstrate thematic consistency through much of their work. Christopher Nolan’s work is nihilistic. Nora Ephron wrote about the power of relationships to help overcome adversity. The list goes on.
As you look for your voice, it will be helpful for you to think about what themes you might be interested in. To refine this list, begin the search by focusing on what worries you. What do you find yourself thinking about late at night, or in line at the bank? What over-arching concerns do you have about humanity and life itself?
Now think about how these concerns work in tandem with your chosen character and character flaw. How do your worries manifest themselves in the way you live your life, and how, when combined with your flaw, do these worries impact on the trajectory of your life, or the course you’ve chosen to pursue?
What’s Your Niche?
There’s a reason Snoop Dogg is never going to make the crossover to country. Because he found the exact right way to express himself.
Screenwriters need to approach the craft in a similar way. Don’t be afraid to pigeon hole yourself, especially when you’re starting out. There’s nothing wrong with writing only movies about immature guys in their 20s and 30s that need to learn to grow up and take responsibility. In fact, Judd Apatow has made a career out of it.
Think about what your take on the world is, and write about that. That is how you refine your voice and how you stand out from the crowd.
If you want to explore other genres or themes, seriously consider waiting until you’ve established your voice and who you are. Managers and agents look for specialists, so don’t be afraid to make yourself special.
Maybe this advice seems confusing because people so often say a script should be like ‘X Movie’ meets ‘Y Movie.’ But the only way to become a writer whose movies are used by other writers in those comparisons is to find your own voice, and then execute that vision to explore the themes that matter in your life.
Think about the writers that you admire. More often than not, their work is defined by a unique character archetype that is uniquely their voice.
Woody Allen is the most obvious example. His go to character is highly educated, self-employed and neurotic. While this hero isn’t present in all his work, it defines his voice in many ways.
Allen’s plots are born from this character, as are almost all story decisions. His stories take place in big, culturally rich cities. They center on plots of infidelity and insecurity. All the while commenting on the absurdity of general existence.
The first step to realizing your brand is defining your character. Often times, this character will be a reflection of who you are as a person, so it can be helpful to look first to yourself for inspiration.
Flaws typically define protagonists, so it will be helpful to take an honest look at your shortcomings, and explore how that might work cinematically. To start, list your flaws. Then ask these questions:
What are your defining experiences, and how did you behave in those moments?
What about you motivated that behavior?
Which of your flaws motivates your bad decisions?
There won’t be a clear answer at first, but see if you can identify some patterns in the way you’ve lived your life. Just like good protagonists, we are all active agents in our own lives, constantly making decisions that impact the stories we’re living.
Find your defining flaw, and you’ve unlocked an active, motivated hero that you know very well. Repeat this exercise with friends and relatives, and the worlds you create will be rich with real, complex characters.
Too often, writers equate writing in an actor’s voice with having their own voice. They’ll say things like, “This character is Seth Rogen.” The problem is that while that character may sound like Rogen when they talk, that is where the comparison will end.
The character will ultimately lack a compelling flaw, they will make decisions for the wrong reasons, and they will flounder. Once you find your character, they can talk like any actor out there, all the while remaining uniquely you.
What Freaks You Out?
Successful writers also demonstrate thematic consistency through much of their work. Christopher Nolan’s work is nihilistic. Nora Ephron wrote about the power of relationships to help overcome adversity. The list goes on.
As you look for your voice, it will be helpful for you to think about what themes you might be interested in. To refine this list, begin the search by focusing on what worries you. What do you find yourself thinking about late at night, or in line at the bank? What over-arching concerns do you have about humanity and life itself?
- Are you having a mid-life crisis?
- Do you struggle to find identity amongst many siblings?
- Do you struggle with the concept of monogamy?
- Are you worried about following in your parents’ footsteps?
- Do you dread the monotony of an inevitable suburban existence?
- Are you worried about the effects technology are having on future generations?
Now think about how these concerns work in tandem with your chosen character and character flaw. How do your worries manifest themselves in the way you live your life, and how, when combined with your flaw, do these worries impact on the trajectory of your life, or the course you’ve chosen to pursue?
What’s Your Niche?
There’s a reason Snoop Dogg is never going to make the crossover to country. Because he found the exact right way to express himself.
Screenwriters need to approach the craft in a similar way. Don’t be afraid to pigeon hole yourself, especially when you’re starting out. There’s nothing wrong with writing only movies about immature guys in their 20s and 30s that need to learn to grow up and take responsibility. In fact, Judd Apatow has made a career out of it.
Think about what your take on the world is, and write about that. That is how you refine your voice and how you stand out from the crowd.
If you want to explore other genres or themes, seriously consider waiting until you’ve established your voice and who you are. Managers and agents look for specialists, so don’t be afraid to make yourself special.
Maybe this advice seems confusing because people so often say a script should be like ‘X Movie’ meets ‘Y Movie.’ But the only way to become a writer whose movies are used by other writers in those comparisons is to find your own voice, and then execute that vision to explore the themes that matter in your life.
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