Reading experience of "Screenwriting Class at Weekend Hot Shop": From zero experience to entry into the industry, screenwriting learners only need this book

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The author of this article まろ is the author of the light novel “[Southern Cross](https://www.books.com.tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/00107763 The author of “59?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201812)” hopes to use his own experience to help more friends write good stories. Thank you for authorizing the “Content Hacker” website to reprint it. Thank you hereby.

A screenwriting book that breaks the curse of knowledge

No matter which field it is, it is difficult to have a book with a teaching scope that can cover everything from completely zero experience to profound knowledge. Because the more experienced a mentor is, the easier it is to fall into the Curse of knowledge. However, the book I want to introduce to you today is extremely rare and worth reading.

Generally speaking, the completion of the first work is the first watershed in many creators’ creative careers. Before this, what troubles people is mostly their own inner demons; only after that, they will encounter the technical problem of how to improve.

There are many screenwriting books on the market, but few can really take care of inexperienced beginners.

The first time I noticed Teacher Dongmenon was when I participated in the [Effective Reading Club] (https://www.contenthacker.today/2018/10/content-marketing-best-book-club-oct-2018.html) in the T Hall of Tutor ABC. I checked out the teacher’s courses online and found them quite interesting, but unfortunately I had to work as a teaching assistant at the Efficient Reading Club at the time and couldn’t sneak down to the basement venue to participate in the courses. After a week or two, I noticed that “[Screenwriting Class at Weekend Hot Shop](https://www.books.com.tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/0010805782?utm_source=vis ta&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201812)” was published. I bought a copy with the intention of giving it a try. I picked up the book at a convenience store and couldn’t wait to read it in the dining area. After only turning a few pages, it made me smile with relief. Finally, there is an advanced book that can help beginners get started.

The gimmick of this book is “an unprecedented novel-style screenwriting book”, which really attracted me. Because there are so many screenwriting books that look like essays. To be honest, even if the book introduction says what a great master the author is, you may not be able to see it in his book. Maybe you have also had this feeling: “Many people can say something, but the implementation is another matter.” But in this book, the plot of the novel is by no means a decoration, but confirms the character setting and plot structure of the book. This is especially suitable for beginners.

Common myths among first-time creators

There are two common myths among people who create for the first time, causing their creations to be like unicorns in their hearts that will never be seen:

• I underestimated the difficulty of monetizing my creations and immediately wanted to quit my job to devote myself to my creations. However, I was defeated by the real dilemma.

• I feel that my work must be outstanding or even great, but it will be plagiarized as soon as it is published.

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But as the teacher at [DoMoreNovel] (https://www.facebook.com/DoMoreNovel/) quoted the master Hemingway as saying: “Works are modified.” Therefore, before it can be monetized, please make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of only being able to eat dirt and match the northwest wind; and, for works that have not gone through several rounds of revision and chain cleaning, even if they have good plots or famous quotes, they are not yet mature, and the chance of getting attention is low, let alone being plagiarized.

And in the book “Wendee Hot Shop Screenwriting Lesson”, there are clear definitions of the elements of drama, so it is especially suitable for beginners:

• Arrange the character’s shortcomings and growth. Arrange the character’s wants and obstacles. Arrange the qualities of the character that are suitable and unsuitable for the task. Arrange despair.

• A story must have a focus.

• According to the different sources of obstacles, conflicts are mainly divided into four levels. Personal level, interpersonal level, social level, natural level.

• A movie needs at least three levels of conflict to avoid being weak.

• (The three-act play) can be further divided, and it can be as small as one scene in the end to make a three-act play.

Although these concepts are very basic, I have never seen such a systematic and quantitative teaching code. So as I said at the beginning of the article, comparing this book with many screenwriting books is like the difference between practical SOP and theory.

Precise definition of foreshadowing and turning point

Finally, I want to share with you that there are two insights in this book that surprised me. Many books mention that “foreshadowing is to hide some details from readers/viewers”, but such a statement is probably similar to “you have to do things right and don’t do them wrong.” In fact, beginners don’t know what to “hide” at all. If they always need to rely on experience to sharpen their skills, there is actually no need to buy books and take classes (laughs).

Therefore, I think the most brilliant argument in this book is “a relatively ideal foreshadowing, but it is misleading.” This seems counter-intuitive because in our daily lives we try to avoid this situation. But in the world of drama, in order to create a great twist, we have to mislead the audience, even the characters.

And “The turning point is the part where the story is reversed and the reader/audience is made to believe the opposite.” The most classic case is when the two opposing parties in the story turn enemies into friends. Therefore, this “opposite thing” will have multiple levels, such as stance, relationship between characters, status of the story scene, etc.

In this innovative screenwriting book, you can also get clear classification of elements, specific quantitative requirements, and practical examples, which are the stories of the book itself. In my mind, the importance of this book is comparable to two other masterpieces: “[Get Your Script in 21 Days](https://www.books.com.tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/0010671997?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=a p-201812)”, “Screenwriter Psychology: Constructing Conflict in Scripts”. Teacher Dongmenong’s point of view on character creation is also based on the motivation of the character. This has a great advantage, that is, it avoids the public version of the character on the tablet. But on the contrary, we need to have more understanding of human nature.

Therefore, for those who have read this book and completed one or two practical articles, I also recommend you to refer to “Screenwriter Psychology: Constructing Conflict in Scripts”. Please note that you need to see it in practice first! This is because the book “Psychology of Screenwriters” is quite hard. [](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxZnYHxlAqd-4wx6W4zqCy1SElV0f5B2pNEzuDmklasiHs7zQ oniDv_U7gYkTFXIM_CSIb3SmiVZxj79wSihDMlNGZkSVXc2UF1lsKXNvmomegJsGyZkLUDUpWVMETbARqycxCQEfpuk6/s1600/IMG_4633.jpg)

Teacher Dong Menon himself is quite funny, even though he claims to be introverted… Well, believe it or not. If you want to continue to follow Teacher DoMoreNovel, you can refer to his Fan Page and blog “DoMoreNovel’s Screenwriting Practice Classroom”.

If you are very interested in dramas, this site’s “Content Hacker” also has related columns! It’s [まろ’s writing classroom] that I collaborated with Teacher Vista! I think that in terms of the concept of drama elements, I am completely consistent with Teacher Dong Menon, but I focus more on the psychological level of learning. This part can also be used as a reference for you!

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