What makes a Good Story? (Podcast)
As part of my exploration of the writing process, I talk to Terry Bailey, lecturer in scriptwriting at the University of Aberystwyth, where he teaches scriptwriting at undergraduate level and also at Masters level. What are the elements of a good story? How important is structure in a novel or screenplay? Terry outlines the key principles and recommends some good guidebooks on writing and story. I describe how I structured my first novel, The Flame Tree, using post-it notes and a blank wall!
Listen to our conversation with the player below.
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- Posted on
Tue, July 18th, 2006 - Author
Yang-May Ooi - Category
- 3 responses
- Leave a comment
July 18th, 2006 at 10:34 am
This is the first time I’m listening to a podcast here. I had a “culture shock” when I heard your voice. Is this English-sounding voice Yang-May’s, I asked myself. Of course it is, why should I be surprised as you’ve been living in UK for years? It’s just that when I look at your very-Chinese pix, I couldn’t reconcile it with the very-English accent :)
Anyway I really enjoyed listening to the interview. I have read The Weekend Novelist which also used the 3-act structure and the story arc. But it’s here that Terry Bailey explained what a good story arc is versus episodic story-telling.
Nicely done!
July 18th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
That was an excellent podcast, very informative. Your journalist skills certainly pay off.
July 18th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for your encouragement, Andrew and Lydia, re the podcast - which, as ever, was an experiment. I’ll aim to continue podcasting on this blog now that I know people are listening! Lydia - I’m going to respond to your comment re my English voice in a full post shortly: you’ve made me think about the part that voice and accent plays in my life - and personality!