NEWS UPDATE
The final title of my second screenwriting book is: The Pleasures of Structure: Learning Screenwriting Through Case Studies. My deadline is 2014, although I’m hoping to beat that by a good distance, so it won’t be out for a good while yet.
In other news, I’ve submitted my big history chapter on Screenwriting in Another ‘New Hollywood’ 1980-1999. This is for a volume in the new Beyond the Silver Screen series from Rutgers UP. The series deals with film history through process more than product, writing the hidden histories of the crafts and departments that go into movie making. My chapter will be in the Screen Writing & Story Telling volume, edited by the wonderful Andy Horton, The Jeanne H. Smith Professor of Film Studies at The University of Oklahoma (Norman).
As you will have seen, if you are an habitué de la blog, the first draft of Cutterjunk a spec screenplay I wrote as an experiment (my first attempt at science fiction) and a teaching tool, has been getting shortlisted in a number of screenwriting competitions. One of the next projects on my list is a comprehensive re-write. The new book, of which I already have a rough draft of 25,000 words or so, is after that!
Julian Hoxter on ‘Writing Action’ in Screenplays: How to Write and Sell Them
A new book by Dr. Craig Batty (RMIT University, Melbourne) will include a small piece from me on how to write action sequences. Basic stuff, but informative I hope. The book, which is due to be published by Kamera Books (UK) in October is called Screenplays: How to Write and Sell Them. Check it out in a couple of months, because Craig is a fine writer and his books are always well researched and worth the read!
“The Pleasures of Structure: Learning Screenwriting Through Case Studies”
Here’s the slightly revised, and now final (probably) title agreed with Continuum / Bloomsbury for the new book. My deadline is August 2014, so a long way off. Hopefully I can get it done before then, but at least it should be safe. My contract is being finalized at the moment, but we should be good to go!
Sequel volume to Write What You Don’t Know!
Dear interested reader(s), I just had some very welcome news from my publisher, Continuum Books in New York. After a successful peer review process they have accepted my proposal for a sequel volume to Write What You Don’t Know. We are in discussion over the title, but right now it is: Structure is Pleasure, learning screenwriting through case studies. I have a number of other writing projects on my plate at the moment, including a spec screenplay and a big chapter on screenwriting history for a forthcoming book from Rutgers UP, so the new book won’t appear for a while yet. I’ll keep you posted on this site of course.
Happy day!
Write What You Don’t Know gets a Chinese edition!
I just learned from Continuum that they have sold the publishing rights for Write What You Don’t Know in mainland China. The book will be translated into “Chinese (simplified) language” and sold under the imprint of PHEI (The Publishing House of Electronics Industry.
Projected date of publication for this edition will be May 2013.
Sounds great – although how they will translate and cope with the style and the bad jokes I have no idea.
Good luck, you unknown Chinese translator, I think you are going to need it!
Julian Hoxter To Speak at Tiburon Film Festival
I will be on a Screenwriting Panel at the Tiburon International Film Festival, with my friend and colleague, Joe McBride (author of Writing in Pictures: Screenwriting Made (Mostly) Painless) and the great Sam Hamm (screenwriter of Batman, Batman Returns and Monkeybone). Joe and I will also be signing books.
When the three of us get together it is always great fun, there are stories, insights and general good fellowship all round. Don’t miss this entertaining event, coming in April. I will post the exact date and time when we have everything confirmed, so watch – as they say – this space.
New review of Write What You Don’t Know
Kathy Cabrera, an Atlanta based screenwriting teacher, was kind enough to write a short review. Expect to see it up on Amazon etc. in the near future:
For the aspiring screenwriter and seasoned – but blocked – writer alike, there are words of wisdom in Julian Hoxter’s book, Write What You Don’t Know that will help you. Regardless of how new to screenwriting you are, or what particular phase of your draft you’re in, Hoxter’s chapter-by-chapter manual makes the craft accessible with information when and where you need it. Case in point, I’ve written over six scripts and hold a screenwriting M.F.A. from UCLA, but it feels like moving a mountain to rev up the energy I need just to start the months-long process of writing a new spec script. When I started a new project recently and was lacking in motivation, I flipped to Chapter 2: “Screenwriting: The Hardest Easy Thing You Will Ever Do.” The chapter got my butt in gear (aka in the chair to burn up some pages!) and helped me re-focus in that crucial brainstorm phase as to what the story was that I really needed (versus wanted) to tell.”
‘Write What You Don’t Know’ in San Jose Mercury News
We got a little mention in their books column on December 31st 2011.
Wonderful Photo Competition Entry!
Great news today – evidence that the lads Hitchcock and Welles are fans of Write What You Don’t Know! It warms the heart and tickles the ticklish spots:
Another photo competition entry: ooh look, bunnies!
If you have read Write What You Don’t Know, you’ll know why this is an awesome photo. Now where’s my acid…
