One of the great things about listening and reading about writers talking discussing the writing process is you see how everyone’s approach is different. Some write in the morning, some at night, some write quickly in bursts and others methodically take their time. Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone) was very successful writing from theme, but fellow Syracuse University grad Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, A Few Good Men) has a little different perspective on theme:
“When you’re talking about things like theme you have to be really careful because that’s not what’s going to make the car go. Okay? It’s what’s going to be what makes the car be good and give you a good ride. But that’s not what’s going to make the car go—at least not for me. You know, everybody writes different. But for me I have to stick—really closely, like it’s a life raft— to intention and obstacles. Just the basics of somebody wants something, something is standing in their way of getting it. Make sure you have that cemented in place. Themes will then become apparent to you and you can hang a lantern on the ones you like. Bring them into relief, you can get rid of the ones that aren’t doing you any good and you can paint the car and make it look really nice. But the car isn’t going to turn over unless you see to the basics of drama, and drama is intention and obstacles, somebody wants something, something is standing in their way of getting it.”
Aaron Sorkin
Creative Screenwriting podcast interview by Jeff Goldsmith
December 24, 2010
Related Post: Screenwriting Via Index Cards (Touches on the writing process of Aaron Sorkin.)
Scott,
Love your blog. It has more inspiration and information and links than I can even keep up with. Keep up the great work.
Just humorous note re the way today’s post looked in my Inbox:
“Aaron Sorkin on Theme, Intentions & Obsticles”…spelling ‘as is’
My mind can’t figure out whether to re-direct to popsicles ( it is -30C degrees here today) , or testicles…and I won’t even go there… but that itself is an interesting Obstacle. 🙂
Carla–Thanks. Yeah, those emails must go out quickly. I made the change about 10 minutes after first posting it. Only way to do these posts daily is to write on the fly which makes those typos pop up. I try to change them as I add and re-write the post throughout the day.
Of course, “Aaron Sorkin on Theme, Intentions & Obsticles” may be a better—more engaging— title. Maybe I’ve coined a new word. (Somebody has to.