Writing with a Thesis
Penguin January 19th, 2008
All the bullshit about how you can’t trivialize your story by clarifying it into one sentence is just that, bullshit. If you can’t crystallize your story into a line or two you have a problem. Even if it’s just a very surface take on it, it needs to start with some core thesis.
Just like any good term paper or essay, you have to have a thesis statement. One sentence that tells your audience what the paper is about. More importantly, your thesis is for you, the writer. The thesis statement is your compass. With every paragraph you write, ask yourself “Does this advance my thesis?”
The difference with screenwriting is instead of using paragraphs to advance your thesis, you’re using scenes. Instead of arguments and facts, you have characters and situations. Instead of a position you take with your thesis, you have a theme, point of view, message, or whatever else you want to call it.
What’s your story about? The answer is your thesis.
-Penguin
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