The Woman in the Story: Writing Memorable Female Characters

by Helen Jacey

Overview

For over six years, The Woman in the Story has been the go-to resource for writers who want to be gender-mindful when they figure how to create female characters. Inspired by female psychology and gender issues, this how-to book casts a refreshingly honest and empowering women-centric light on every stage of the screenwriting process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615932757
Publisher:	Wiese, Michael Productions
Publication date:	02/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Helen Jacey is a professional screenwriter, lecturer, and author. She received an MA in Screen-writing at the London Institute and her doctorate from the University of the Arts London. Realizing that most screenwriting books don’t address the female character, Helen embarked on her own quest to explore gender issues and screenwriting, leading her to write The Woman in the Story. Before Helen became a screenwriter, she worked for international aid agencies, developing pro-grams for vulnerable women and children. This work inspired some of her first original screenplays. She has written projects for numerous UK and European production companies, including four bio-pics about legendary women — including Eleanora Duse, Jean Rhys, Mina Loy, and Duchess Anna Amalia of Weimar! Helen widely lectures on screenwriting all over the world and is a story consultant for independent filmmakers. Her highly popular Writing the Heroine’s Story seminar is run several times a year, attended by international screenwriters and fiction writers. She lectures widely at uni-versities as a guest lecturer, and also gives keynote speeches, most notably one in honor of Liv Ullmann in Oslo. Helen is currently writing a new screenwriting book and researching her first novel. She is married, a mother and stepmother. For more updates on Helen’s work visit www.helenjacey.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Foreword by Susan Cartsonis, Producer What Women Want&The Duff Introduction to the Second Edition by Helen Jacey 1. The Power of the Female Protagonist Why Choose a Female Protagonist Being Wise The Feminine SuperThemes 2. Going Against Type: The M-Factor Choosing a Character Creating Dimension The Dimensionality Diagram Stereotypicality Archetypality Relatability Credibility Memorability Originality The Memorability Factor A Memorable Story Likeability 3. Making It Personal: Using Role-Choices How to Use Role-Choices Role-Choices and Maturity Heroine Nurturer Dependant Believer Masculine Role-Choices Case Study: Female Characters in Game of Thrones 4. The Real Heroine’s Journey The Heroine’s Journey in Male Protagonist Stories Building a Journey of Emotional Identity Using a Phase Approach Phases and Structure Identity Phases Relating Phases Momentum Phases Case Study: Wild 5. Women in Trouble: The Layers of Conflict Tricky Women Internal Conflict Significant Other Conflict Family and Friends Conflict Work and Community Conflict Society Conflict National Conflict Global Conflict Case Study: Girlhood 6. Feeling Good and Finding Love: The Layers of Union Internal Union Significant Other Union Family and Friends Union Work and Community Union Society Union National Union Global Union Cast Study: Maleficent 7. Creating Female Driven Biopics Why a Biopic? Story Types for Female Protagonist Biopics Researching the Character Case Study: Saving Mr. Banks and Bessie 8. Creating TV Female Protagonists: All About the Metaphoric Wound Meandering Female Protagonists Finding the Theme Wound Elements Case Study: Orange is the New Black 9. The Unsung Female Protagonist Uncharted Story Territory Composite Female Characters Pushing the Boundaries Transmedia Female Protagonists Case Study: Norma Bates in Bates Motel 10. Bringing It All Together: Analysis of The Hunger Games SuperTheme M-Factor Role-Choices Phases on the Journey The Metaphoric Wound Layers of Conflict Layers of Union References Film Television Further Reading About the Author