What's my mantra again?

This evening I have, no laughing at the back, started an ideas diary. The trick is to be quick with your ideas and rambling - it can be surprising what you write. Ray Bradbury's mantra is WORK, RELAXATION, DON'T THINK! And then, theoretically, in a zen way, the work will want to write itself.

In a more pragmatic approach, screenwriting whiz and all round legend, William Goldman, suggests that you answer these questions about your project - ALWAYS...

- What is the story about?

- What's it really about?

- What time is it set in? (past, present, future, fast/slow)

- Who tells the story? (point of view)

- Where does the story take place?

- What about the characters?

- What must we cling to? (what's the emotional core)

And his offers a pithy quote for you dear reader -

"With screen writing, as with a gift, it's the thought that counts."

I also distilled my first story idea into a clean simple paragraph, following the instruction of someone wants something, he tries to get it, they succeed or fail. The second story idea is either set during the 1929 stock market crash or about a schizophrenic serial killer.

Goodnight and good luck.