ScripTips 2: Formulas Are (Sometimes) Your Friend

I used to call my method of novel plotting “The Hollywood Formula.” I’ve stopped doing that, because the term “formula” has such a negative connotation, and it would invariably lead to people decrying “formula writing.” I’ve stopped using the term, but I still defend the intent. Or rather, I maintain this proposition:

Formulas are (sometimes) your friend.

Imagine you want to play the piano. But you don’t want to be “formulaic.” You don’t want anyone to tell you how to play your music. You want to play from the heart. You want your unfiltered muse to flow through your fingers and express your unbridled artistry.

So you refuse to learn a single chord. You just sit and bang on the keys.