Introduce Yourself : Manuscript VS Screenplay by Ryan Mogensen

Welcome Ryan. I began with novels and a short story. Began a few other works. Looked into screenplays and got hooked. Books (i.e., manuscripts) are a different animal, of course, but having written them helped a lot with dialogue and plotting. But must admit neither came easy for me and I'm still learning.

I agree regardless if it was in my visual art in sketches or portraits, even now writing and developing screenplay works it’s visual for me. I see it vividly and clearly as it manifests and presents itself. Regardless if it’s world building, character development or the story being structured It’s clear and present even before the words transfer to paper or get punched into key strokes.

First and foremost it's never an easy process. It's in actuality a humbling one with each new assignment, each new story idea. My background is in the theatre. The majority of my training is as an actor, therefore when I am writing and the format I choose is playwright/or more recently screenwriting - I enter my story through character and through character I find my plot - through the characters exchanges (dialogue) - as well as starting with basic questions: What do they want? Why do they want what they want? How are they going to get what they want? What happens if they do get what they want? There are two philosophies as to entering a story: Aristotle - Plot first/Character second or Lasjos Egri - You find your plot through your characters. At the end of the day with experience - trail and error and many thousands of pages kept, changed and discarded, you'll eventually find your way - your style - your approach - voice. Good luck on your journey.

I've written screenplays so far but might try to convert a few to novels.

I grew up among architects, visual artists and art collectors. Images – making them, discussing them, and observing how people respond to visual information – were a big part of my childhood.

But I was also really into books and always reading. As a teen I had a thing for short stories by Blixen, Bang and Thomas Mann, as well as plays. I read a lot of plays. The first film that completely floored me as a teen was Visconti's Death in Venice. I knew the story almost by heart, and Visconti did not miss one single detail that mattered.

In my current day job, I tell stories for corporate clients, as a comms writer. While working as an editor, my previous job, I always had a short story going somewhere on my computer. I tried my hand at novels too, but never quite found a format that worked for me. Then I tried a screenplay and found it the perfect medium for combining words and pictures. So here I am.

Depends on the story. Some stories better suit prose format, some better go as screenplays (writing visuals).

If you are starting from a scratch, better start small (short stories or scripts).

My project started out as an idea. Then treatment. Then proposed an original music soundtrack Then asked to develop screenplay - about which I had no idea. Then asked to write the book. Did so - and included the music as a cassette. Sold well UK only. Irvin Kershner got hold of a copy. Rang me at home and wanted to make the movie. Asked for a screenplay. I still had no idea. He died waiting. Put book on Kindle + link to music. Hit Amazon's top 30 thrillers and won a literary award. Just finished screenplay. Now the hard part!

We definitely have a vast and diverse community here which is inspiring and inviting. Stage 32 although not the only community out there is the only one I’ve given much attention to as I’m still getting my bearings but also see no rush to overwhelm myself with too many outlets before I am ready to navigate the industry and push my own works. Great to meet and connect with everyone out here in the community.

I started out writing full length manuscripts. I finding both come easy, just a different style of writing.