Rob Parnell's Writing Academy

For crazies like me with ADHD and OCD habits, the concise structuring and presentation works quite well as an outline. The "Story" is pushed as the kingpin of a book or script. Rob, like other authentic professionals in the game at various levels, is honest in his insistence that CHARACTERS are essential in any story. Let's play with a model automobile. The chassis, frame, suspension, headlights, interior upholstery are all the "story" of sorts. Ah, but the motor, transmission, differential, cooling system and fuel determine the speed and performance. Can't have a "Fast and Furious" racer with a 4 cyl Pinto engine with a 4 speed automatic rinky-dink transmission in a muscle car. It's a short and sweet class that requires links to other skill. Rob gives kudos to Celtx, a fave for students introduced to screenwriting classes. The free version is great and saves one's piece in the correct formatting. If one opts to save into their computer or send, the script is in pdf. I got lucky to have a fellow student with experience talk me into purchasing Mariner's (mostly for Apple) "Contour" and "Persona" for Windows! Contour takes 10 award winning movies and breaks them down into 36 scenes with characters and scene arcs. It also lets one create their own with all the questions for each scene. "Persona" has the characters needed for both sides of the chessboard. Protags, Antags, and various Sidekicks on both sides in a vast archive of choices. I highly recommend both when on sale!

Just completed Rob's plotting course. It was an amazing experience to watch how the plot I have been contemplating writing for months just rather automatically fell into place. This course is sure to be a big help to me, not only for this story, but in all my future stories as well!

Great structure to the lesson, applicable examples, and an insightful look at the road map and thinking process of plotting stories!

Rob has done it again. I give him a five-star. I really enjoy his fun based, yet full of what needs to be knows, study and learned if you are going to be a successful writer. Thanks Mr. Rob.

A handy tool to have, as a refresher to the other courses, as one can always pick up bad habits, and this one helps you stay on track.

Very good. Although I will have to read it several times until the knowledge is more instilled within me.

rob provides interesting information about the development of writing e.g european introspection and reaction to external events, and american internal change affecting external -made sense to me, plus all the really clear pointers about developing plot from character motivations and agendas. love it!

Very good clear course, thankyou