I'm a non-coder with an idea. I don't say it's the world's greatest idea, but I think it's quite a fun idea that could be of interest to a lot of creative people.
Others who know more about software than me tell me that GitHub is the place to find friendly programmers who like to help build MVPs based on good ideas. I have a long-term vision for my idea, and I can help with that, but I certainly can't write the code for the app/platform that I envision.
Here's hoping I can find help from one or more programmers who like what I have in mind. Programmers who are also budding writers might really appreciate the concept and want to get involved in its development.
Question: Can you name a bad movie where the plot doesn't make a lot of sense? Chances are the movie's original story outline was badly structured or poorly thought out -- so the manuscript was written around a hole-ridden plot. From that point on the movie had little chance of making any sense!
Conversely, just think how cleverly constructed the most intricate book and movie plots can be. Great writing begins with a core structure that has been pored over until it's close to perfection. Any manuscript worth anything begins with a firm, logical outline in the author's head. Although many authors use notebooks, index cards, a jam-packed whiteboard or their own favoured method for this purpose, the right software tools could really help.
The problem: Existing authoring and screenwriting software is far from optimal where outlining tools are concerned. Microsoft Word may in fact have some of the best outlining capabilities of all, but it's not in any way optimized for the specific needs of authors and screenwriters.
My solution: An intuitive software tool designed to help authors and screenwriters outline and optimize their story ideas before embarking on the lengthy task of writing full manuscripts. My idea is effectively just an application of a well-known technique in data analysis -- it's not radical -- it's just never been used by or targeted towards writers before.
I'm confident that a tool based on my idea will help many authors -- beginners and professionals alike -- to better structure their story ideas. Likewise, it will help them to catch plot holes early on, so enabling them to submit better manuscripts to publishers and TV/movie production companies. If I make a success of this idea the publishers of the world will have to read many fewer badly constructed manuscripts, and they'll be very thankful for that.
If this idea becomes a reality --
(1) A good app will be of great value to a lot of first-time authors, whether they aim to publish their stories or not. The right tool will make their hobby all the more enjoyable.
(2) A really good app will be of great value to published authors and professional screenwriters as they go about their work. Anything that helps expedite the creative process has to be a good thing.
(3) And, in the long term, a truly great app might even find its way into a software package like Final Draft, which is the primary tool of professional screenwriters. That has to be the ultimate goal for an idea like this.
(4) With a bit of luck, and with its 'enterprise' possibilities, I think this could easily turn out to be an investment worthy concept once an MVP has been created.
For my part, the first thing I need to do once I find an interested programmer(s) is prove that my concept is useful -- that's easily done by deconstructing a short story such as 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears'.
After that, it will be time to demonstrate that the concept can also work with a complex movie, so I'll systematically deconstruct the script of a well-known movie with a non-linear plot. Taking numerous movie scripts apart 'plot point by plot point' is ultimately the way in which to discover everything that needs to be included in an MVP of the 'outlining toolbox.'
Thanks for reading. It would be great to hear your feedback.
I hope I've included everything that's relevant at this point -- if not just let me know what I've missed or any other questions that you have.
Jesseguu
commented
5 years ago
I'm a non-coder with an idea. I don't say it's the world's greatest idea, but I think it's quite a fun idea that could be of interest to a lot of creative people.
Others who know more about software than me tell me that GitHub is the place to find friendly programmers who like to help build MVPs based on good ideas. I have a long-term vision for my idea, and I can help with that, but I certainly can't write the code for the app/platform that I envision.
Here's hoping I can find help from one or more programmers who like what I have in mind. Programmers who are also budding writers might really appreciate the concept and want to get involved in its development.
Question: Can you name a bad movie where the plot doesn't make a lot of sense? Chances are the movie's original story outline was badly structured or poorly thought out -- so the manuscript was written around a hole-ridden plot. From that point on the movie had little chance of making any sense!
Conversely, just think how cleverly constructed the most intricate book and movie plots can be. Great writing begins with a core structure that has been pored over until it's close to perfection. Any manuscript worth anything begins with a firm, logical outline in the author's head. Although many authors use notebooks, index cards, a jam-packed whiteboard or their own favoured method for this purpose, the right software tools could really help.
The problem: Existing authoring and screenwriting software is far from optimal where outlining tools are concerned. Microsoft Word may in fact have some of the best outlining capabilities of all, but it's not in any way optimized for the specific needs of authors and screenwriters.
My solution: An intuitive software tool designed to help authors and screenwriters outline and optimize their story ideas before embarking on the lengthy task of writing full manuscripts. My idea is effectively just an application of a well-known technique in data analysis -- it's not radical -- it's just never been used by or targeted towards writers before.
I'm confident that a tool based on my idea will help many authors -- beginners and professionals alike -- to better structure their story ideas. Likewise, it will help them to catch plot holes early on, so enabling them to submit better manuscripts to publishers and TV/movie production companies. If I make a success of this idea the publishers of the world will have to read many fewer badly constructed manuscripts, and they'll be very thankful for that.
If this idea becomes a reality -- (1) A good app will be of great value to a lot of first-time authors, whether they aim to publish their stories or not. The right tool will make their hobby all the more enjoyable. (2) A really good app will be of great value to published authors and professional screenwriters as they go about their work. Anything that helps expedite the creative process has to be a good thing. (3) And, in the long term, a truly great app might even find its way into a software package like Final Draft, which is the primary tool of professional screenwriters. That has to be the ultimate goal for an idea like this. (4) With a bit of luck, and with its 'enterprise' possibilities, I think this could easily turn out to be an investment worthy concept once an MVP has been created.
For my part, the first thing I need to do once I find an interested programmer(s) is prove that my concept is useful -- that's easily done by deconstructing a short story such as 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears'.
After that, it will be time to demonstrate that the concept can also work with a complex movie, so I'll systematically deconstruct the script of a well-known movie with a non-linear plot. Taking numerous movie scripts apart 'plot point by plot point' is ultimately the way in which to discover everything that needs to be included in an MVP of the 'outlining toolbox.'
Thanks for reading. It would be great to hear your feedback. I hope I've included everything that's relevant at this point -- if not just let me know what I've missed or any other questions that you have.