Bingewatch: The Walking Dead, Season 5 #TWD
I find that my writing is surprisingly productive when I use a modified pomodoro technique. I write until I stall, then I watch a little TV. I’ve logged an impressive word count for myself utilizing this method over the weekend.
I’m currently watching The Walking Dead, season 5. When my darling companion asked me why I’d watch such a gruesome show, I had to stop and think about it.
I don’t watch it for the blood and guts, though there is an abundance of that. I watch it for the characters, the hooks, and cliffhangers. You see, I recently read Alexandra Sokolov’s Screenwriting Tips for Authors and it made complete sense to me. I always try to write stories that play out like movies so watching action/adventure like The Walking Dead is great research.
The characters each have their own arcs and the show explores them. Every episode begins with a hook and ends with a cliffhanger. The scenes are structured well.
Most importantly, and something I connect with most, is that what might have been right for a character in season 1 may not be right for them in season 5.
The zombies may provide the danger and ticking clocks, but the characters drive this story.
I used to write while hidden away watching the walking dead. The kiddos were in bed so I would guiltily watch people guided by baser emotions. I am editing now so I haven’t tried watching whe doing that.