Skip Press Interview

Skip Press On Creative Writing

Skip Press writes screenplays, novels and non-fiction guide how-to books on the writer's craft.

In this interview, he gives us the scoop on creativity, writing and what makes a good premise.

Q. Describe what you think creative writing is?

Press: Coming up with ideas or new slant on ideas that people have not seen before.

Telling a story – getting people engaged in the story –
Better start with a good premise whether it’s revealed immediately or not. You have to know what the story is and what the premise is.

Some people will argue and they’ll say just write and let whatever comes to mind flow out but I’ve never known anyone who is a successful writer who has done that. Maybe they’re out there, I’ve just never met them.

Q. How do you describe the term “premise”?

Press: An immediate and compelling hook, the best, premise I ever heard in a Hollywood movie was Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters – immediately knew what it was about when I saw the poster with those three guys, knew it was complete goofballs and I knew it would be fun.

Another good example is with “The Firm”, one line explained it all, “The mafia had its own law firm and it’s in Memphis, Tennessee.”

A good premise is all right there or it’s so intriguing you have to find out about it.

Q. What about in reference to business writing?

Press: You either have to say “here’s what we do” right up front, or you say, “Are you tired of those other insurance companies that lied to you?” you’re intriguing them and you’re making them want to listen to you or find out what it is you’re offering.

Q. What is a common mistake that most writers make?

Press: From my experience the biggest one is not acting on a good idea when it’s the right time. That means there have been many instances where someone will say, “Oh, I had that idea.” And they didn’t act on it.

There are authors won’t act and there are great ideas that float around in the ether and someone else will get there before you because they acted on them. If you have an idea that is truly excellent, jot it down and figure out a place you have that you can sell it.

Q. What do you tell people who ask how to make a living as a writer?

Press: Keep regular office hours, be a fulltime writer even if you’re not a full time writer. Find a way to set aside an hour that you can write no matter what.

You have to keep doing it and after awhile people around you will leave you alone and you can do your writing.

It’s almost like the Universe will nod down on you and give you the ability to do it.

There are so few people that will take on great tasks that it becomes highly visible when you do it personally. And that’s why those people who know you well might have similar aspirations who like to think you’re no more talented than they are, they will notice you first and they might be kidding around as they put you down, but they see the Universe in you.

You will find out in the world other people who have tried what you’re doing and failed and you need to avoid them or ignore them. You might run across people who have accomplished things and didn’t achieve it and are not bitter and they will see a spark in you and think “wow” maybe that person can achieve that and I will help them.

Q. How do good ideas come to you?

Press: The ideas are your vision of the world, Richard Donner when asked, “What makes you want to create a certain movie?” said, “If I really wanted to see it.”

Nora Ephron said the same thing, she picks movie projects that she feels no one else could make the movie that she wanted to see. She was talking about the movie “Michael.”

If I have an idea that I think is really obvious or really good and I’m fascinated by it – then that’s a keeper.

There’s no such thing as no ideas left. That’s ridiculous. You’ll see this books that say all the ideas have been used and I say that’s baloney. There are certain genres and rules and story structures but there is no lack of ideas and I don’t think there ever will be. Media saturation is possible, but we haven’t even come close to reaching a death of new ideas in this world.

Q. What other tips do you have for writers?

Press: If you stay ready, the opportunity will present itself even when you think you're out of opportunities.

Great things manifest in just the right time in the world for people. The Beatles would not have been as big a thing in the U.S. if they had not arrived right after JFK was assassinated. They really buoyed everyone’s spirits because they were young, talented and humorous. They let people find a way to be happy again and I think a lot of the media products come along and fill a necessary void.

Q. What are you working on right now?

Press: I’m writing the biography of Carmine Appice, who is the godfather of rock drumming.

Just finished Patti Page’s biography and writing a novel set on Wall Street and I’ve got a screenplay that I just rewrote that is a western, last screenplay written by Bill Kelly who wrote “Witness.”

Q. Thanks for the inspiration Skip.