The 3 Secrets - Lisa La Colla

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Meinfrontofthecamera

LISA CAMILLA LA COLLA
THE THREE SECRETS FOR CRAFTING A
COMPELLING STORY

YOUR SCREENWRITING JOURNEY STARTS NOW
THE THREE SECRETS TO
START WRITING TODAY
E-BOOK
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Dear Storyteller, WELCOME!
This is Lisa, Screenwriter & Writing Coach and Creator of
Screenwriting with Love.
Have you got big writing dreams but you’re overwhelmed and
stuck and have no idea how to start?
I completely understand. But you’re not alone, every writer has
felt that (at least, once a day).
That is why I created this E-book to give you three
simple and effective tools that you can use today and
start writing the story of your dreams.
You found this E-book because, like so many writers, feel like you
deserve more than just a “thory” manual. Screenwriting is a live
art - everythink you write is supposed to be performed.
My online course launching on July 1st 2025 is THE COURSE
that teaches you the basics and make you write at the same
time.
So before we dive in, don’t forget to add July 1st to your
Calendar. Do it right now!
So, Let’s dive in and get your story written today!
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LOGLINES
One Simple Sentence.
SHOW DON’T TELL
Emotions Through Actions.
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THR PROTAGONIST
The Driving Force
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1.
LOGLINES
What is a logline?
Have you ever tried to tell somebody about your story idea and ended
up making a 2 hour long monologue?
No worries, it happened to each one of us. In this section I am going to
teach you an effective technique that you’re going to use forever.
Its name is: LOGLINES, LOGLINES, LOGLINES!
A logline is a concise, one- or two-sentence summary (25-50 words)
of a story that captures its central premise, main character, conflict,
and stakes. It is designed to quickly convey what the story is about
in a compelling and engaging way, often used to pitch films, TV
shows, or books.
Example: "A timid hobbit must journey across a perilous land to
destroy a powerful ring before it falls into the hands of a dark lord bent
on ruling the world." (The Lord of the Rings)
It will surprise you to know that many professionals still struggle with
them. Why?
Because writing loglines is hard!
Sometimes even harder that writing an entire script.
But here’s the fun thing: you can’t write a great script if you don’t have
a killer logline. (Unless you’re Palladino, Tarantino or someone else in
Hollywood whose surname ends with “ino”).
But like almost everything, writing Loglines is a skill.
And there are ways to make it fun!
That’s why we’re going to start with something I love, which is called:
THE LOGLINE GAME
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THE LOGLINE GAME
Here you can find a list of loglines from famous Movies.
Try to recognize the Movies and write the Titles.
Write the title:
A quirky family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of
a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.
Write the title:
An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair
of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family
during Christmas vacation.
Write the title:
After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to
Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a daring journey to bring him
home—with the help of a forgetful but endearing blue tang fish.
Write the title:
When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, a local
sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer must hunt the beast
down before it kills again.
Get Inspired
Now, try to write the logline of your story.
Remember to include:
A PROTAGONIST + THEIR MAIN GOAL + THE MAIN CONFLICT
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THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
In my ONLINE COURSE that launches on July 1st, I will give you the
universal magic formula to write a killer logline.
Have you added July 1st, 2025 to your Calendar?
If not yet, do it now, before the next chapter starts!
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2. SHOW DON’T TELL
What does this really mean?
Let’s start from a very simple example. You’re about to watch an
extract from When Harry Met Sally.
Pay attention to the way both characters order their food.
HARRY
SALLY
Write down any adjectives that come to your mind about their
personality.
(You can also choose the adjectives from the list below).
LIST OF PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES:
Witty - Optimistic - Detail-oriented - Sarcastic - Romantic -
Skeptical - Meticulous - Laidback - Picky Spontaneous -
Independent - Realistic - Innocent - Controlling - Charming -
Organized - Cynical - Idealistic - Relaxed.
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As you an see, you were able to descrive in detail two characters’
personalities just based on their way of ordering food.
SHOW DON’T TELL does not necessarily mean that you always have
to substitute dialogue with images (as many people wrongly believe).
It means, as a writer, to be able to use all the tools
you have (images, dialogue, gestures, plot) to show
who your characters really are.
Imagine if Sally had sat down and said “You know, Harry. I am a very
picky and meticulous person”.
That would have never had the same impact on Harry (and on the
audience) of an extremely precised food order, like the one she does.
Get Inspired
Now, try to imagine how a character would order their food.
Are they kind or rude?
Are they picky or they don’t care about what they eat?
Do they look the waiter in the eye or do they stare at the menu?
You’re going to find out so much more about your character than you
can imagine.
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That was fun, wasn’t it!
Of course, to get to know your characters even better you’ll have to
ask them a bunch of other questions.
But how do to that?
In my ONLINE COURSE launching on July 1st, you will have FREE access
to my E-Book “The Ultimate 100 Questions to Discover your
Character”.
What are you waiting for? Join the waitlist to be the first to register!
But don’t panic! Until then, I want to give you another great tool to
make your Main Character believable.
SOO KEEP READING!
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3. PROTAGONIST
Who is the protagonist?
The protagonist is the central character of a story, often the one who
faces challenges, experiences growth, and whose actions or decisions
impact the overall outcome of the plot.
As we say in Chapter 2, character is often reveal by the small things:
those details that make someone unique.
But when we talk about character, there are also the “big things” that
need to be super clear: The Goal & the Motivation.
1. MY PROTAGONIST’S GOAL:
GOAL: something that my character really wants and fights to get
throughout my story.
Be careful: universal goals such as happiness, money and
independence are not goals. This is because they are too generic.
Everytime you’re about to fall into tris trap ask yourself:
What does “happiness” look like for my character?
For example. “Happiness” for Julianne in My Best Friend’s Wedding is:
Getting back with her ex boyfriend and break his upcoming marriage.
“Getting back with her ex”: this is a clear & specific goal.
Which is very different from: “Happiness” for Mia in La La Land is:
Getting her big break as an actress, proving to herself (and to the
world) that she was right to follow her dreams.
“Achieving recognition for her talent and hard work”: this is a clear &
specific goal.
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What does “indipendence” look like for my character?
For example. “Indipendence” for Rose in Titanic is:
Break free from the constraints of her upper-class life and the
expectations imposed by her family and society.
“Escape from a repressive and controlling life”: this is a clear &
specific goal.
What does “money” look like for my character?
For example. “Money” for Charlie in Rainman:
“Claim a portion of his late father's inheritance after discovering that
Raymond, his estranged brother, has been left a substantial amount of
money”.
“To obtain his dead father’s fortune”: this is a clear & specific goal.
Which is very different from: “Money” for Chris in The Pursuit of
Happyness is:
Secure a stable, well-paying job to provide a better life for his son
after struggling with homelessness.
“Earning financial stability to give his child a future”: this is a clear &
specific goal.
Get Inspired
Now, think about a clear and specific goal for your character.
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KEEP LEARNING
SCREENWRITING SERVICES
Did you enjoy this E-Book and want to keep learning?
I got you! There are bunch of options available right now you can choose.
ONE-ONE-ONE WITH LISA
Do you feel like drained and uninspired?
I got you. Book your private sessions with me online
where we can discuss your ideas, scripts and goals.
A perfect personalized approach if you’re looking
for a trustworthy and fun mentor.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All content in this document, including text, images, and educational materials, is
protected by copyright and is the exclusive property of the author.
Reproduction, distribution, or modification in any form and by any means is strictly
prohibited without prior written permission.
This material is intended solely for the personal use of the recipient.
Any unauthorized use, including sharing with third parties, may result in legal action.
Photos, Design & Graphics by Daniele Fiore.
© 2025 Screenwriting with Love. All rights reserved.
For usage requests or collaborations, please contact me at
write@screenwritingwithlove.com
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DanieleFiore
Photos& GraphicEditing