Films about writing are rather common. Whether they be about a real-life famous author or fictional one, writers pop up in movies more often than you’d think. So what can films about writing teach us, actual writers. Read on to find out
Misery – Writing can be dangerous
Films about writers often seem to end up on the precarious side of things. Writing, it’s implied, is dangerous.
“Misery” (by the man who loves writing about writers, Stephen King) follows a famous writer who’s sick of his own creation (shout out to Arthur Conan Doyle) and kills her off. But wouldn’t you know it? He has a car accident and ends up being nursed back to health by his number one fan – who’s completely off her trolley.
From this, we learn…to always tell someone where you’re going. But also how much of an impact stories can have. They can inspire, challenge – and provoke people like nothing else. And whilst we can’t be held responsible for anyone else’s actions, we should also carefully consider what we’re putting out into the world.
Capote – Fiction and non-fiction writing are closer than you think
Non-fiction writers write about what’s “real” – but the line between reality and fiction can easily become blurred. Whether that’s in the mind of the writer or their readers.
“Capote” tells the tale of the author’s writing of his most famous non-fiction book “In Cold Blood”. The relationship between Truman Capote and the murderers he interviewed for the book, is certainly interesting, as is the book itself. It retells the factual, gruesome events in a lyrical way usually reserved for fiction. And similarly, many fiction books are written with a factual bent, like “The War of the Worlds”.
Whichever side you feel is your home, don’t dismiss the style of the other. It could be just what you need for your story to come alive.
Dead Poets Society – Writing makes life worth living
When times are hard and budgets are stretched, the arts are always the first thing on the chopping block – even though they’re the things that help us feel most human.
This film about writing is the classic “inspirational teacher” drama. It’s also a good reminder that life is about more than just a roof over your head and food in your belly.
Although we know what impact books have had on our own lives, writing can sometimes feel indulgent. Am I really helping as much as a doctor or a teacher? Yes, just in a different way. And that’s all books, from the deepest tomes to the frothiest tales. Writing, like all art, feeds our souls.
The Shining – Writing is a form of madness
Shocker – it’s Stephen King again (I told you he liked writing about writers). In many of his tales, they’re struggling with their mental health.
“The Shining” tells the story of an aspiring, alcoholic writer, who hopes being a caretaker at an isolated hotel over Winter, will give him some time to write and bond with his family. Spoiler – it does not.
Whilst most writers aren’t as beset by struggles (or ghosts) as badly as Jack Torrance, it’s not too out there to state that there’s a certain madness needed for any writing. Writers create entire worlds, fill them with people, and make them perform. It can be all too easy to get mired in our own heads and we must accept a certain level of madness in order to write. But we must also make sure not to go too far.
Shakespeare In Love – Writers are only human
It’s easy to put writers up on a pedestal and imagine that they have some innate, divine gift that the rest of us can merely get a glimpse of. But that’s a dangerous path to travel down about anyone. Films about writing show us that writers, like everyone else, are people. Even the genius that was Shakespeare.
“Shakespeare in Love” is a rom-com – a silly, frothy film that is elevated somewhat by the fact its lead is the famous playwright. We see him as a man first, falling in love, struggling with his work – and cheating on his wife. Although we’re sold this idea of it being a romance, we’re also shown that Shakespeare is a person. A good writer of course, but still only human.
What this reminds us is that writers are people. They don’t need to be afforded special treatment – but they (and you) are allowed to be human.
The Hours – Thinking is also writing
There are a lot of layers to this film and the book it’s based on, but I like the sections about the writer in it the most (shocking huh?)
“The Hours” tells the tale of three women, all linked by the Virginia Woolf book of the same name. One of the strands follows Woolf trying to write the book whilst struggling with her faltering mental health. For most of the film, she’s focused on one or two lines, thinking and re-thinking, turning them over and over.
This laser-like focus on a few words may seem extreme and it’s true this is indicative of the deep and perfectionist way Woolf wrote. Whilst I don’t think this level of interrogation is necessary, I appreciate the way the film shows how much thinking can go into writing. We often feel that if we’re not literally writing out the words, we’re not writing. But so much of what makes a good story is the thinking that goes into it.
So there are 6 films about writing for you to enjoy and learn from.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
11/09/2023 at 3:44 PM
I did enjoy Capote, it was very dark in parts and Philip Seymour Hoffman did an excellent job of portraying Truman Capote.