When you decide to write a spec script for television, you must first decide the series for which you want to write a sample episode. Focus on series you like,… read more →
In any pitch, the buyer wants to know two seemingly contradictory elements of your novel or screenplay: its familiarity and its originality. If you’ve written a story that bears little… read more →
Q: Can you describe some of the things writers need to think about in writing a salable story? A: Since my entire career has been built on answering this question for… read more →
The causes and effects of one’s identity are brilliantly illustrated in Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s award-winning screenplay Good Will Hunting. It’s a wonderful example of a hero living an emotionally safe existence and how he gradually finds the courage to abandon that identity to achieve real fulfillment.
Your job as a screenwriter is to create a movie in the mind of your readers. You must draw us into your story by providing a clear picture of what… read more →
Q: What is your best advice for overcoming writer’s block? A: Writer’s block grows out of fear – of never finishing, of your work not being good enough, of leaving your comfort… read more →
Back in the Dark Ages, when I was just a movie lover fresh from Oregon with Hollywood dreams, I attended Sherwood Oaks Experimental College. Until then I had given very… read more →
One of the most frequent criticisms of novel and screenplay dialogue is that it’s on the nose. Anything on the nose is too obvious – it’s dialogue where characters say… read more →
Stories are built on a foundation of desire and conflict. To create an emotionally involving and commercially successful screenplay, you must give your hero some compelling desire he or she… read more →
Q: I came across your website and read your interesting article “Movies Aren’t Novels”. Reading #10, “When it comes to writing style, a screenwriter’s goal must be to create a movie… read more →
