MISDEMEANOR: Addressing Characters by Name
In real world conversations, we almost never declare whom it is we’re talking to. So unless a character in your story is searching for someone, shouting at someone…
MISDEMEANOR: Introducing Characters All At Once
Have you ever been the last to arrive at a party and the host introduces you, one at a time, to everyone there? So how many of those names are you able to remember?
STORY MISDEMEANOR: No Invisible Information!
A screenplay can ONLY include what the audience will see and hear on the screen. No background information, no author’s asides, no character thoughts or feelings.
STORY MISDEMEANOR: NO DESCRIPTION
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 we’ll see on the screen when we watch your film.
STORY MISDEMEANOR: I FEEL VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS ONE
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.
STORY MISDEMEANOR: HOW ABOUT A ROLL IN THE HAY?
In your romantic comedy, don’t have the hero and romance character jump into bed right away, just because you want something sexy to move the story along.