The emotion you must elicit with your stories will come primarily from the conflict your heroes face – the hurdles and obstacles they must overcome as they pursue their desires,… read more →
Captivating, entertaining dialogue is essential to great storytelling. As I discussed in my previous newsletter entitled “Talk,” what your characters say can add detail, depth, realism, humor, understanding and emotion… read more →
In coaching film and fiction writers as well as speakers, marketers and entrepreneurs, I stand by the principle that stories are universal, and that the same qualities that make movies… read more →
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, calling on… read more →
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… read more →
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. Everything must be revealed… read more →
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 →
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. They have to earn the… read more →