10 Things About Screenwriting: Vol. 4
Some observations about the craft I’ve come up with over the years.
Some observations about the craft I’ve come up with over the years.
Voices in your mind may say, “Your story is no good. Writing is too hard. You suck.” Here’s how you fight them: Write the next sentence.
Zero in on the key relationships between each character and your Protagonist. Those are likely your story’s major subplots.
The Whammo theory of screenwriting. Every 10 pages, something has to go “whammo”. Good rule of thumb for plotting.
The Protagonist is almost always the central character in the movie. It is their goal, their journey that creates the spine of the Plot.
If you’re having trouble getting started with your script, pick scenes from your story you WANT to write — any scenes — and write them.
Key question to ask about your story: Who is the audience? If you don’t ask it, you can be sure potential buyers will.
Old Hollywood axiom: You are only allowed one coincidence per script. Otherwise your story feels like too much ‘writer’s convenience’.
You’re not writing a script. You’re writing a MOVIE.
Screenplays are written in the Present tense for a reason: Scenes unfold in the Moment giving the reader a sense of immediacy.
One goal when writing a scene? Give the script reader a good reason to move onto the NEXT scene.
10 Things About Screenwriting: Vol. 1