Action Writing in a Screenplay “More and more, we see an embrace of scene description where the writer in effect directs the action through lines and paragraphs.”
The Business of Screenwriting: Withdrawing screen credit and pseudonyms Let’s begin this post with a quote from arguably the dean of contemporary American screenwriters William Goldman:
Reader Question: How to raise the stakes in the plot? One suggestion: Focus on and elevate the Protagonist’s psychological stakes.
Writing Monologues Don’t do it… unless your character mandates you do it. Then if you do it… write the ever-loving hell out of it.
Crafting an Effective Series of Shots / Montage The subject came up recently. Here are two clips from the movie Chocolat. They’re both great and provide some good takeaways for…
Great Scene: “Fight Club” One of the most effective ways to begin a script is to start at the ending. And one of the best scenes that opens with the ending is in the…
Page One: “The Neon Demon” (2016) Screenplay by Nicolas Winding Refn and Mary Laws & Polly Stenham, story by Nicolas Winding Refn
Reader Question: Advice for someone wanting to give writing a full-time shot? First and foremost, you have to want it. I mean really want it. The competition is fierce. Think of it this way: Any time you aren’t…
Go Into The Story Interview: Daniel Kunka My conversation with the screenwriter of 2021 Black List script Lift and now in production as a Netflix movie.
The Importance of a Strong Story Concept “It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of a story idea to the eventual success of a spec script.”
Screenwriting 101: Lloyd Harvey “Give yourself permission to enjoy the small wins along the way. We make it a practice within our creating, our writing, and our making…
Reader Question: When can you stop tinkering with a script and finally say “done”? And for a writer, what the hell does “done” mean?
Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho and Ben Mehlman My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Whittier.
The Importance of Persistence in a Writer’s Life “PERSIST on telling your story. PERSIST on reaching your audience. PERSIST on staying true to your vision.”
On Writing “Being a writer means you are running a small business, manufacturing sentences, and you are the owner of the business, and the foreman of…
Page One: “The Natural” (1984) Screenplay by Roger Towne and Phil Dusenberry, novel by Bernard Malamud
2022 Willamette Writers Conference The 56th annual event in Portland, Oregon is scheduled this year from August 4th through August 7th. I’ll be there. How about you?
Interview (Part 6): Filipe Coutinho and Ben Mehlman My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Whittier.
60 Second Screenwriter: Should I make a short film? A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in one minute.
Interview (Written): Suzanne Allain A conversation with the novelist and screenwriter of Mr. Malcolm’s List.
