Scott Myers

Writing Realistic Dialogue

Using Idioms, Slang, Contractions, and Declinations.

Update: 2020-2021 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 13 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 10] — Trust the Process

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Page One: ‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)

Written by John Hughes

“Earn this.”

When it comes to a scene where a character makes a critical choice, it’s imperative that you — as the writer — have earned that moment.

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 9] — The Only Way Out Is Through

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

The Business of Screenwriting: Hip pocket representation

The gray area between being signed by an agent… and kinda signed.

Page One: ‘The Big Sick’ (2017)

Written by Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 8] — First Draft

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Spec Script Deal: “Tin Roof Rusted”

TriStar Pictures acquires comedy spec script “Tin Roof Rusted” written by Michelle Harper. Via THR:

Christmas 2020

An animated short by screenwriters Alisha Brophy & Scott Miles.

Page One: ‘The Big Short’ (2015)

Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, based on a book by Michael Lewis

Analysis: 2020 Black List

A deep dive into the scripts named to this year’s annual Black List.

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 7] — Time Management

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2020 and will do in 2021.

Screenwriting 101: Jay Presson Allen

“I’ve always been interested in the why of human behavior. I think most dramatic writers are natural psychologists.”

Page One: ‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)

Written by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

2020 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge!

Check out this word cloud from the 2020 Black List loglines, then write your OWN logline from those words to win some great prizes!

Reflections on 3rd Annual Black List / Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Writers who participated in this year’s Black List / Women in Film Feature Writer’s Lab reflect on their experience.

Update: 2020 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts, 11 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Page One: ‘The Apartment’ (1960)

Written by Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond

2020 Black List

All 80 scripts listed in order of votes received including loglines, plus a link where you can download the official list.

Writing Goals: 2021 [Part 6] — Schedule

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2019 and will do in 2020.

On Writing

“Build pockets of stillness into your life. Meditate. Go for walks. Ride your bike going nowhere in particular. There is a creative purpose…

Page One: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ (2015)

Screenplay by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff, story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff

Sundays with Ray Bradbury

“I can imagine all kinds of worlds and places, but I cannot imagine a world without Bradbury.” — Neil Gaiman