How to Use Go Into The Story (Part 4): Study the Craft
Some end of the year advice for blog readers.
With over 30,000 Go Into The Story articles, here’s a logical question:
HOW THE HELL DO I USE THIS STUFF?
An end of the year series to help.
Part 4: Study the Craft
Many years ago, I coined this screenwriting mantra: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages.
Seriously, you can learn the craft just by doing these three things.
But if you want to maximize your chances of succeeding as a professional screenwriter and/or TV writer, go deeper.
Add two more points of focus to you work: Study the Craft and Learn the Business.
Today some tips on how to use GITS to help you study the craft.
1, 2, 7, 14: A simple formula to be a more productive and better writer.
Black List Writers on the Craft: Read what Black List writers have to say about screenwriting and TV writing.
Character Types: Learn the power archetypes can bring to your writing.
Go Into The Story Interviews: Read my interviews with pro writers including Black List selectees and Nicholl Fellowship winners.
Go Into The Story Reader Questions: Over 300 questions I’ve responded to over the years.
Guide to Aristotle’s “Poetics”: If you haven’t read “Poetics,” here’s a multi-part series which goes deep into this seminal work.
How They Write A Script: Extended interview excerpts from notable screenwriters.
Screenwriting Tweetstorms: A collection of pro writers and industry insiders.
Songwriters On Songwriting: Writing is writing and here are some valuable insights into the craft by songwriters.
The Theology of Screenwriting: A metaphorical look at religious themes and their relevance to writing.
And if you really want to go deep into the craft, there’s this: Deep Focus: The Go Into The Movies Project. This truly is film school on the cheap!
Breaking into Hollywood, let alone building and sustaining a writing career there is extremely challenging. You must push yourself to learn as much as possible and bring that knowledge to bear on your writing.
STUDY THE CRAFT!!!
For Part 1: Watch Movies, go here.
For Part 2: Read Scripts, go here.
For Part 3: Write Pages, go here.
Tomorrow: How to Use Go Into The Story (Part 5): Learn the Business.
