Go Into The Story

How They Write A Script: Nancy Meyers

Nancy Meyers was for many years part of the Meyers & Shyer writing team that produced numerous hit movies including Private Benjamin…

Screenwriting 101: Brandon Broussard

“What I found out here is that, it’s so cliché, but it’s not about being the most talented. It’s about being the hardest working person. I…

Page One: “Tenet” (2020)

Written by Christopher Nolan

The Low-Down on High Concept

A high concept screenplay must have a clean, simple, and basic idea.

Action Writing in a Screenplay

“More and more, we see an embrace of action writing where the writer in effect directs the action through lines and paragraphs.”

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”

Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and story as psychological journey.

On Writing

“The best stories proceed from a mysterious truth-seeking impulse that narrative has when revised extensively; they are complex and…

Page One: “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure” (1941)

Original screenplay by Myles Connolly and Paul Gangelin, based upon the characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Importance of Character Names

A well-chosen character name can reflect their personality.

The Importance of a Writers Group

There’s that image of a writer. Sequestered in a room. Struggling over a blank piece of paper. Crumpled pages strewn about. A cup of booze…

How to Write a Script: David Lynch

His secret? Seventy three by five inch cards.

Interview (Video): Isaac Asimov

Several interviews throughout the years with the author of over 500 books.

Page One: “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)

Screenplay by Anthony Minghella, novel by Patricia Highsmith

Advice from a Professional Script Reader

“An experienced pro reader always knows a ‘bad’ script within the first 10 pages, usually within the first 3, and often on the first page.”

How to Use a Long Commute to Work on Your Story

“Talk out your story. Record your words. Transfer to your computer. You can get a LOT done that way.”

Great Scene: “Blood Simple”

It’s Abby versus Visser in the movie’s bloody and ironic ending.

Interview (Video): Derek Kolstad

From Season 12 of the PBS series “On Story.”

Page One: “Ted” (2012)

Screenplay by Seth MacFarlane & Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild, story by Seth MacFarlane

“Why is it three act structure? The cycle of life.”

Story structure and the… stock market? Read on.

Scene-Writing Workshop

I’m reprising my one-week Scene-Writing Workshop which starts next Monday, November 6th.

Reader Question: Do you have any suggestions to warm up for writing?

Two suggestions to help you overcome the dreaded “how to get my ass into the chair and writing” conundrum.

Writing and the Creative Life: “The Power of Structured Procrastination”

“The beauty of the structured procrastination method is that it recognizes the extreme challenge in changing that pro-tomorrow vein, and…

Page One: “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007)

Screenplay by John Logan, musical by Hugh Wheeler, musical adaptation by Christopher Bond

Simon, I believe you are correct in that script readers often look for a writer’s transgressions…

The thing is, 9 times out of 10, a writer can bypass the whole “we see” conundrum by simply describing what’s on screen. You don’t need to…

Find Your Writer’s Voice

I hear this a lot in conversations with writers, but mostly with managers, agents, and producers. They’re looking for writers who cover a…