Go Into The Story

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 5: Reader Identification

Tap into the Protagonist’s qualities which a reader can connect with.

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

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

Reader Question: When is the best time to reveal a character’s backstory?

Key character revelations from their past. When? Where? How?

Writing and the Creative Life: Wherein I embrace my messy desk!

For decades, I have waged a relentless war. The battlefield? My desk. Raised a military brat and a Southern Baptist to boot, the message I…

Page One: “Ratatouille” (2007)

Screenplay by Brad Bird, original story by Jan Pinkava & Jim Capobianco & Brad Bird, additional story material by Emily Cook & Kathy…

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 4: Character = Function

Every character in a screenplay has to be there for a reason. That is their narrative function, who they are and what they do tied to the…

140 Scene-Writing Prompts

At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.

Breaking the 4th Wall in Scene Description

To everyone who claims there’s a screenwriting rule asserting we can’t include so-called ‘unfilmables’ in scene description, read this!

The Business of Screenwriting: Hurry up and wait

The bane of a screenwriter’s existence: They want the script NOW… then they make you WAIT… and wait… and wait…

Page One: “Quiz Show” (1994)

Screenplay by Paul Attanasio, book by Richard N. Goodwin

Thanks, Michelle. You can read 100s more Go Into The Story interviews here:

https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-interviews-9fff8e1cdbda#.umppz2lxe

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 3: Plot Emerges From Character

No matter what paradigm or theory you use to craft your screenplay’s plot, the single most important thing you can do is this: Start with…

“Go Into Yourself”

Words of wisdom from Rainer Maria Rilke in his Letters to a Young Poet.

Test Your Story Concept

5 questions to ask about a story idea to assess its viability as a scripted project.

Great Scene: “The Big Lebowski”

“Donny was a good bowler, and a good man. He was one of us.”

Page One: “Queen & Slim” (2019)

Screenplay by Lena Waithe, story by James Frey and Lena Waithe

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 2: The Protagonist’s Journey

Transformation lies at the heart of the character’s arc.

How to Handle Blocks of Scene Description

Think of each paragraph as a camera shot… with a catch.

“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.

Screenwriting 101: Chris Mundy

“If you have a choice between a hard plot and what falls more on the emotional side, always fall on the emotional side. People watch shows…

Page One: “Quartet” (2012)

Screenplay by Ronald Harwood based on his play

Screenwriting Back to Basics, Day 1: Writing Scenes

With every scene, you should ask yourself this question: What is the scene’s Beginning, Middle, and End?

Go Into The Story Interview: Tara Tomicevic

My interview with 2021 Black List writer for her script “Thicker Than Ice.”

The Commuting Writer

If your commute to work is a half-hour or longer, there is every reason in the world you should use that time on your writing projects.

On Writing

“I can count on one hand, or possibly one elbow, the number of good writing ideas I’ve had while straining at the keyboard. When you find…