Go Into The Story

Interview (Video): Ed Solomon

From Season 11 of the PBS series “On Story”.

Page One: “Pleasantville” (1998)

Written by Gary Ross

Black List writers on the craft: Story Concepts (Part 5)

“It starts with a character, and then an arc, and then I build the story around that arc.”

“Turn on. Tune in. Drop out.”

Wherein we appropriate the words of Timothy Leary for some writing advice.

Great Scene: “Double Indemnity”

“There’s a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. Forty-five miles an hour.”

Interviews (Video): Stephen King

Since I’m doing the weekly series Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”, I thought it would be helpful as background to aggregate…

Page One: “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” (1987)

Written by John Hughes

Black List writers on the craft: Story Concepts (Part 4)

“I really think that ultimately any story idea I ever come up with comes directly from an emotional experience. Your stories are already in…

Three Things About Screenplay Structure

Do not let page count concerns stifle your creativity… or your story.

Spec Script Deal: “Relay”

Original Film acquires science fiction spec script “Relay” written by Macmillan Hedges. Via Deadline:

Writing and the Creative Life: Dark Places

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

Page One: “Philomena” (2013)

Screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, book by Martin Sixsmith

Black List writers on the craft: Story Concepts (Part 3)

“I listen to people talking about life when I’m out. Little seeds can come out of overhearing people. Even if it doesn’t launch an idea for…

Deep Work vs. Shallow Work

As writers, we need to protect time for the former from the encroachment of the latter. Here are four strategies to do precisely that.

“You just muscle it out”

Advice on writing the first draft from writer-director Darren Aronofsky.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs

Part 12: Serendipity.

Page One: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)

Screenplay by Stephen Chbosky, based on his novel

Black List writers on the craft: Story Concepts (Part 2)

“I devour information like crazy, and I’m always running across interesting ideas. Being open and being curious brings so many great ideas…

Damien Chazelle’s Guide to Beginnings and Endings

“You’ve got to have a good beginning, a good ending, and no shitty scenes in between.”

“It Starts On the Page”

A Deadline Hollywood series featuring over three dozen scripts from multiple current TV series.

Spec Script Deal: “The Debriefing”

Jackson Pictures and Stampede Ventures acquire psychological spy thriller spec script “The Debriefing” written by Ken Nolan. Via Deadline:

Page One: “Parenthood” (1989)

Screenplay by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel, story by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel & Ron Howard

Nikhil, my advice is to start here:

https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/test-your-story-concept-d6d7e0159b9b

Black List writers on the craft: Story Concepts (Part 1)

“It hits me. I don’t go looking for them, they come looking for me.”

Story and the Question of Self-Identity

Every story inevitably raises this question about the Protagonist: “Who am I?”