Go Into The Story

Dialogue-Writing Workshop

My one-week online workshop focusing on writing dialogue begins April 29.

Script Analysis: “First Man” — Scene By Scene Breakdown

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

This is the 10th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Keys to the Screenwriting Craft: Think Concepts

The foundation of a good script is a strong story concept.

On Writing

“You say grace before meals. I say grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Daily Dialogue — April 22, 2019

Frank Galvin: How did you settle on the amount? Bishop Brophy: We thought it was just. Frank Galvin: You thought it was just? Bishop…

Screenwriting News (April 15-April 21, 2019)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

How They Write A Script: David Lynch

“If you want to make a feature film, you get ideas for 70 scenes. Put them on 3-by-5 cards. As soon as you have 70, you have a feature…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

This is the 10th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Character Type: Femme Fatale

“There is a strong element of sexuality at work with the Femme Fatale and that cuts both ways as an narrative element: empowerment for the…

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Actor’s Angle [Part 2]

“It is your duty to think up situations which call for the necessary bits of business.”

Daily Dialogue — April 21, 2019

Danny Butterman: Do you want anything from the shop? Nicholas Angel: Cornetto.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 387th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Writing Mantra: On the other hand…

One of the best ways for writers to combat the dreaded Voices Of Negativity.

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

This is the 10th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Lawyer

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,992 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Video): Scott Frank and Walter Hill

The Season 8 episode of the PBS series “On Story”.

Daily Dialogue — April 20, 2019

Waiter: Two scoops, sir? Kevin: Two. Make it three. I’m not driving.

An Object Lesson in Visual Storytelling

A comparison of scenes from the movies Heat and Den of Thieves reminds us that movies are primarily a visual medium.

Songwriters On Songwriting: Bob Dylan

“If you like someone’s work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to.”

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

This is the 10th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Reader Question: What are three good ‘how to’ scripts to read?

Three essential scripts for learning the craft.

Writing and the Creative Life: “In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail”

When legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would speak in public, he rarely strayed far from two closely related subjects: success and…

Daily Dialogue — April 19, 2019

“Look there, at that woman. My God, just look at her. Affecting everyone around her, so obvious, so bourgeois, so boring. But wait… Watch —…

How They Write A Script: Paul Schrader

In a previous post, I noted two radically different approaches to writing as represented by Neil Simon, who doesn’t “make outlines at all”…