Go Into The Story

The Business of Screenwriting: If it ain’t got no soul, it ain’t gonna sell

The time the legendary musician Taj Mahal laid words of wisdom on me.

Daily Dialogue — August 30, 2018

Ted Kramer: [while Billy brings ice cream to the table] You go right back and put that right back until you finish your dinner… I’m warning…

The Heroine’s Journey: Part 1

I’m reprising a 4-part series from 2012 on The Heroine’s Journey because it’s as relevant today as it was over 6 years ago.

2018 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Story Prep (Part 3) — Genre Bend

A series to help prepare writers for next month’s writing challenge.

2018 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 18

Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

Script To Screen: “Halloween”

Here is the last set of scenes from the 1978 Halloween, written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill.

Daily Dialogue — August 29, 2018

Jane Hudson: [referring to two ice cream cones she’s holding] They’re mine. They’re for my sister Blanche. She’s going to be a movie star.

How ‘Searching’ Uses Tech Devices as Narrative Devices

The co-writers of the new ‘Cinema Digerati’ thriller Searching talk about their creative and writing process in crafting the story.

2018 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Story Prep (Part 2) — Gender Bend

A series to help prepare writers for next month’s writing challenge.

2018 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 17

Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

Screenwriting 101: Ava DuVernay

“When you’re making a low-budget film for $50,000 or $200, 000, there’s nowhere to hide. It’s just people. Usually people talking. Or not…

Daily Dialogue — August 28, 2018

“How’d you like some ice cream, Doc?”

Reader Question: How do I know if it’s too much or too little scene description?

Reader question via email from Anonymous:

2018 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Story Prep (Part 1) — “What if…”

A series to help prepare writers for next month’s writing challenge.

2018 Scene-Writing Challenge: Day 16

Write some scenes. Win a great prize.

On Writing

“Creativity is tapping into a hidden source. That’s what fascinates me. To be in touch with the unconscious or subconscious pool of…

Daily Dialogue — August 27, 2018

Princess Ann: I could do some of the things I’ve always wanted to. Joe Bradley: Like what? Princess Ann: Oh, you can’t imagine. I’d like to…

Screenwriting News (August 20— August 26, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Why read scripts?

You watch movies, write pages, but admit it… you don’t read enough scripts.

Script To Screen: “Jacob’s Ladder”

A truly creepy scene from the 1990 movie Jacob’s Ladder, written by Bruce Joel Rubin.

Interview (Audio): Aneesh Chaganty

A podcast Q&A with the writer-director of the new mystery thriller Searching.

Daily Dialogue — August 26, 2018

“We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors. I love you. You… complete me.”

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 356th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Screenwriting Back to Basics: 5 Part Series

Writing Scenes, The Protagonist’s Arc, Plot Emerges From Character, Character = Function, Reader Identification.

2018 Scene-Writing Challenge: Week 3

Here are all of Week 3’s prompts for this year’s Scene-Writing Challenge.