So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’
Free downloadable Go Into The Story eBook.

In 2017, I made public 12 free ‘Go Into The Story’ eBooks, one for every month of the year.
Think of it as a kind Go Into The Story Greatest Hits collection.
Download them. Read them. Pass them along.
Several people asked me a rather obvious question: “Scott, why are you giving away these eBooks for free?”
Simple. The odds against any sort of financial success as a writer in the film or TV business are enormous. These eBooks — and by extension Go Into The Story — provide aspiring writers the opportunity to learn about the craft and business of screenwriters in a cost effective manner.
As in zero dollars expended.
There are all sorts of people floating around the online screenwriting universe who are more than happy to take your money in exchange for consulting services, seminars, how-to books, and the like. Some of them are good. Some not so good. Some are plain awful.
With the eBook series, you have another option which minimizes your financial exposure as you set out on what is most assuredly a risky path: Trying to break into the movie and TV business.
And THAT’S why I decided to launch this eBook series — for free.
A very special thanks to Trish Curtin and Clay Mitchell who stepped up to handle the process turning blog posts into eBooks. This project would not have happened without the efforts of these two fine people.
So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’ is 58-page eBook which covers many of the conventions associated with what a writer cannot do, those conventions elevated by some to the status of rules. The book explains why there are no rules, tracks how the screenplay is in a constant state of evolution, and touches on common misconceptions such as Unfilmables, Flashbacks, Voice-Over Narration, Certain Events by Certain Pages, and more.
Link.
Download. Read. Learn.
A final note excerpted from the eBook’s preface:
The collection contains my reflections and takes on basic tenets of the craft. If any of them resonate with you, great. If not, feel free to ignore them. Each writer needs to figure out their own approach to screenwriting. My hope is to help feed that process and provide writers with inspiration along the way.
For background on this series, go here.
To download all 12 free Go Into The Story eBooks, go here.