Have You Been Told to Just "Write What You Know"? You have probably heard the old adage to "write what you know." It's a cliche, but a very popular one. Many screenwriters and writers, in general, think they're better off writing about personal things. In other words, rather than "making things up from scratch." In […]
Did you know there are 12 secret script beats you should include in act 1 of your screenplay? You have probably heard that Act 1 of a screenplay should include at least two script beats, or "plot points": a call to action (sometimes called a screenplay Inciting Incident) and an Act 1 turning point at […]
Today we're going to tackle the screenplay flashback, its three different types and how to use them in your script. Unfortunately, aspiring writers are constantly told by screenwriting "gurus" to never employ certain devices in their scripts. Nine times out of ten, this is just dumb advice. One of the most popular refrains you may […]
10 things smart writers do to build a screenwriting career. Building a successful screenwriting career is determined by two primary factors: perseverance and pure luck. As we have no control over the latter, let’s concentrate on the former, i.e. how to best stack the deck in your favor. (This post may contain affiliate links, so if […]
Are you thinking of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a screenwriting career, but wondering if you really need to? Many people say you don't need to, but are they right? In short, is moving to Los Angeles really necessary in today's age of Skype chats and Google Hangouts? (Please note: This post may include affiliate […]
45 script writing skills every aspiring screenwriter should own. Yes, some screenwriting skills involve raw talent, but becoming a professional screenwriter also involves many screenwriting skills and attributes which can be learned, honed and developed. How many of the following script writing skills and attributes do you have? Use our checklist below to find out. In order to […]
Here are eight keys to writing a scene that pops off the page and grabs the reader. Writing a scene—especially the big ones at major plot points—usually means adding these eight key principles that move the story forward and keep the reader engaged. In order to illustrate these eight key principles we’ll be using the scene […]
On the nose dialogue examples and how to stop it killing your script. What's the quickest way of letting someone reading your script know they're in the hands of a novice? Answer: Write on the nose dialogue. On the nose dialogue is like Kryptonite to the reader and should be eliminated wherever it's found. In this […]
16 screenwriting tips that will improve your script today. You may have noticed there are quite a few bad screenwriting tips floating around out there. Advice that says you shouldn't ever use camera angles in your description, that a scene should always contain a protagonist with a goal, and that a screenplay is made up […]
Should You Ever Answer a "Screenplays Wanted" Ad? Type "screenwriter needed" or "screenplays wanted" into an internet search engine and you’ll find yourself swamped in ads such as these: Screenwriter wanted to write Indie Drama script. Fantastic and original treatment already in place, just need you to turn into a full feature draft. No pay […]
