Screenwriting Salaries: What Writers Earn in 2026 (And How to Land Your First Paid Gig) Okay, writers, let's talk real money in screenwriting—because yes, you CAN make serious bank doing this. Now, if you're Googling "screenwriting salaries" at 2 AM hoping to find out you'll be rich by Christmas, I've got some news that'll recalibrate […]
How to plan a screenplay: three crucial steps to take before your first draft. Learning how to plan a screenplay can be a daunting task. Of course, any undertaking in creative writing has an intimidation factor, but screenwriting has an inherent aspect that sets it apart: a lack of freedom. This isn’t to say that […]
How to adapt a novel into a screenplay in 10 steps. If you're wondering how to adapt a novel into a screenplay, you're in good company. So were Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games), Annie Proulx (Brokeback Mountain), Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), and Dave Eggers (Away We Go) at one point. If you’ve found some success […]
Script coverage example: how to learn what readers are looking for. Just what is script coverage exactly? On this page, you can download a script coverage example of the various kinds used in the industry. Let's start by answering some basic questions about script coverage. Then we'll take a look at a script coverage template […]
How to format a script if you want to break into the spec market. If you’re confused by how to format a script, you’re in the right place. The following post contains excerpts from our book, “Master Screenplay Format: a Clear Guide on How to Format a Screenplay for the Spec Market.” The overall message […]
What is an inciting incident in a screenplay? Does an inciting incident have to involve the protagonist? Does it have to occur during a specific minute in Act 1? What story function should it serve? A quick internet search will reveal a whole host of different answers. One well-known screenwriting blog says the inciting incident […]
How to write dialogue between two characters by comparing it to tennis. [The following post on how to write dialogue between two characters is an excerpt from our screenwriting book: Master Screenplay Dialogue: The Ultimate Practical Guide on How to Write Dialogue Like the Pros.] Learning how to write dialogue between two characters is one […]
20 inspiring TED talks on storytelling, writing, filmmaking and creativity. Welcome to our curated list of the top TED talks on storytelling. Originally founded in 1984, the TED media organization has grown exponentially in recent years. Their free online database of talks has become something of a wormhole of inspiring talks on a wide variety […]
35 quick edits to improve your script's writing style in 24 hours or less. A reader knows from the very first page whether the writer knows how to write. It’s clear from the dialogue, formatting and writing style. It's clear from the way the writer chooses how to put the images they want the reader to […]
How to write a phone conversation in a screenplay: the definitive guide. Confused by how to write a phone conversation in a script? In this post, we’re going to take a look at the three main methods you can use to format a screenplay conversation. We'll also touch on other do’s and don’ts surrounding phone […]
