Scott Myers

• Screenwriting 101: Stephany Folsom

  "Don't worry about getting an agent or a manager. When you have enough quality work under your belt, the agencies and management companies...

  writing

  Jul 30, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Early Action"

  Apple TV+ and The Walsh Company acquire comedy spec script "Early Action" written by Sophie De Bruijn. Via Deadline:

  humor

  comics

  Jul 30, 2025
• Page One: "Ocean's 8" (2018)

  Screenplay by Gary Ross & Olivia Milch story by Gary Ross, based upon characters created by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell

  writing

  Jul 30, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Doppelgänger"

  Skydance acquires thriller spec script "Doppelgänger" written by Aneesh Chaganty and Dan Frey. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jul 29, 2025
• On Writing

  "It's fashionable now to object on principle to the idea that writing is hard. Writing isn't hard, this camp says; working in coal mines is...

  writing

  Jul 29, 2025
• Page One: "On the Rocks" (2020)

  Written by Sofia Coppola

  writing

  Jul 29, 2025
• Script Analysis: "All Is Lost" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 28, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Lindsay Michel

  My interview with 2022 Black List writer for her script Caravan.

  Jul 28, 2025
• Page One: "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" (1985)

  Written by David Chaskin, characters by Wes Craven

  writing

  Jul 28, 2025
• Script Analysis: "After the Wedding" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 27, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kevin Sheridan

  My interview with 2022 Black List writer for his script Colors of Authority.

  writing

  Jul 27, 2025
• Page One: "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" (1987)

  Screenplay by Wes Craven and Bruce Wagner and Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell, story by Wes Craven and Bruce Wagner, characters by Wes...

  writing

  Jul 27, 2025
• Script Analysis: "The Aeronauts" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 26, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Ben Jacoby

  My conversation with the screenwriter whose credits include The First Omen and The Whisper Man.

  Jul 26, 2025
• Page One: "A Nightmare on Street: The Dream Child" (1989)

  Screenplay by Leslie Bohem, story by John Skipp & Craig Spector and Leslie Bohem, characters by Wes Craven

  writing

  Jul 26, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Nightcrawler" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 25, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Daniel Hanna

  My conversation with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jul 25, 2025
• Page One: "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)

  Written by Wes Craven

  writing

  Jul 25, 2025
• The Importance of Character Names

  A well-chosen character name can reflect their personality.

  writing

  Jul 24, 2025
• Script Analysis: "CODA" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 24, 2025
• On Writing

  "Poets need not go to Niagara to write about the force of falling water."

  writing

  Jul 24, 2025
• Page One: "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)

  Screenplay by John Russo & George Romero

  writing

  Jul 24, 2025
• Set-up and Payoffs

  One of the most important narrative elements screenwriters have available to us is set-ups and payoffs. The basic idea is this: We...

  writing

  Jul 23, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Stephany Folsom

  "I always have one project I'm working on in the background that I really don't care if anybody ever sees or if it ever gets made. Of...

  writing

  Jul 23, 2025
• Script Analysis: "The Imitation Game" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  Jul 23, 2025
• Page One: "Night of the Demons" (1988)

  Written by Joe Augustyn

  writing

  Jul 23, 2025
• Write a Worthy Nemesis

  Workshop your story's antagonist character in my 1-week online course. Begins Monday, August 4, 2025. Plus, it's on

  writing

  Jul 22, 2025
• Compelling Characters vs. Sympathetic Characters

  "Appeal comes from truthful and complex characters. I hate when movie people say, 'Your lead character has to be sympathetic,' which for...

  writing

  Jul 22, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  Jul 22, 2025
• Page One: "Night Nurse" (1931)

  Screenplay by Oliver H.P. Garrett, additional dialogue by Charles Kenyon, based on the novel by Grace Perkinsfrom (as Dora Macy)

  writing

  Jul 22, 2025
• Handling Rejection

  It can debilitate... motivate... and take a long time to truly grasp its meaning.

  writing

  Jul 21, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Ex Machina" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 21, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."

  writing

  Jul 21, 2025
• Page One: "The Night House" (2020)

  Written by Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski

  writing

  Jul 21, 2025
• This is something you can do because this is something you have done!

  I get email:

  writing

  Jul 20, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Short Term 12" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 20, 2025
• Great Scene: "There Will Be Blood"

  The last scene of There Will Be Blood (2007) is one of the most gut-wrenching finales in recent film history. Written and directed by Paul...

  film

  Jul 20, 2025
• Page One: "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" (2008)

  Screenplay by Lorene Scafaria, novel by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

  writing

  Jul 20, 2025
• Writing Tip: A Playlist to Calm the Mind

  A therapist suggests some music to reduce anxiety... and spur creativity.

  writing

  Jul 19, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Dennis Foley

  "Hollywood is the only town where you can not fail. You can only quit trying."

  writing

  film

  Jul 19, 2025
• Script Analysis: 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 19, 2025
• Page One: "A New Leaf" (1971)

  Written for the screen by Elaine May, short story "The Green Heart" by Jack Ritchie

  writing

  Jul 19, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Tough Guys"

  Amazon MGM acquires action comedy spec script "Tough Guys" written by Daniel Gold. Via Deadline:

  humor

  Jul 18, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Whiplash" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 18, 2025
• On Writing

  "As the characters become alive to me, there are things that I think they're going to do that they refuse to do and as I get closer, they...

  writing

  Jul 18, 2025
• Page One: "News of the World" (2020)

  Screenplay by Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies, based upon the novel by Paulette Jiles

  writing

  Jul 18, 2025
• "What should I do if a project sells similar to a script I'm writing?"

  Before you jump, step back from the ledge, and consider the following.

  writing

  Jul 17, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Trey Ellis

  "I noticed that race colors the perception of me in the film community today much more than I would have thought a decade ago. I call it my...

  writing

  film

  Jul 17, 2025
• Script Analysis: "La La Land" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 17, 2025
• Page One: "New Jack City" (1991)

  Screenplay by Thomas Lee Wright and Barry Michael Cooper, story by Thomas Lee Wright

  writing

  Jul 17, 2025
• Writing Tip: What if...

  Perhaps the two most powerful words in the creative process.

  writing

  Jul 16, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Crazy Rich Asians" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 16, 2025
• On Writing

  "An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere."

  writing

  Jul 16, 2025
• Page One: "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" (2020)

  Written by Eliza Hittman

  writing

  Jul 16, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Coco" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 15, 2025
• Springsteen: "I'm a soul miner"

  Reflections on the craft of songwriting from New Jersey's own upon the release of 7 new albums.

  creativity

  music

  writing

  Jul 15, 2025
• "Make Me Care"

  It's probably the greatest story commandment because if a script reader cares about your characters, they will buy into your story. If they...

  writing

  Jul 15, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Ted Elliott

  "When I hear aspiring screenwriters who talk about, 'Yeah, I saw Godzilla and it was terrible. I can write better than that.' My feeling...

  writing

  film

  Jul 15, 2025
• Script Analysis: '1917' — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Writing TipThe Poetry of Screenwriting

  When writing scene description, think poetry instead of prose.

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• On Writing

  "The great thing about writing is that it can be produced in sub-optimal — even atrocious — conditions. And so many of the most...

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "The New World" (2005)

  Written by Terrence Malick

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004)

  Written by Jared Hess & Jerusha Hess

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "Nanny" (2022)

  Written by Nikyatu Jusu

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988)

  Written by Jerry Zucker & Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Pat Proft, television series "Police Squad" by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry...

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Test 2

  Jul 14, 2025
• Test

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" (1994)

  Written by Pat Proft & David Zucker & Robert LoCash, television series "Police Squad" by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker

  writing

  Jul 14, 2025
• Jung quote

  The unconscious is not just evil by nature, it is also the source of the highest good: not only dark but also light, not only bestial...

  philosophy

  Jul 14, 2025
• Page One: "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988)

  Written by Jerry Zucker & Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Pat Proft, television series "Police Squad" by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry...

  writing

  Jul 11, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Argo" (2012) — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  film

  Jul 10, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Ava DuVernay

  "When I write a screenplay, I'm writing for myself. I'm the director and I need to create an emotional map. Not just plot, but a map of...

  writing

  film

  Jul 10, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: "Qualify the customer"

  Okay, this week's post is a blast from the past and only comes about due to a recent revelation from a TV producer I know that she has...

  writing

  Jul 10, 2025
• Page One: "The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear" (1991)

  Written by David Zucker & Pat Proft, television series "Police Squad" by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker

  writing

  Jul 10, 2025
• Writing Tip: Find Your Writer's Voice

  I hear this a lot in conversations with writers, but mostly with managers, agents, and producers. They're looking for writers who cover a...

  writing

  Jul 09, 2025
• Script Analysis: "12 Years a Slave" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 09, 2025
• On Writing

  "All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath."

  writing

  Jul 09, 2025
• Page One: "My Friend Dahmer" (2017)

  Written by Marc Meyers, based on the book My Friend Dahmer by John Backderf

  writing

  Jul 09, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Gone Girl" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 08, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Allan Durand

  "If you're going to write a screenplay, it better interest the living hell out of you, either the story or the amount of money you're...

  writing

  Jul 08, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kate Marks

  My conversation with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jul 08, 2025
• Page One: "My Demon Lover" (1987)

  Written by Leslie Ray

  writing

  Jul 08, 2025
• "The act of storytelling is uniquely human"

  A journalist who specializes in tracking A.I. developments has some thoughts about the technology and its impact on film and TV.

  film

  Jul 07, 2025
• Script Analysis: "BlacKkKlansman" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  film

  Jul 07, 2025
• On Writing

  "Begin with an individual, and before you know it, you find that you have created a type; begin with a type, and you find that you have...

  writing

  Jul 07, 2025
• Page One: "My Cousin Vinny" (1992)

  Written by Dale Launer

  writing

  Jul 07, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: The Spirit of the Spec

  The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.

  writing

  Jul 06, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Midsommar" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 06, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kelly Marcel

  My in-depth interview with the screenwriter whose screenplay Saving Mr. Banks made the 2011 Black List.

  writing

  Jul 06, 2025
• Page One: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" (2016)

  Written by Nia Vardalos

  writing

  Jul 06, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Parasite" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  Jul 05, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Geeta Malik

  My conversation with the 2016 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jul 05, 2025
• Great Scene: "Sideways"

  Miles on pinot noir. Maya on the "life of wine". Subtext abounds!

  writing

  Jul 05, 2025
• Page One: "Murder on the Orient Express" (2017)

  Screenplay by Michael Green, based upon the novel by Agatha Christie

  writing

  Jul 05, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Knives Out" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 04, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Sophia Lopez

  My interview with the 2021 Black List screenwriter,

  Jul 04, 2025
• Why Creative People May Feel More Anxiety

  "Why won't the words come? And what if they're the wrong words? Know what? I hate words!"

  creativity

  writing

  Jul 04, 2025
• Page One: "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008)

  Written by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar

  writing

  Jul 04, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Everything Everywhere All At Once" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 03, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: It's not just about the script

  Yes, you should focus on your spec script, but there's much more to learn.

  writing

  Jul 03, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jonathan Levine

  My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jul 03, 2025
• Page One: "The Mummy Returns" (2001)

  Written by Stephen Sommers

  writing

  Jul 03, 2025
• The Inward Path of the Protagonist's Journey

  Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell remind us that the outer journey of the hero is about the inner journey into the Self.

  writing

  Jul 02, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Michael Kujak

  My conversation with the 2021 Black List writer.

  Jul 02, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Arrival" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jul 02, 2025
• Page One: "The Mummy" (2017)

  Screenplay by David Koepp and Christopher McQuarrie and Dylan Kussman, screen story by Jon Spaihts and Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet

  writing

  Jul 02, 2025
• Go from Fade In to Fade Out This Summer!

  Knock out a first draft of your feature film script project in my upcoming online writing workshop. Starts July 21st!

  writing

  Jul 01, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Philip Dunne

  "If you get an idea in the middle of the night, it's a good idea to get up and write it down, or it's gone. There's a famous story about a...

  writing

  film

  Jul 01, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Aftersun" — Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  film

  Jul 01, 2025
• Page One: "Mr. Turner" (2014)

  Written by Mike Leigh

  writing

  Jul 01, 2025
• Tarantino, Sorkin, and Dialogue as Purpose

  Analysis of long dialogue-centric scenes in The Social Network and Pulp Fiction reveals that underneath the entertaining conversations lies...

  writing

  Jun 30, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Laura Kosann

  My interview with the writer who not only was named a 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting recipient, but also had two scripts make...

  Jun 30, 2025
• On Writing

  "I think that to write well and convincingly, one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion. Dislike, displeasure, resentment fault-finding...

  writing

  Jun 30, 2025
• Page One: "Mr. Right" (2015)

  Written by Max Landis

  writing

  Jun 30, 2025
• Plotter versus Pantser

  A writer who focuses on novels and short stories asks which approach screenwriters take.

  writing

  Jun 29, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Philip Dunne

  "Never leave a scene by the same door you came in. Every scene should advance the story. The other thing... let the characters tell the...

  writing

  Jun 29, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Stefan Jaworski

  My interview with 2021 Black List writers for his script Mercury.

  Jun 29, 2025
• Page One: "Mr. Nobody" (2009)

  Written by Jaco Van Dormael

  writing

  Jun 29, 2025
• "How do I know when I've done enough character work ..."

  Great question! One that arose in the current Character Development Keys course in one of our active message board discussions. Here is my...

  writing

  Jun 28, 2025
• "Sorry, Baby": This Summer's Must-See Movie

  It hits theaters in North America the weekend of July 4th. Please see this movie. It's wonderful.

  film

  Jun 28, 2025
• Great Scene: "Bonnie and Clyde"

  The famous — and bloody — ending of the groundbreaking 1967 film.

  film

  Jun 28, 2025
• Page One: "Motor City"

  Written by Chad St. John

  writing

  Jun 28, 2025
• There is no right way to write

  Learn all you can, but ultimately it's about your Stories and your Creative Self.

  writing

  Jun 27, 2025
• On Writing

  "You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say."

  writing

  Jun 27, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Look... don't overlook

  As writers in order for us to have any hope of securing a meaningful degree of understanding of a story universe and its characters, we...

  writing

  Jun 27, 2025
• Page One: "The Mother" (2023)

  Screenplay by Misha Green and Andrea Berloff and Peter Craig, story by Misha Green

  writing

  Jun 27, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "The Romantic"

  Paramount Pictures acquires romantic comedy spec script "The Romantic" written by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jun 26, 2025
• The Low-Down on High Concept

  A high concept screenplay must have a clean, simple, and basic idea.

  writing

  Jun 26, 2025
• 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.

  writing

  Jun 26, 2025
• Page One: "A Most Violent Year" (2014)

  Written by J.C. Chandor

  writing

  Jun 26, 2025
• Writing Tip: What if you fall out of love with a script?

  Reader question: "What about a script you fall out of love with after 2–3 drafts, and just can't finish? Put it aside for now or just push...

  writing

  Jun 25, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Vanar Jaddou

  My conversation with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 25, 2025
• Great Scene: "Thelma & Louise"

  The memorable ending of the 1991 movie.

  film

  Jun 25, 2025
• Page One: "Monster's Ball" (2001)

  Written by Milo Addica & Will Rokos

  writing

  Jun 25, 2025
• Pound Out That First Draft This Summer!

  Go from FADE IN to FADE OUT in my upcoming online writing workshop. Starts July 21st!

  writing

  Jun 24, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Lena Dunham

  "It's amazing to me that Hollywood persists in writing these two-dimensional female characters who don't really exist. No wonder it's hard...

  writing

  film

  Jun 24, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Bill Holderman and Erin Simms

  My conversation with the co-writers (Holderman and Simms) and director (Holderman) of the comedy Book Club.

  writing

  Jun 24, 2025
• Page One: "Monster" (2003)

  Written by Patty Jenkins

  writing

  Jun 24, 2025
• The Disunity to Unity Arc

  Reflections on The Lion King and Simba's physical and psychological journey.

  writing

  Jun 23, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Spencer Harvey and Lloyd Harvey

  My conversation with the Australian-based brother and sister writing duo who won the 2016 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

  Jun 23, 2025
• On Writing

  "It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a...

  writing

  Jun 23, 2025
• Page One: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975)

  Written by Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Eric Idle & Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones & Michael Palin

  writing

  Jun 23, 2025
• Non-Linear Storytelling in "Pulp Fiction"

  "Tarantino, whether intended it or not, hit upon non-linearity as the only way he could tell one particular storyline involving the fates...

  writing

  Jun 22, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Patrick S. Duncan

  "Every time I write, I find myself going through a form of self-examination that is almost a kind of therapy. By creating and examining my...

  writing

  film

  Jun 22, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Julia Hart

  My conversation with the filmmaker whose credits include The Keeping Room, Miss Stevens, Fast Color, and I'm Your Woman.

  writing

  Jun 22, 2025
• Page One: "Miss Sloane" (2016)

  Written by Jonathan Perera

  writing

  Jun 22, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Joker" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  Jun 21, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Byron Hamel

  My conversation with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 21, 2025
• Great Scene: "Good Will Hunting"

  The bar scene. Will's classic putdown. And a spin on the 'meet cute'.

  film

  Jun 21, 2025
• Page One: "Miller's Girl" (2024)

  Written by Jade Halley Bartlett

  writing

  Jun 21, 2025
• Writing Tip: We're on the road to... somewhere.

  A really long bridge... story outlines... and YOU!

  writing

  Jun 20, 2025
• On Writing

  "The only thing worth writing about is the conflict in the human heart."

  writing

  Jun 20, 2025
• Why You Should Write Three Pages of Garbage Every Morning

  "Freewriting forces you to keep moving forward, keep creating, without a thought given to quality."

  writing

  Jun 20, 2025
• Page One: "Mikey and Nicky" (1976)

  Written by Elaine May

  writing

  Jun 20, 2025
• "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...

  writing

  Jun 19, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Aaron Guzikowski

  My in-depth interview with the screenwriter whose credits include Prisoners, Papillon, and the TV series The Red Road and Raised by Wolves.

  Jun 19, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: They will pigeonhole you (and why this can be a good thing)

  The co-star of K-9 was a dog named Jerry Lee.

  writing

  Jun 19, 2025
• Page One: "The Mighty Ducks" (1992)

  Written by Steven Brill

  writing

  Jun 19, 2025
• Writing Tip: Inside and Outside the Story Universe

  The importance of Receptive Writing and Reflective Writing.

  writing

  Jun 18, 2025
• Script Analysis: "Get Out" — Scene By Scene Breakdown

  Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

  writing

  film

  Jun 18, 2025
• Great Scene: "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

  It's one of my five favorite movies: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). Directed by Stanley...

  film

  Jun 18, 2025
• Page One: "Midway" (2019)

  Written by Wes Tooke

  writing

  Jun 18, 2025
• What is the point of the scene?

  Begin the scene-writing process by asking this fundamental question.

  writing

  Jun 17, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Brian Duffield

  "Interesting things happening to interesting people is basically the only rule of screenwriting."

  writing

  film

  Jun 17, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Kryzz Gautier

  My conversation with the 2021 Black List writer for her original screenplay "Wheels Come Off."

  Jun 17, 2025
• Page One: "The Midnight Sky" (2020)

  Screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on the book 'Good Morning, Midnight' by Lily Brooks-Dalton

  writing

  Jun 17, 2025
• Deep Work vs. Shallow Work

  As writers, we need to protect time for the former from the encroachment of the latter. Here are four strategies to do precisely that.

  writing

  Jun 16, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: John Gary

  My conversation with a longtime Hollywood screenwriter.

  Jun 16, 2025
• On Writing

  "The writer's only responsibility is to his art. He will be completely ruthless if he is a good one. He has a dream. It anguishes him so...

  writing

  Jun 16, 2025
• Page One: "Memories of a Murder" (2003)

  Written by Bong Joon Ho and Sung-bo Shim, play by Kwang-rim Kim

  writing

  Jun 16, 2025
• What was Hollywood's first spec script?

  In 1967, William Goldman wrote and sold Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for a reported $400,000. While we may consider it the first spec...

  writing

  film

  Jun 15, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Matt Duffer

  "The first thing our screenwriting professors taught us was that all stories share one thing in common: there is a protagonist, and that...

  writing

  film

  Jun 15, 2025
• What are you afraid of?

  The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these negative voices?

  creativity

  writing

  Jun 15, 2025
• Page One: "Megamind" (2010)

  Written by Alan Schoolcraft & Brent Simons

  writing

  Jun 15, 2025
• Great Scene: "The Big Lebowski"

  "Donny was a good bowler, and a good man. He was one of us."

  writing

  film

  Jun 14, 2025
• On Writing

  "I write only when I'm inspired. Fortunately, I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning."

  writing

  Jun 14, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Andrew Friedhof

  My conversation with the 2015 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 14, 2025
• Page One: "The Meg" (2018)

  Screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on a novel by Steve Alten

  writing

  Jun 14, 2025
• "My world is not spectacle and explosion. It's two people talking."

  Words of writing wisdom from Taika Watiti.

  writing

  Jun 13, 2025
• Three Types of Creators

  Perfecter. Innovator. Synthesizer. Which type of creative are you?

  creativity

  writing

  Jun 13, 2025
• Writing Tip: The Tactile Experience of Writing

  Words. Created. On. Paper.

  writing

  Jun 13, 2025
• Page One: "The Meddler" (2015)

  Written by Lorene Scafaria

  writing

  Jun 13, 2025
• Character Development Keys

  Starting June 23rd, my one-week online class not only immerses you in five key archetypes, you also use them to workshop one of your...

  writing

  Jun 12, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "The Worst Man"

  Universal Pictures acquires action comedy spec script "The Worst Man" by Matt Altman and Dave Matalon. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jun 12, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: When you don't get the gig

  We are seated in the expansive office of a top Hollywood director and we are having a great time. I mean a really great time. We talk about...

  writing

  Jun 12, 2025
• Page One: "Meatballs" (1979)

  Written by Len Blum by & Daniel Goldberg & Janis Allen & Harold Ramis

  writing

  Jun 12, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Miguel Flatow

  My conversation with 2022 Black List writer for his script Viva, Mexico!

  Jun 11, 2025
• On Writing

  "A narrative voice allows you to say things you couldn't otherwise. It frees you from the prison of the ego and the limitations of habitual...

  writing

  Jun 11, 2025
• Great Scene: "Blade Runner" (1982)

  The dramatic final confrontation between Deckard and Batty.

  writing

  film

  Jun 11, 2025
• Page One: "The Maze Runner" (2014)

  Screenplay by Noah Oppenheim and Grant Pierce Myers and T.S. Nowlin, novel by James Dashner

  writing

  Jun 11, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Guys with No Friends"

  Paramount Pictures acquires comedy spec script "Guys with No Friends" written by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Via Variety:

  writing

  film

  Jun 10, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Lem Dobbs

  "Everyone thinks movies are accessible to them, you see, everyone has spent their life going to movies, watching movies on television...

  film

  Jun 10, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Beth Curry

  My conversation with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 10, 2025
• Page One: "Maudie" (2016)

  Written by Sherry White

  writing

  Jun 10, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Supermax"

  Miramax acquires action thriller spec script "Supermax" written by David Weil and David Rosen. Via Deadline:

  film

  Jun 09, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Karin delaPeña Collison

  My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 09, 2025
• On Writing

  "Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me...

  writing

  Jun 09, 2025
• Page One: "Match Point" (2005)

  Written by Woody Allen

  writing

  Jun 09, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Elizabeth Chomko

  My interview with the 2015 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Jun 08, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: James DiLapo

  "I think act structure is extremely important. The midpoint is crucial. It doesn't have to be as overt as it is in the middle of this...

  writing

  film

  Jun 08, 2025
• Writing Tip: Complications, Roadblocks, and Reversals

  In a story, a reader wants to see the Protagonist overcome obstacles along the way. Here are three ways for you to approach writing those...

  writing

  Jun 08, 2025
• Page One: "Master" (2022)

  Written by Mariama Diallo

  writing

  Jun 08, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Allison and Nicolas Buckmelter

  My interview with the 2018 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  Jun 08, 2025
• Writing Tip: "The only way out is through"

  Imagine the process of writing a story as being a journey. Perhaps as you embark on your adventure, you have a map — an outline or beat...

  writing

  Jun 08, 2025
• Great Scene: "Barton Fink"

  The enigmatic ending of the Coen brothers' 1991 movie.

  writing

  film

  Jun 07, 2025
• Page One: "The Matador" (2005)

  Written by Richard Shepard

  writing

  Jun 07, 2025
• How They Write A Script: Nancy Meyers

  "I think you're only going to get noticed by following your own instincts and doing original work, and writing the thing that only you can...

  writing

  Jun 06, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: OWA

  Three little letters: OWA. But they mean big things for Hollywood screenwriters. What do these letter stand for?

  writing

  Jun 06, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Structure and Freedom

  Words of creative wisdom the great 20th century composer Igor Stravinsky.

  writing

  Jun 06, 2025
• Page One: "Mars Attacks!" (1996)

  Screenplay by Jonathan Gems, screen story by Jonathan Gems, trading card series by Len Brown & Woody Gelman & Wally Wood & Bob Powell &...

  writing

  Jun 06, 2025
• Join me for a writers retreat in Spain... for free!

  Five mentors. Twenty writers. Six days in a 15th century castle. Apply now for one full scholarship, plus special discounted fees.

  writing

  Jun 05, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: James DiLapo

  "Emotional authenticity, even with a period piece, is more important than historical authenticity. If you can get the audience to feel as...

  writing

  film

  Jun 05, 2025
• How They Write A Script: Diablo Cody

  "I'm not an especially highbrow person, but I have always loved small, quirky, edgy movies."

  writing

  Jun 05, 2025
• Page One: "Monsters University" (2013)

  Screenplay by Daniel Gerson & Robert L. Baird and Dan Scanlon, story by Dan Scanlon and Daniel Gerson & Robert L. Baird

  writing

  Jun 05, 2025
• How They Write A Script: Jay Presson Allen

  "She is one of a handful of first-rank screenwriters of the post-1960s who also happens to be female. This has figured into her trademark...

  writing

  Jun 04, 2025
• On Writing

  "Dreaming and writing are Adam and Eve of the same process. Long before one ever writes a story...one works a story. You have ideas; and they...

  writing

  Jun 04, 2025
• Great Scene: "Amélie"

  The wordless ending of the lovely 2001 fantasy romance.

  film

  Jun 04, 2025
• Page One: "Midnight Special" (2016)

  Written by Jeff Nichols.

  writing

  Jun 04, 2025
• How They Write A Script: Anna Hamilton Phelan

  "It's the character that usually grabs me. My downfall always is the plot. That's the hardest part for me, plot."

  writing

  Jun 03, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Gerald DiPego

  "Before this interview, I thought I would do a little homework. I made a column of original screenplays called 'Sold and Produced,' and I...

  writing

  film

  Jun 03, 2025
• My alliterative definition of Story.

  A character we care about confronts complex challenges created by a compelling crisis with a cathartic conclusion.

  writing

  Jun 03, 2025
• Page One: "McFarland, USA" (2015)

  Screenplay by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson, story by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois

  writing

  Jun 03, 2025
• How They Write A Script: Leigh Brackett

  "I don't think there's anything better than screenwriting to teach you the construction of a story."

  writing

  Jun 02, 2025
• Great Scene: "Arrival"

  How the 2016 science fiction movie uses a bookend to reveal a remarkable truth... and upend our understanding of time.

  writing

  film

  Jun 02, 2025
• On Writing

  "You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that's all there is to it."

  writing

  Jun 02, 2025
• Page One: "The Mauritanian" (2021)

  Screenplay by M.B. Traven) and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, story by M.B. Traven, book by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, book editor Larry Siems

  writing

  Jun 02, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: "That pure part of you"

  Writing words of wisdom from the screenwriter of Ordinary People.

  writing

  Jun 01, 2025
• Great Scene: "Amadeus"

  Compare screenplay to screen: The wondrous scene in the 1984 movie in which Mozart dictates the Requiem Mass to Salieri.

  writing

  film

  Jun 01, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Stephany Folsom

  My 2014 in-depth interview with the screenwriter of Toy Story 4, consulting producer and writer on the TV series The Lord of the Rings: The...

  writing

  film

  Jun 01, 2025
• Page One: "Mass" (2021)

  Written by Fran Kranz

  writing

  Jun 01, 2025
• "The only way out is through"

  Imagine the process of writing a story as being a journey. Perhaps as you embark on your adventure, you have a map — an outline or beat...

  writing

  May 31, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Humphrey Bogart

  "If I ever have to spout exposition, there'd better be two camels humping in the background to distract the audience."

  writing

  film

  May 31, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Brian Duffield

  My conversation with the filmmaker whose writing credits include The Babysitter, Spontaneous, Love and Monsters, and No One Will Save You.

  May 31, 2025
• Page One: "The Mask" (1974)

  Screenplay by Mike Werb, story by Michael Fallon and Mark Verheiden

  writing

  May 31, 2025
• Great Example of Handling Exposition

  From Season 1 of The Last of Us.

  writing

  May 30, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Lindsay Devlin

  "A lot of people think movies are just sort of, 'Anybody can do it. Anybody can be a screenwriter.' But it's a tough, tough craft. It's...

  writing

  film

  May 30, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Seeing... Hearing...

  One day a while ago, I was out with my family for a walk in the neighborhood. As we returned home, I noticed a speed limit sign in the...

  writing

  May 30, 2025
• Page One: "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" (1994)

  Screenplay by Steph Lady and Frank Darabont, based on the novel by Mary Shelley

  writing

  May 30, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Hurry up and wait

  The bane of a screenwriter's existence: They want the script NOW... then they make you WAIT... and wait... and wait...

  writing

  May 29, 2025
• Writing Tip: Something is Better Than Nothing

  "No matter what you write, good or bad, it's an improvement to a blank page."

  writing

  May 29, 2025
• On Writing

  "A lesson any writer can use. Don't be afraid. That simple; don't let them scare you. There's nothing they can do to you. If they kick you...

  writing

  May 29, 2025
• Page One: "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" (2021)

  Screenplay by Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate and Nick Paley, story by Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate and Nick Paley and Elisabeth...

  writing

  May 29, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: Feet on the ground... head in the clouds

  A twist on a familiar adage speaks to the business of writing.

  writing

  May 28, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Derrickson

  "The Divine Comedy of Filmmaking:

  writing

  film

  May 28, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Lori Evans Taylor

  My conversation with the co-writer of the smash hit movie Final Destination: Bloodlines.

  May 28, 2025
• Page One: "Mary Poppins" (1964)

  Screenplay by Bill Walsh & Don DaGradi, based on The "Mary Poppins" books by by P.L. Travers

  writing

  May 28, 2025
• Prep: From Concept to Outline: "It works!"

  When you enroll in this online workshop, you will receive a FREE personalized autographed copy of my book The Protagonist's Journey!

  writing

  May 27, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Craig Mazin

  My in-depth interview with screenwriter and co-host (along with John August) of the popular podcast Scriptnotes.

  May 27, 2025
• On Writing

  "Sometimes it's all dialogue with a quick stage note, sometimes it's all descriptive work. The point is getting it all down, even if it's...

  writing

  May 27, 2025
• Page One: "Martyrs" (2008)

  Written by Pascal Laugier

  writing

  May 27, 2025
• Know Your Genre

  If you want to write in a genre, immerse yourself in it.

  writing

  May 26, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Ava DuVernay

  My in-depth interview with filmmaker whose credits include the movie Selma, the documentary 13th, and the TV series "Queen Sugar".

  May 26, 2025
• On Writing

  "I don't need time. What I need is a deadline."

  writing

  May 26, 2025
• Page One: "Mandy" (2018)

  Written by Panos Cosmatos and Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Cheddar Goblin, story by Panos Cosmatos

  writing

  May 26, 2025
• How much of the "iceberg" do we reveal?

  My response to a reader question.

  writing

  May 25, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Eric Heisserer

  My interview with one of Hollywood's hottest screenwriters.

  May 25, 2025
• Great Scene: "Good Morning, Vietnam!"

  It's Adrian Cronauer's first broadcast ... and the thrill of watching Robin Williams' improvisational skills.

  film

  May 25, 2025
• Page One: "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004)

  Screenplay by Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris, based on the 1962 screenplay by George Axelrod, adapted from the novel by Richard Condon

  writing

  May 25, 2025
• The Iceberg Theory of Writing

  How much character development is enough?

  writing

  May 24, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  May 24, 2025
• 12 Free 'Go Into The Story' eBooks

  Nearly 1,000 pages on the craft and business of screenwriting.

  writing

  May 24, 2025
• Page One: "The Man Who Invented Christmas" (2017)

  Written by Susan Coyne, based on "The Man Who Invented Christmas" by Les Standiford, inspired by "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

  writing

  May 24, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: What are you afraid of?

  The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these voices?

  writing

  May 23, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  writing

  May 23, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Your first big check

  It is March, 1987. I am here, the Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Blvd. It's 1PM. I am meeting one of my agents for lunch. For dessert: My first...

  writing

  May 23, 2025
• Page One: "Man on the Moon" (1999)

  Written by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski

  writing

  May 23, 2025
• Write what they're buying or sell them your dream

  There are many writing paths. Here are two of them.

  writing

  May 22, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Derrickson

  "Reading a mediocre screenplay is like driving when you're sleepy — every minute is work."

  writing

  film

  May 22, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  writing

  May 22, 2025
• Page One: "Man on a Ledge" (2012)

  Written by Pablo F. Fenjves

  writing

  May 22, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie?

  This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay's development and writing. Why? Because it's...

  writing

  film

  May 21, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  writing

  May 21, 2025
• On Writing

  "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

  writing

  May 21, 2025
• Page One: "A Man Called Otto" (2022)

  Screenplay by David Magee, based on the novel "En man som heter Ove" by Fredrik Backman and Hannes Holm

  writing

  May 21, 2025
• Difference Between Scene Heading and Shot

  What they are and when each should be used.

  writing

  May 20, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  writing

  May 20, 2025
• The Disunity State of Clarice Starling

  How the opening of The Silence of the Lambs establishes the Protagonist's psychological starting point for her transformation-journey.

  writing

  film

  May 20, 2025
• Page One: "Mallrats" (1995)

  Written by Kevin Smith

  writing

  May 20, 2025
• Join me for a writers retreat in Spain!

  Plus, a special discount for Go Into The Story readers.

  writing

  May 19, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Matt Altman & Dave Matalon

  My conversation with the writing duo behind the 2024 Black List script Three Hitmen and a Baby.

  writing

  May 19, 2025
• On Writing

  "Only the hand that erases can write the true thing."

  writing

  May 19, 2025
• Page One: "Malignant" (2021)

  Screenplay by Akela Cooper, story by James Wan & Ingrid Bisu and Akela Cooper

  writing

  May 19, 2025
• Deep Work vs. Shallow Work

  As writers, we need to protect time for the former from the encroachment of the latter. Here are four strategies to do precisely that.

  writing

  May 18, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jon Boyer

  My conversation with the writer of the Black List script "Free Byrd."

  May 18, 2025
• Deep Focus: Film School on the Cheap

  Resources put together by members of the Go Into The Story community.

  May 18, 2025
• Page One: "Malibu's Most Wanted" (2003)

  Written by Fax Bahr & Adam Small & Jamie Kennedy and Nick Swardson

  writing

  May 18, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Perspiration and Inspiration

  Sometimes it's all about the work. Sometimes it's all about the un-work.

  creativity

  writing

  May 17, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Craig Borten

  My interview with the co-writer of the Oscar nominated screenplay Dallas Buyers Club.

  writing

  May 17, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: You will fuck up

  "One day, you will sell your screenplay, and then your problems will begin." — Audrey Wells

  writing

  film

  May 17, 2025
• Page One: "Malcolm & Marie" (2021)

  Written by Sam Levinson

  writing

  May 17, 2025
• Happy Birthday, Go Into The Story!

  Launched on May 16, 2008, here we are 6,210 days of blogging later... but what does it all mean?

  writing

  May 16, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Callie Bloem and Christopher Ewing

  My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  May 16, 2025
• On Writing

  "The best advice on writing was given to me by my first editor, Michael Korda, of Simon and Schuster, while writing my first book. 'Finish...

  writing

  May 16, 2025
• Page One: "The Majestic" (2001)

  Written by Michael Sloane

  writing

  May 16, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Scott Derrickson

  "Many filmmakers, especially young ones, are afraid being 'pigeonholed', but that's a pejorative word for 'branding', and branding is...

  film

  May 15, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Amy Berg

  My conversation with a top Hollywood TV showrunner.

  writing

  May 15, 2025
• Page One: "Maggie's Plan" (2015)

  Written for the screen by Rebecca Miller, based on a story by Karen Rinaldi

  writing

  May 15, 2025
• Keys to Handling Exposition

  Take my 1-week online class to learn ways to make exposition entertaining. Begins Monday, May 26, 2025.

  writing

  May 14, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Haley Bartels

  My interview with the 2021 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  May 14, 2025
• On Writing

  "A problem with a piece of writing often clarifies itself if you go for a long walk."

  writing

  May 14, 2025
• Page One: "Made in Heaven" (1987)

  Written by Bruce A. Evans & Raynold Gideon

  writing

  May 14, 2025
• Ctrl, Alt, Del: Three Act Structure

  It's right there on your keyboard!

  writing

  May 13, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Brian Arnold

  My interview with 2021 Black List writer.

  May 13, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Brian De Palma

  "The problem with writing a movie is you've got to have a great idea. I loved the idea for Femme Fatale and it came very quickly. Dressed...

  writing

  film

  May 13, 2025
• Page One: "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015)

  Written by George Miller and Brendan McCarthy and Nick Lathouris

  writing

  May 13, 2025
• Carl Jung on the structure of dreams

  Subconscious stories revealed in our sleep in four acts.

  writing

  May 13, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jennifer Archer

  My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  May 13, 2025
• On Writing

  "We're all born with an imagination. Everybody gets one. And I really believe — this is just from years of daily writing — that good...

  writing

  May 12, 2025
• Page One: "The Lunchbox" (2013)

  Screenplay by Ritesh Batra

  writing

  May 12, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: Free Association

  Sometimes if you're stuck in your writing, it's best just to cut loose.

  writing

  May 11, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

  "Joseph Campbell's studies of myths, legends, and religions suggested that exactly the same story components cropped up in every culture...

  writing

  film

  May 11, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Julia Yorks

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  May 11, 2025
• Page One: "Lucy in the Sky" (2019)

  Screenplay by Brian C. Brown & Elliott DiGuiseppi & Noah Hawley, story by Brian C. Brown & Elliott DiGuiseppi

  writing

  May 11, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: It's not just about the script

  Yes, you should focus on your spec script, but there's much more to learn.

  writing

  May 10, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Julia York

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  May 10, 2025
• On Writing

  "Talent is cheap. What matters is discipline."

  writing

  May 10, 2025
• Page One: "Lucky Number Slevin" (2006)

  Written by Jason Smilovic

  writing

  May 10, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Need writing inspiration? Go to an airport.

  All those arrivals and departures represent a non-stop flow of stories.

  writing

  May 09, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Julia York

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  May 09, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason"

  I'm at lunch with our agents in Beverly Hills. It's February, 1987. The deal where Universal Pictures bought our spec script K-9 is...

  writing

  May 09, 2025
• Page One: "London Boulevard" (2010)

  Screenplay by William Monahan, novel by Ken Bruen

  writing

  May 09, 2025
• Theme as Moments

  "It should not be surprising that what we most often and most vividly remember about a movie are its key moments. It should also not be...

  writing

  May 08, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Julia Yorks

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  May 08, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Pen Densham

  "You have to look at being a story-writer and let that passion create stories, and see where there's a place you might be able to find...

  writing

  May 08, 2025
• Page One: "Love, Simon" (2018)

  Screenplay by Elizabeth Berger & Isaac Aptaker, based upon the novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

  writing

  May 08, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: Test Your Story Concept

  5 questions to ask about a story idea to assess its viability as a scripted project.

  writing

  May 07, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Julia Yorks

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  film

  May 07, 2025
• On Writing

  "Don't quit. It's very easy to quit during the first ten years. Nobody cares whether you write or not, and it's very hard to write when...

  writing

  May 07, 2025
• Page One: "Love & Other Drugs" (2010)

  Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz

  writing

  May 07, 2025
• Reader Question: Can a Protagonist evolve into an Antagonist?

  "I prefer to look at it in Jungian terms: The Protagonist's shadow has emerged from latency and because the Protagonist has not confronted...

  writing

  May 06, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Julia Yorks

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  May 06, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Frank Darabont

  "The whole industry of 'we can make you a screenwriter.' I have ambivalent feelings because, ultimately, even though there is some benefit...

  writing

  film

  May 06, 2025
• Page One: "Lone Survivor" (2013)

  Written by Peter Berg, book by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson

  writing

  May 06, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: Stacking projects

  One key to the craft: Learning how to manage multiple projects at once.

  writing

  May 05, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Julia Yorks

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script The Seven Guys You Date Before Marriage.

  writing

  May 05, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writing is easy. Being a writer is murder."

  writing

  May 05, 2025
• Page One: "The Lone Ranger" (2013)

  Screenplay by Justin Haythe and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Justin Haythe

  writing

  May 05, 2025
• Break your story in prep

  My only Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop of 2025 begins June 2nd.

  writing

  May 04, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: James Acker

  My interview with the 2020 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  May 04, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Frank Darabont

  "Don't get into this business if it's about trying to make a million-dollar sale. We've got plenty of assholes around trying to achieve...

  writing

  May 04, 2025
• Page One: "Live by Night" (2016)

  Screenplay by Ben Affleck, novel by Dennis Lehane

  writing

  May 04, 2025
• The Coen Brothers, Storytelling, and Fate

  A poem by Ethan Coen reveals a key clue to the brothers' story sensibilities.

  writing

  May 03, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Zombieland"

  One of the most important things a writer wants to do when they begin a script is establish the story's tone — and this is nowhere more...

  writing

  May 03, 2025
• 20 Tips from Martin Scorsese

  The writer-director of Mean Streets, Goodfellas, The Age of Innocence, and Casino with reflections on cinematic storytelling.

  writing

  film

  May 03, 2025
• Page One: "Live and Let Die" (1973)

  Screenplay by Tom Mankiewicz, novel by Ian Fleming

  writing

  May 03, 2025
• Here's to Us Night Owls!

  "The conventional wisdom is that morning people are high achievers, go-getters, while late risers are lazy. But what if going to bed in the...

  productivity

  May 02, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Movie Stars

  I am staring at a cardboard standup display of an iconic movie character from an Academy Award winning movie, one of the most famous...

  writing

  film

  May 02, 2025
• Page One: "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986)

  Screenplay by Howard Ashman, based on the musical play "Little Shop of Horrors"

  writing

  May 02, 2025
• My Writing Workshop Schedule

  Two online workshops this summer... my only ones in 2025!

  writing

  May 01, 2025
• Writing Mantra: Get the damn thing done!

  The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

  writing

  May 01, 2025
• On Writing

  "I can count on one hand, or possibly one elbow, the number of good writing ideas I've had while straining at the keyboard. When you find...

  writing

  May 01, 2025
• Page One: "The Little Things" (2021)

  Written by John Lee Hancock

  writing

  May 01, 2025
• Story Summaries: From Loglines to Beat Sheets

  Learn six different types of story summaries and how to use them to develop your scripted projects. My one-week online class starts Monday...

  writing

  Apr 30, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Richard Curtis

  "I tend to do projects I've had in mind for two years, so they're slowly boiling on the stove like stock. And by slowing yourself down, you...

  writing

  film

  Apr 30, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Withnail and I"

  This Great Scene was from one of my favorite comedies Withnail and I (1987). Unfortunately, I only had a transcript of the scene to post...

  writing

  Apr 30, 2025
• Page One: "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007)

  Screenplay by Mark Bomback, story by Mark Bomback and David Marconi, original character by Roderick Thorp, article by John Carlin

  writing

  Apr 30, 2025
• Page One: "Lion" (2016)

  Screenplay by Luke Davies, based on a book by Saroo Brierley

  writing

  Apr 30, 2025
• On Writing

  It has often been said there's so much to be read, you never can cram all those words in your head.

  writing

  Apr 29, 2025
• Page One: "The Lincoln Lawyer" (2011)

  Screenplay by John Romano, novel by Michael Connelly

  writing

  Apr 29, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Destin Daniel Cretton

  "I do a lot of writing in my head for a while and then I start outlining and just throwing ideas down on the notes in my iPhone or notes in...

  writing

  Apr 28, 2025
• Page One: "Like Father Like Son" (1987)

  Screenplay by Lorne Cameron and Steve Bloom, story by Lorne Cameron

  writing

  Apr 27, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writing is like driving in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."

  writing

  Apr 26, 2025
• Page One: "The Lifeguard" (2013)

  Written by Liz W. Garcia

  writing

  Apr 26, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 25, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Destin Daniel Cretton

  "I do a lot of writing in my head for a while and then I start outlining and just throwing ideas down on the notes in my iPhone or notes in...

  writing

  Apr 25, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Wall-E"

  I have discussed the writing style of the Pixar film Wall-E before here. On the subject of scene description, here's a money quote from...

  writing

  Apr 25, 2025
• Page One: "Lights Out" (2016)

  Screenplay by Eric Heisserer, based on the short film by David F. Sandberg

  writing

  Apr 25, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 24

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 24, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Travis Braun

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

  writing

  Apr 24, 2025
• On Writing

  "Rembrandt and Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Gauguin, possessed, I believe, powerful hearts, not powerful wills. They loved the range of...

  writing

  Apr 24, 2025
• Page One: "Leviathan" (1989)

  Screenplay by David Webb Peoples and Jeb Stuart, story by David Webb Peoples

  writing

  Apr 24, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 23

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 23, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Travis Braun

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

  writing

  Apr 23, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Up"

  Pixar filmmakers are masters at setups and payoffs as in the script for Up.

  writing

  film

  Apr 23, 2025
• Page One: "Letters from Iwo Jima" (2006)

  Screenplay by Iris Yamashita, story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis, based on a book by Tadamichi Kuribayashi

  writing

  Apr 23, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 22, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Francis Ford Coppola

  "When you make a movie, always try to discover what the theme of the movie is in one or two words. Every time I made a film, I always knew...

  writing

  film

  Apr 22, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Travis Braun

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

  writing

  Apr 22, 2025
• Page One: "Life Stinks" (1991)

  Screenplay by Mel Brooks & Rudy De Luca & Steve Haberman, story by Mel Brooks & Ron Clark & Rudy De Luca & Steve Haberman

  writing

  Apr 22, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 21, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Travis Braun

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

  writing

  Apr 21, 2025
• On Writing

  "You've got to be prepared to write a load of nonsense to start with and then you can tart it up. The business of getting going, getting...

  writing

  Apr 21, 2025
• Page One: "Life Itself" (2018)

  Written by Dan Fogelman

  writing

  Apr 21, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 20, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Steve Coogan

  "To write from personal experience, you also need the humility to be able to accept that whatever you think might be wrong. I think...

  writing

  Apr 20, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Unforgiven"

  The folksy narrative voice in sync with the movie's Western genre and a clean read with bursts of imagematic writing.

  writing

  Apr 20, 2025
• Page One: "Licence to Kill" (1989)

  Written by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum, characters by Ian Fleming

  writing

  Apr 20, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 19, 2025
• Update: 2025 London Screenwriters' Festival

  Some events added to my schedule Thursday, April 24-Sunday, April 27.

  writing

  Apr 19, 2025
• On Writing

  "I keep little notepads all over the place to write down ideas as soon as they strike, but the ones that fill up the quickest are always...

  writing

  Apr 19, 2025
• Page One: "Let Him Go" (2020)

  Written by Thomas Bezucha, novel by Larry Watson

  writing

  Apr 19, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 18

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 18, 2025
• Screenwriting Mantra: Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

  The origin and importance of one of the best screenwriting mantras... ever!

  writing

  Apr 18, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: What are you afraid of?

  The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these negative voices?

  creativity

  writing

  Apr 18, 2025
• Page One: "Leprechaun" (1993)

  Written by Mark Jones

  writing

  Apr 18, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 17

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• Story as Psychological Journey

  "To dig up diamonds in our imagination, we must plumb the depths of our own souls and enter our deepest, darkest caves, for it is there...

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• On Writing

  "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely...

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• Page One: "The Legend of Zorro" (2005)

  Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, story by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, based on a character by...

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 16

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Titanic"

  Before Avatar went on to gross $2.72B worldwide, writer-director James Cameron created another movie phenomenon called Titanic (1997) which...

  writing

  film

  Apr 17, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Michele Atkins

  My interview with the screenwriter whose screenplay won a 2016 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.

  Apr 17, 2025
• Page One: "The Lego Movie" (2014)

  Screenplay by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

  writing

  Apr 17, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 15

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  film

  Apr 15, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Spenser Cohen

  "Stories are an emotional medium. People always say, write what you know, and I think it's write what you know emotionally. Sometimes I'll...

  writing

  film

  Apr 15, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Elijah Bynum

  My interview with the screenwriter whose scripts Mississippi Mud and Hot Summer Nights both were named to the 2013 Black List.

  Apr 15, 2025
• Page One: "Law Abiding Citizen" (2009)

  Written by Kurt Wimmer

  writing

  Apr 15, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 14

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 14, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "There's Something About Mary"

  There are many funny scenes in the Farrelly brothers' movie There's Something About Mary (1988), but the "franks or beans" scene is right...

  writing

  film

  Apr 14, 2025
• On Writing

  "If someone's on a soapbox saying this is what I am or, more accurately, this what I think you should be, I run for the hills. But if...

  writing

  Apr 14, 2025
• Page One: "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988)

  Screenplay by Paul Schrader, novel by Nikos Kazantzakis

  writing

  Apr 14, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 13

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 14, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Larry Cohen

  "When Larry Cohen is writing a screenplay, there are certain things he will not do. He will not rely on an outline. Over the years, he has...

  writing

  film

  Apr 13, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  Apr 13, 2025
• Page One: "The Last Station" (2009)

  Screenplay by Michael Hoffman, based on the novel by Jay Parini

  writing

  Apr 13, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 12

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 13, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  Apr 12, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Some Like It Hot"

  Many older screenplays from the 40s and 50s are written in a style that makes them hard to read — loaded with directing notes, lots of...

  writing

  film

  Apr 12, 2025
• Page One: "The Last Picture Show" (1971)

  Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Peter Bogdanovich, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry

  writing

  Apr 12, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 11

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 11, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  Apr 11, 2025
• "Come to the edge"

  Going beyond the edge of the Old World into the New World can be a terrifying experience, but a necessary one for the transformation...

  writing

  Apr 11, 2025
• Page One: "Last Holiday" (2006)

  Screenplay by Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman

  writing

  Apr 11, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 10

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 10, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  Apr 10, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Joel Coen

  "Every movie ever made is an attempt to remake The Wizard of Oz."

  film

  Apr 10, 2025
• Page One: "Lake Placid" (1999)

  Written by David E. Kelley

  writing

  Apr 10, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April.

  writing

  Apr 09, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  Apr 09, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: Untitled Teen Comedy

  A24 acquires raunchy untitled teen comedy spec script written by Morgan Lehmann. Via Deadline:

  film

  Apr 09, 2025
• Page One: "Ladyhawke" (1985)

  Screenplay by Edward Khmara and Michael Thomas and Tom Mankiewicz, story by Edward Khmara

  writing

  Apr 09, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 8

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 08, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  Apr 08, 2025
• On Writing

  "The most important element of any story is to make the reader want to know what happens next. Period. Everything else is gravy."

  writing

  Apr 08, 2025
• Page One: "L.A. Story" (1991)

  Written by Steve Martin

  writing

  Apr 08, 2025
• The Coen Brothers and the Craft of Storytelling

  My one-week online class begins Monday, April 14.

  writing

  Apr 07, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Cameron Fay

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Until You.

  writing

  film

  Apr 07, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 07, 2025
• Page One: "Krampus" (2015)

  Written by Todd Casey & Michael Dougherty & Zach Shields

  writing

  Apr 07, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 07, 2025
• On Writing

  "Sneaking up on it sometimes helps. I've found I can be very productive for an hour before dinner, because there obviously isn't enough...

  writing

  Apr 06, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Isaac Adamson

  My interview with 2015 Black List writer for his script Bubbles.

  Apr 06, 2025
• Page One: "Knowing" (2009)

  Screenplay by Ryne Douglas Pearson and Juliet Snowden & Stiles White, story by Ryne Douglas Pearson

  writing

  Apr 06, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 5

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 05, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Dana Coen

  "I learned by continually asking myself those essential craft questions. Is the scene driven by the intent of the characters? Are there...

  writing

  film

  Apr 05, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Se7en"

  I posted this sequence in the movie Se7en as a Great Scene here and you can go there to see an analysis and commentary about it. But this...

  writing

  Apr 05, 2025
• Page One: "A Knight's Tale" (2001)

  Written by Brian Helgeland

  writing

  Apr 05, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 4

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 04, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writers spend all their time preoccupied with just the things that their fellow men and women spend their time trying to avoid thinking...

  writing

  Apr 04, 2025
• Psychology of Storytelling: Dark Places

  "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."

  writing

  Apr 04, 2025
• Page One: "Knight and Day" (2010)

  Written by Patrick O'Neill

  writing

  Apr 04, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 3

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work my...

  writing

  Apr 03, 2025
• Hollywood Tales: Someday someone will beat you to the punch

  If you traffic in high concept stories, chances are you'll confront this scenario.

  writing

  Apr 03, 2025
• Writing Tip: Are You a Push Writer or a Pull Writer?

  Do you do your best creative work when you're pushed... or pulled?

  writing

  Apr 03, 2025
• Page One: "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2014)

  Screenplay by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, based on the comic book "The Secret Service" by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

  writing

  Apr 03, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work...

  writing

  Apr 02, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Diablo Cody

  "I don't have a formal rewrite process. I just compulsively groom and re-groom scenes like a cat with OCD."

  writing

  film

  Apr 02, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Saving Private Ryan"

  I doubt anyone who has seen Saving Private Ryan — written by Robert Rodat, directed by Steven Spielberg — will ever forget the film's...

  writing

  film

  Apr 02, 2025
• Page One: "The Kings of Summer" (2013)

  Written by Chris Galletta

  writing

  Apr 02, 2025
• A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1

  This is the 15th year in a row I've run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I'll work...

  writing

  Apr 01, 2025
• On Writing

  "In any story there are three elements: persons, a situation, and the fact that in the end something has changed. If nothing has changed...

  writing

  Apr 01, 2025
• Page One: "Kingpin" (1996)

  Written by Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan

  writing

  Apr 01, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 31

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 31, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  Mar 31, 2025
• "Just write the next word"

  Words of writing wisdom from screenwriter Anna Hamilton Phelan.

  writing

  Mar 31, 2025
• Page One: "The King" (2019)

  Written by David Michôd by & Joel Edgerton

  writing

  Mar 31, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 30

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 30, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Diablo Cody

  "I didn't really look at it as teen-speak but more like weirdo language! Ellen Page just presents it in such a saucy way, too, and I'm kind...

  writing

  film

  Mar 30, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  Mar 30, 2025
• Page One: "Kin" (2018)

  Screenplay by Daniel Casey, based on the short film "Bag Man" by Jonathan Baker & Josh Baker

  writing

  Mar 30, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 29

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 29, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  Mar 29, 2025
• On Writing

  "We need myths to get by. We need story; otherwise the tremendous randomness of experience overwhelms us. Story is what penetrates."

  writing

  Mar 29, 2025
• Page One: "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" (2017)

  Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou

  writing

  Mar 29, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 28

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 28, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  film

  Mar 28, 2025
• 18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently

  Are you creative? Chances are you do some things differently.

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 28, 2025
• Page One: "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988)

  Written by Charles Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo

  writing

  Mar 28, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 27

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 27, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  Mar 27, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: 24/7/365

  When you're a writer, you're basically never NOT working.

  writing

  Mar 27, 2025
• Page One: "Kill Your Darlings" (2013)

  Screenplay by Austin Bunn and John Krokidas, story by Austin Bunn

  writing

  Mar 27, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 26

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 26, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Jack Waz

  My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  Mar 26, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Raising Arizona"

  I'll always have a soft spot for Raising Arizona as it was the very first industry screening I attended back in March 1987. That and the...

  film

  Mar 26, 2025
• Page One: "Kill the Messenger" (2014)

  Written by Peter Landesman, book by Gary Webb, book by Nick Schou

  writing

  Mar 26, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 25

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 25, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Tze Chun

  "When I want to come up with a new project, I will sit down and I will try to write 25 ideas a day for a week or two. So that I have 100...

  writing

  Mar 25, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Jack Waz

  My interview with 2024 Black List writer for his script Decoys.

  writing

  Mar 25, 2025
• Page One: "Kids" (1995)

  Written by Harmony Korine, story by Larry Clark

  writing

  Mar 25, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 24

  Zero Draft Thirty: Day 24.

  writing

  Mar 24, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Mikey & Wyatt

  A conversation with the creators of the popular YouTube series.

  writing

  film

  Mar 24, 2025
• On Writing

  "Plot, or evolution, is life responding to environment; and not only is this response always in terms of conflict, but the really great...

  writing

  Mar 24, 2025
• Page One: "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2003)

  Written by Quentin Tarantino

  writing

  Mar 24, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 23

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 23, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Lisa Cholodenko

  "I think the most important thing I learned [from editing] is that you start with this huge bear of a film which really has no pacing or no...

  writing

  film

  Mar 23, 2025
• Screenplays are stories, not formulas

  "If you go in with formula, you come out with formula."

  writing

  Mar 23, 2025
• Page One: "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" (2003)

  Written by Quentin Tarantino

  writing

  Mar 23, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 22

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 22, 2025
• On Writing

  "I sit in the dark and wait for a little flame to appear at the end of my pencil."

  writing

  Mar 22, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Raging Bull"

  Sports movie are tough to write for many reasons. Here's one of them: How to describe athletic action without being too specific and...

  writing

  Mar 22, 2025
• Page One: "The Karate Kid Part III" (1989)

  Written by Robert Mark Kamen, characters created by Robert Mark Kamen

  writing

  Mar 22, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 21

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 21, 2025
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling

  Part 5: "We like to be engaged and entertained by what transpires in the plot, but more important we want to find meaning in the...

  writing

  Mar 21, 2025
• 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Stimulate Creativity

  Sadly, bourbon is not one of them.

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 21, 2025
• Page One: "The Karate Kid Part II" (1986)

  Written by Robert Mark Kamen, characters created by Robert Mark Kamen

  writing

  Mar 21, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 20

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 20, 2025
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling

  Part 4: What Is / What Could Be / What Is / What Could Be / What Is...

  writing

  Mar 20, 2025
• Great Scene: "Rachel Getting Married"

  A wedding toast gone awkwardly, painfully awry.

  writing

  film

  Mar 20, 2025
• Page One: "The Karate Kid" (1984)

  Written by Robert Mark Kamen

  writing

  Mar 20, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 19

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 19, 2025
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling

  Part 3: "Every storytelling exercise should begin by asking: Who is my audience and what is the message I want to share with them? Each...

  writing

  Mar 19, 2025
• Update: 2025 London Screenwriters' Festival

  More information on my appearance at this year's event: April 24–27.

  writing

  Mar 19, 2025
• Page One: "K-PAX" (2001)

  Screenplay by Charles Leavitt, novel by Gene Brewer

  writing

  Mar 19, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 18

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 18, 2025
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling

  Part 2: The intriguing thing here is that while we, as writers, are thinking about emotions and psychology, much of it apparently boils...

  writing

  Mar 18, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Stan Chervin

  "I always try to bang out a first, rough draft as fast as I can. There's a story of George Abbott, the theatre director, coming into the...

  writing

  film

  Mar 18, 2025
• Page One: "Just Mercy" (2019)

  Written by Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham, based on the book by Bryan Stevenson

  writing

  Mar 18, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 17

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 17, 2025
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling

  Part 1: Something about your story, most particularly involving your Protagonist, must resonate with a reader. What that boils down to is...

  writing

  Mar 17, 2025
• On Writing

  "Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's...

  writing

  Mar 17, 2025
• Page One: "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997)

  Screenplay by David Koepp, novel by Michael Crichton

  writing

  Mar 17, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 16

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 16, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Mar 16, 2025
• Writing Tip: Free Association

  Sometimes if you're stuck in your writing, it's best just to cut loose.

  writing

  Mar 16, 2025
• Page One: "Jockey" (2021)

  Written by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar

  writing

  Mar 16, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 15

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 15, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Mar 15, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Pulp Fiction"

  Quentin Tarantino is noted — among other things — for his ear for great dialogue. However in Pulp Fiction (1994), it's worth noting that...

  writing

  film

  Mar 15, 2025
• Page One: "Julieta" (2016)

  Written by Pedro Almodóvar, based on stories by Alice Munro

  writing

  Mar 15, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 14

  Write an entire draft of a script in September — FADE IN. FADE OUT. Or any sort of creative goal you have in front of you.

  writing

  Mar 14, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Mar 14, 2025
• Why Creativity Thrives in the Dark

  Some scientific props for all you fellow night writers out there!

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 14, 2025
• Page One: "Joy" (2015)

  Screenplay by David O. Russell, story by Annie Mumolo and David O. Russell

  writing

  Mar 14, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 13

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 13, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Mar 13, 2025
• 2025 London Screenwriters' Festival

  The event runt thfough Friday, April 25–27, 2025 ... I'll be there!

  writing

  Mar 13, 2025
• Page One: "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling" (1986)

  Written by Rocco Urbisci & Paul Mooney & Richard Pryor

  writing

  Mar 13, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 12

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 12, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Mar 12, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Memento"

  With the movie Memento (2000), Christopher Nolan had a challenge when writing the script: How to make clear to the reader — and the...

  writing

  Mar 12, 2025
• Page One: "Jingle All the Way" (1996)

  Written by Randy Kornfield

  writing

  Mar 12, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 11

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 11, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Damien Chazelle

  "I know my strengths, and I know my weaknesses. I'm very good at sitting around and brainstorming, thinking up ideas and mapping them out...

  writing

  film

  Mar 11, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Mar 11, 2025
• Page One: "The Jewel of the Nile" (1985)

  Written by Mark Rosenthal & Lawrence Konner, characters by Diane Thomas

  writing

  Mar 11, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 10

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 10, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Charmaine Colina

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Mar 10, 2025
• On Writing

  "No scene is ever about the words being spoken."

  writing

  Mar 10, 2025
• Page One: "Jaws 2" (1978)

  Written by Carl Gottlieb and Howard Sackler, based upon characters created by Peter Benchley

  writing

  Mar 10, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 9

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 09, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Paddy Chayefsky

  "Artists don't talk about art. Artists talk about work. If I have anything to say to young writers, it's stop thinking of writing as art...

  writing

  Mar 09, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "The Matrix"

  Still for my money, one of the best scripts for action-writing. The Wachowskis use the basic elements of visual writing — strong verbs and...

  writing

  Mar 09, 2025
• Page One: "Jarhead" (2005)

  Screenplay by William Broyles Jr., book by Anthony Swofford

  writing

  Mar 09, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 9

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 09, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 8

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 08, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Lethal Weapon"

  There have been many forces of nature impacting screenplay style over the years, but there are only a very few actual screenwriters to whom...

  writing

  Mar 08, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Jeremiah Friedman & Nick Palmer

  In September 2010, Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer who sold their spec script "Family Getaway" to Warner Bros. Turns out, there were fans...

  writing

  Mar 08, 2025
• Page One: "Jagged Edge" (1985)

  Written by Joe Eszterhas

  writing

  Mar 08, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 7

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity

  writing

  Mar 07, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: The Curse of Shiny Object Syndrome

  "It's not quite ADD/ADHD. It's more that a new idea captures your imagination and attention in such a way that you get distracted from the...

  writing

  Mar 07, 2025
• "Saving Private Ryan": Minute By Minute Breakdown

  A podcast analysis with MovieRob and me about the dramatic scene: What to do with the German POW "Steamboat Willie"

  film

  Mar 07, 2025
• Page One: "Jack Reacher" (2012)

  Written for the screen by Christopher McQuarrie, based on the book "One Shot" by Lee Child

  writing

  Mar 07, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 6

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 06, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Paddy Chayefsky

  "If it should occur to you to cut, do so. That's the first basic rule of cutting. If you're reading through and stop, something is wrong...

  writing

  Mar 06, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "I Can See You're Angry"

  Miramax acquires comedy spec script "I Can See You're Angry" written by Brandon Cohen. Via Deadline:

  writing

  Mar 06, 2025
• Page One: "It's Kind of a Funny Story" (2010)

  Screenplay by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, novel by Ned Vizzini

  writing

  Mar 06, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 5

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 05, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Filipe Coutinho and Ben Mehlman

  My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Whittier.

  Mar 05, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writing is like meditation or going into an ESP trance, or prayer. Like dreaming. You are tapping into your unconscious. To be fully...

  writing

  Mar 05, 2025
• Page One: "It" (2017)

  Screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Joji Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman, based on the novel by Stephen King

  writing

  Mar 05, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 4

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 04, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Andrew Bujalski

  "Write out the scene the way you hear it in your head. Then read it and find the parts where the characters are saying exactly what you...

  writing

  film

  Mar 04, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Jerry Maguire"

  "A beat of silence, then noise returns to its normal commercial roar. A couple of fleas have been swatted off the carcass of an immense...

  writing

  Mar 04, 2025
• Page One: "Isle of Dogs" (2018)

  Screenplay by Wes Anderson, story by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola & Jason Schwartzman and Kunichi Nomura

  writing

  Mar 04, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 3

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 03, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Inglourious Basterds"

  Today let's consider the narrative voice of a drama: Inglourious Basterds (2009), written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

  writing

  Mar 03, 2025
• On Writing

  "The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."

  writing

  Mar 03, 2025
• Page One: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978)

  Screenplay by W.D. Richter, novel by Jack Finney

  writing

  Mar 03, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 2

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 02, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Mar 02, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: The Creative Personality

  Creative Personality as comprised of 10 dichotomies. How many do you have?

  creativity

  writing

  Mar 02, 2025
• Page One: "The Interview" (2014)

  Screenplay by Dan Sterling, story by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Dan Sterling

  writing

  Mar 02, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Day 1

  One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "The Hangover" (2009)

  Today, we check out The Hangover, screenplay by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore.

  writing

  Mar 01, 2025
• Page One: "Interstellar" (2014)

  Written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

  writing

  Mar 01, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Get Your Head On Straight

  It's time to gear up for the latest Challenge which begins tomorrow!

  writing

  Feb 28, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 28, 2025
• Spec Script Deal: "Riding Hurt"

  Teton Ridge Entertainment acquires action crime spec script "Riding Hurt" written by Buck Bloomingdale. Via Variety:

  film

  Feb 28, 2025
• Page One: "The Interpreter" (2005)

  Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Scott Frank and Steven Zaillian, story by Martin Stellman & Brian Ward

  writing

  Feb 28, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Character Development

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 27, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 27, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: When you don't get the gig

  We are seated in the expansive office of a top Hollywood director and we are having a great time. I mean a really great time. We talk about...

  writing

  Feb 27, 2025
• Page One: "The Internship" (2013)

  Screenplay by Vince Vaughn and Jared Stern, story by Vince Vaughn

  writing

  Feb 27, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Gender Bend

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 26, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 26, 2025
• On Writing

  "Fairy tales are more than true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

  writing

  Feb 26, 2025
• Page One: "Insidious: Chapter 2" (2013)

  Screenplay by Leigh Whannell, story by James Wan & Leigh Whannell, based on characters created by Leigh Whannell

  writing

  Feb 26, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Script Diary

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 25, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 25, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: William Broyles, Jr.

  "Writing really is a process of discovery. The biggest enemy is being satisfied. When I think, 'Oh, this is so great. They can't change a...

  writing

  film

  Feb 25, 2025
• Page One: "Inspector Gadget" (1999)

  Screenplay by Kerry Ehrin and Zak Penn, story by Dana Olsen and Kerry Ehrin, characters by Andy Heyward and Jean Chalopin and Bruno Bianchi

  writing

  Feb 25, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — Index Cards!

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 24, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Wendy Britton Young

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 24, 2025
• On Writing

  "I write because I like to write."

  writing

  Feb 24, 2025
• Page One: "Insidious" (2010)

  Written by Leigh Whannell

  writing

  Feb 24, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge: Story Prep — "What if..."

  A series to help prepare writers for next month's Zero Draft Thirty writing challenge.

  writing

  Feb 23, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Gattaca"

  The 1997 movie Gattaca is one many Go Into The Story readers have commented on with great affection, either publicly or to me via email.

  film

  Feb 23, 2025
• Page One: "Ingrid Goes West" (2017)

  Written by David Branson Smith & Matt Spicer

  writing

  Feb 23, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Fargo"

  When is a kidnapping scene funny? When it's written and directed by the Coen brothers, like in the 1996 Academy Award-winning movie Fargo...

  writing

  film

  Feb 22, 2025
• Interview (Video): Michael Arndt

  In conversation with the late Syd Field.

  writing

  film

  Feb 22, 2025
• Page One: "Infinitely Polar Bear" (2014)

  Written by Maya Forbes

  writing

  Feb 22, 2025
• On Storytelling: Thoughts, Feelings, Mentors, and Attractors

  Reflections on two primary character archetypes.

  writing

  Feb 21, 2025
• The act of writing provides health benefits

  "From long-term health improvements to short-term benefits like sleeping better, it's official: Writers are doing something right."

  writing

  Feb 21, 2025
• Page One: "The Incredible Hulk" (2008)

  Screenplay by Zak Penn, screen story by Zak Penn, Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

  writing

  Feb 21, 2025
• Writing Tip: How to Discover a Character's Humanity

  A writing exercise which helps you tap into a character's inner life.

  writing

  Feb 20, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Commencement of Principal Photography

  When your movie officially starts production, that can trigger a writer's payday.

  writing

  Feb 20, 2025
• Page One: "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" (2013)

  Screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley, story by Chad Kultgen & Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley

  writing

  Feb 20, 2025
• What is a movie script's denouement?

  It answers this question: What do you want the audience to feel when they walk out of the theater at the end of your movie?

  writing

  Feb 19, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Ed Wood"

  A period piece. A bio-pic of an enigmatic character. A drama with absurd comic elements. The 1994 movie Ed Wood is all of these — and more.

  writing

  film

  Feb 19, 2025
• Page One: "In Fabric" (2018)

  Written by Peter Strickland

  writing

  Feb 19, 2025
• My Favorite Five Films at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

  Amidst a strong slate of movies, these five films stood out.

  film

  Feb 18, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Rita Mae Brown

  "Character is destiny. The resolution of any plot must come from within the character. The redemption or destruction of any character is...

  writing

  film

  Feb 18, 2025
• Page One: "I Think We're Alone Now" (2018)

  Written by Mike Makowsky

  writing

  Feb 18, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "The Deer Hunter"

  During the Vietnam War, two American prisoners are forced to play Russian roulette.

  writing

  film

  Feb 17, 2025
• On Writing

  "Plot is what keeps you going when you first read a story, and character is what stays with you after you have finished reading it."

  writing

  Feb 17, 2025
• Page One: "I Love You, Man" (2009)

  Screenplay by John Hamburg and Larry Levin, story by Larry Levin

  writing

  Feb 17, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Feb 16, 2025
• Writing and the Creative Life: Mind Wandering

  "What no [spouse] of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window."

  writing

  Feb 16, 2025
• Page One: "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore" (2017)

  Written by Macon Blair

  writing

  Feb 16, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Feb 15, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "The Dark Knight"

  Today we shine the spotlight on a great piece of screenwriting, the screenplay for The Dark Knight, co-written by Christopher & Jonathan...

  writing

  film

  Feb 15, 2025
• Page One: "Tucker and Dale vs Evil" (2010)

  Written by Eli Craig & Morgan Jurgenson

  writing

  Feb 15, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  film

  Feb 14, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Movies are a director's medium

  "But that's the whole point of the God damn movie!"

  writing

  Feb 14, 2025
• Page One: "Memory" (2023)

  Written by Michael Franco

  writing

  Feb 14, 2025
• A Zero Draft Thirty Success Story

  You can use the month of March to pound out a screenplay. Maybe it will lead to a movie getting made ... like this writer!

  writing

  Feb 13, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Feb 13, 2025
• Page One: "In the Tall Grass" (2019)

  Written by Vincenzo Natali, based on the novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill

  writing

  Feb 13, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Feb 12, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Chinatown"

  The screenplay for the 1974 movie Chinatown is considered one of the best scripts ever written. Its writer Robert Towne received an Academy...

  film

  Feb 12, 2025
• Page One: "The Hustler" (1961)

  Screenplay by Sidney Carroll and Robert Rossen, based on the novel by Walter Tevis

  writing

  Feb 12, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Raymond Chandler

  "The challenge of screenwriting is to say much in little and then take half of that little out and still preserve an effect of leisure and...

  writing

  film

  Feb 11, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  Alysha Chan and David Zarif wrote the original screenplay "Miss Chinatown" which won a 2024 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Recently...

  writing

  Feb 11, 2025
• Page One: "Bookworm" (2024)

  Screenplay by Toby Harvard, story by Toby Harvard & Ant Timpson

  writing

  Feb 11, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.

  writing

  Feb 10, 2025
• On Writing

  "The character that lasts is an ordinary guy with some extraordinary qualities."

  writing

  Feb 10, 2025
• Page One: "The Hummingbird Project" (2018)

  Written by Kim Nguyen

  writing

  Feb 10, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: What about the Protagonist and the inciting incident?

  "Something. Happens. In my view, that is the essence of an inciting incident."

  writing

  Feb 09, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Cast Away"

  The screenplay for the 2000 movie Cast Away was written by William Broyles Jr. Once the story transitioned to the island, a challenge he...

  writing

  Feb 09, 2025
• Page One: "Hugo" (2011)

  Screenplay by John Logan, based on the book entitled "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick

  writing

  Feb 09, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Basic Instinct"

  Let's say you're writing a sexy thriller. Per the concept of narrative voice, you should write scene description that is... well... sexy and...

  writing

  Feb 08, 2025
• On Writing

  "When in doubt have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand."

  writing

  Feb 08, 2025
• Page One: "Howard the Duck" (1986)

  Written by Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz, based on the character created by Steve Gerber

  writing

  Feb 08, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Barton Fink"

  An enigmatic ending, a movie that leaves you hanging, so that as you exit the theater with your date or friends, everyone is talking about...

  film

  Feb 07, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Hurry up and wait

  The bane of a screenwriter's existence: They want the script NOW... then they make you WAIT... and wait... and wait...

  writing

  Feb 07, 2025
• Page One: "How to Build a Girl" (2019)

  Screenplay by Caitlin Moran based on her novel

  writing

  Feb 07, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Park Chan-Wook

  "A common beginner's mistake would be to try and be perfect about everything that you write, and each line that you write you want to make...

  writing

  Feb 06, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: The Nemesis as the Protagonist's 'Shadow'

  Want drama? Ask your Protagonist: What do you fear the most? Then put them in a story where they have to confront that fear: Their Nemesis.

  writing

  Feb 06, 2025
• Page One: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000)

  Screenplay Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman, based on a book by Dr. Seuss

  writing

  Feb 06, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

  The ending sequence includes a most interesting sentence...

  writing

  Feb 05, 2025
• On Writing

  "I have come to see this fear, this sense of my own imperilment by my creations, as not only an inevitable, necessary part of writing...

  writing

  Feb 05, 2025
• Page One: "House Party" (1990)

  Written by Reginald Hudlin

  writing

  Feb 05, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: John Cassavetes

  "People who are making films today are too concerned with mechanics — technical things instead of feeling. Execution is about eight percent...

  film

  Feb 04, 2025
• Screenwriting Tip: The Value of Three Scripts

  You write, you learn. Three scripts is a good minimum number for starting to understand the craft.

  writing

  Feb 04, 2025
• Page One: "Hot Fuzz" (2007)

  Written by Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg

  writing

  Feb 04, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "Avatar"

  There are many reasons to read and analyze the script to Avatar (2009), at last count about 2.7 billion of them by one measure.

  writing

  Feb 03, 2025
• On writing

  "To do your very best work as an artist, whatever the discipline, takes complete immersion in the work. You need to get caught in the...

  writing

  Feb 03, 2025
• Page One: "Hostel" (2005)

  Written by Eli Roth

  writing

  Feb 03, 2025
• Is there a rule as to how many "cuss words" can be used in a script?

  Delving into the sometimes mysterious world of the MPA ratings system.

  writing

  film

  Feb 02, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  Feb 02, 2025
• Page One: "Horrible Bosses 2" (2014)

  Screenplay by Sean Anders & John Morris, story by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Sean Anders & John Morris, characters by...

  writing

  Feb 02, 2025
• 2025 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge!

  One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

  writing

  Feb 01, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Feb 01, 2025
• Page One: "Horrible Bosses" (2011)

  Screenplay by Michael Markowitz and John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein, story by Michael Markowitz

  writing

  Feb 01, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jan 31, 2025
• Scene Description Spotlight: "The African Queen"

  Today a blast from the past: An excerpt from the shooting script for the movie The African Queen (1951), adapted from the C.S. Forrester...

  writing

  Jan 31, 2025
• Page One: "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" (1992)

  Screenplay by Thom Eberhardt and Peter Elbling & Garry Goodrow, story by Garry Goodrow, characters by Stuart Gordon & Brian Yuzna & Ed Naha

  writing

  Jan 31, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 30, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: "Everyone is here because of us"

  It is late spring 1988. I am in San Diego where K-9 is being shot. It's my first day on a movie set. Ever. The scene the crew is shooting...

  writing

  Jan 30, 2025
• Page One: "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" (1989)

  Screenplay by Ed Naha and Tom Schulman, story by Stuart Gordon & Brian Yuzna & Ed Naha

  writing

  Jan 30, 2025
• "Raising the Stakes" video series

  The entire four-season series of screenwriting videos from Black List screenwriter Jonathan Stokes.

  writing

  film

  Jan 29, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 29, 2025
• Page One: "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (1992)

  Written by John Hughes

  writing

  Jan 29, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: John Cassavetes

  "As an artist I feel that we must try different things — but above all we must dare to fail. You can fail in films because you don't have...

  writing

  film

  Jan 28, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 28, 2025
• Page One: "Home Alone" (1990)

  Written by John Hughes

  writing

  Jan 28, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Ward Kamel

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  film

  Jan 27, 2025
• On Writing

  "There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before."

  writing

  Jan 27, 2025
• Page One: "The Hollars" (2016)

  Written by Jim Strouse

  writing

  Jan 27, 2025
• Reader Question: Do I HAVE to use INT/EXT — LOCATION — DAY/NIGHT in scene headings?

  Wherein we consider selling scripts, shooting scripts, conventional wisdom, and writing whatever the hell we want.

  writing

  Jan 26, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

  My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.

  writing

  Jan 26, 2025
• Page One: "Day of the Fight" (2023)

  Written by Jack Huston

  writing

  Jan 26, 2025
• The Narrative Imperative of the Hero's Journey

  "The adventure they are ready for is the adventure they get."

  writing

  Jan 25, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber

  Screenwriting duo whose movie writing credits include (500) Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Disaster...

  Jan 25, 2025
• Page One: "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl" (2024)

  Screenplay by Mark Burton, story by Nick Park & Mark Burton

  writing

  Jan 25, 2025
• Script Readers: Hollywood's Threshold Guardians

  They may not get a lot of respect, but they are important to writers.

  writing

  Jan 24, 2025
• Download Each of the 2025 Oscar Nominated Screenplays

  Your chance to read and study 10 Academy Award nominated scripts.

  film

  Jan 24, 2025
• Page One: "Transformers One" (2024)

  Screenplay by Eric Pearson and Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari, story by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari

  writing

  Jan 24, 2025
• Your characters want you to tell their story

  Lean into your characters. After all, it's their story.

  writing

  Jan 23, 2025
• On Writing

  "Writing is a craft that requires both talent and acquired skills. You learn by doing, by making mistakes and then seeing where you went...

  writing

  Jan 23, 2025
• Page One: "Thelma" (2024)

  Written by Josh Margolin

  writing

  Jan 23, 2025
• THR 2025 Writers Roundtable

  The Hollywood Reporter's annual sit-down with six screenwriters with notable films from the previous year.

  writing

  Jan 22, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: Hip pocket representation

  The gray area between being signed by an agent... and kinda signed.

  writing

  Jan 22, 2025
• Page One: "Anora" (2024)

  Written by Sean Baker

  writing

  Jan 22, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Leigh Brackett

  "I sort of went off into corners and wept a few times at things that made me very unhappy. I think the hardest thing about adapting to...

  writing

  film

  Jan 21, 2025
• Great Scene: "Barbie"

  In a quiet, reflective moment, Barbie experiences something of what it means to be a human.

  writing

  film

  Jan 21, 2025
• Page One: "Small Things Like These" (2024)

  Written by Enda Walsh, book by Claire Keegan

  writing

  Jan 21, 2025
• The Importance of Subplots

  An in-depth exploration of the value of these mini-stories.

  writing

  Jan 20, 2025
• On Writing

  "A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something."

  writing

  Jan 20, 2025
• Page One: "Juror #2" (2024)

  Written by Jonathan A. Abrams

  writing

  Jan 20, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 19, 2025
• The Best 25 Films of 2024

  A Video Countdown by film critic David Ehrlich.

  film

  Jan 19, 2025
• Page One: "The Innocents" (1961)

  Screenplay by William Archibald and Truman Capote, based on the story "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James

  writing

  Jan 19, 2025
• David Lynch's Favorite Films: 10 Movies the Director Wants You to See

  David Lynch, who recently passed away, was an eclectic filmmaker, thus, it's no surprise his favorite films reflect that sensibility.

  film

  Jan 18, 2025
• Interview (Part 6): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 18, 2025
• Page One: "Better Man" (2024)

  Written by Simon Gleeson and Oliver Cole and Michael Gracey

  writing

  Jan 18, 2025
• Interview (Part 5): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jan 17, 2025
• Hero's Journey as Psychological Journey

  When we think of the Hero's Journey, what comes to mind is a geographical adventure. The Heroine starts out in their Ordinary World...

  writing

  Jan 17, 2025
• Page One: "I Saw the TV Glow" (2024)

  Written by Jane Schoenbrun

  writing

  Jan 17, 2025
• Interview (Part 4): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jan 16, 2025
• Download 2025 WGA Screenwriting Award Nominated Screenplays

  10 screenplays. Get them here.

  film

  Jan 16, 2025
• Page One: "Civil War" (2024)

  Written by Alex Garland

  writing

  Jan 16, 2025
• Interview (Part 3): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 15, 2025
• The Key to Character Introductions

  What is it we need to know about a character to help us craft an effective introduction? Their core essence.

  writing

  Jan 15, 2025
• Page One: "Nickel Boys" (2024)

  Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, book by Colson Whitehead

  writing

  Jan 15, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Mark Bomback

  "A big misconception that people have about these franchise movies is that all the studios care about is the action. It's very cynical and...

  writing

  film

  Jan 14, 2025
• Interview (Part 2): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  film

  Jan 14, 2025
• Page One: "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" (2024), original title: "Dane-ye anjir-e ma'abed"

  Written by Mohammad Rasoulof

  writing

  Jan 14, 2025
• Interview (Part 1): Colton Childs

  My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

  writing

  Jan 13, 2025
• On Writing

  "Don't write about a character. Become that character, and then write your story."

  writing

  Jan 13, 2025
• Page One: "The Fire Inside" (2024)

  Written by Barry Jenkins, based on the documentary T-Rex

  writing

  Jan 13, 2025
• The Iceberg Theory of Writing

  How much character development is enough?

  writing

  Jan 12, 2025
• 6 Old Grammar Rules That Are Finally Going Out of Style

  Writers should feel free to write stories how the stories need to be told.

  writing

  Jan 12, 2025
• Page One: "Moana 2" (2024)

  Screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, story by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller & Bek Smith

  writing

  Jan 12, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  A deep dive into movie "Easter eggs"

  writing

  Jan 11, 2025
• Best Writing Approach: Routine or Ritual?

  I am fascinated by creativity, in particular how creativity manifests itself in the wide variety of people I meet or learn about. That has...

  writing

  Jan 11, 2025
• Page One: "A Different Man" (2024)

  Written by Aaron Schimberg

  writing

  Jan 11, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  Part 5 of the series written by Karen Grube.

  writing

  Jan 10, 2025
• Writers on Characters

  Quotes from professional writers about the importance of characters in the story-crafting process.

  writing

  Jan 10, 2025
• Page One: "Memoir of a Snail" (2024)

  Written by Adam Elliot

  writing

  Jan 10, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  Part 4 of the series written by Karen Grube.

  writing

  Jan 09, 2025
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 58 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 09, 2025
• Page One: "September 5" (2024)

  Written by Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum, co-writer Alex David

  writing

  Jan 09, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  Part 3 of the series written by Karen Grube.

  writing

  Jan 08, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Dan Gilroy

  "Anytime you step outside the conventional formulaic bounds of the screenwriting style, it becomes a little scary. We're already vaguely...

  writing

  film

  Jan 08, 2025
• Page One: "Wicked" (2024)

  Screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, musical book Winnie Holzman, novel by Gregory Maguire

  writing

  Jan 08, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  Part 2 of the series written by Karen Grube.

  writing

  comics

  Jan 07, 2025
• On Writing

  "The reason 99% of all stories written are not bought by editors is very simple. Editors never buy manuscripts that are left on the closet...

  writing

  Jan 07, 2025
• Page One: "Nosferatu" (2024)

  Written for the screen by Robert Eggers, inspired by the screenplay "Nosferatu" by Henrik Galeen, inspired by the novel "Dracula" by Bram...

  writing

  Jan 07, 2025
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 1 Returning Script, 56 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 06, 2025
• Guest Series: Extend Your Script's Message with Hidden Easter Eggs

  A deep dive into movie "Easter eggs"

  writing

  Jan 06, 2025
• Page One: "Dune: Part Two" (2024)

  Screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, novel by Frank Herbert

  writing

  Jan 06, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Liz Hannah

  Sometimes the story behind the story is as compelling as the story itself and that's the case with Liz Hannah, writer of the 2015 Black...

  Jan 05, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Danny Boyle

  "Beyond persistence, the only advice I ever give to young filmmakers is, don't be shy in the way you tell a story. Be bold. There is that...

  film

  Jan 05, 2025
• Page One: "Flow" (2024)

  Written by Gints Zilbalodis and Matiss Kaza

  writing

  Jan 05, 2025
• Character Development Exercise: Switch Protagonists

  After all, every character is the Protagonist in their own story.

  writing

  Jan 04, 2025
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 55 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Jan 04, 2025
• Page One: "Unstoppable" (2024)

  Screenplay by Eric Champnella and Alex Harris and John Hindman, book by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy

  writing

  Jan 04, 2025
• The Business of Screenwriting: The Birth, Life, and Death of a Movie

  It's 1997. My writing partner and I are seated in a screening room on the Paramount lot. We are there with a handful of studio execs...

  writing

  film

  Jan 03, 2025
• Go Into The Story Interview: Justin Marks

  My in-depth interview with the screenwriter of The Jungle Book and showrunner-writer of the hit TV series Shōgun.

  Jan 03, 2025
• Page One: "Heretic" (2024)

  Written by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods

  writing

  Jan 03, 2025
• Prosody: The Secret to Memorable Writing

  Another in the excellent screenwriting video series Raising the Stakes.

  writing

  Jan 02, 2025
• On Writing

  "You have to be reckless when writing. Be as crazy as your conscience allows."

  writing

  Jan 02, 2025
• Page One: "The Order" (2024)

  Screenplay by Zach Baylin and Gary Gerhardt, book by Kevin Flynn

  writing

  Jan 02, 2025
• Reader Question: "What should I do if a project sells similar to a script I'm writing?"

  Before you jump, step back from the ledge, and consider the following.

  writing

  Jan 01, 2025
• Screenwriting 101: Jon Boyer

  "A bad script written is still better than an amazing one that isn't."

  writing

  film

  Jan 01, 2025
• Page One: "All We Imagine as Light" (2024)

  Written by Payal Kapadia

  writing

  Jan 01, 2025
• Reader Question: Is it realistic to expect a career as a screenwriter?

  My response to an email query.

  writing

  Dec 31, 2024
• Video: Reckless Creatives Symposium

  Two hours of yours truly answering questions about character-driven screenwriting and storytelling.

  writing

  film

  Dec 31, 2024
• Page One: "Sing Sing" (2023)

  Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, story by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar & Clarence Maclin & John Divine G Whitfield

  writing

  Dec 31, 2024
• 12 of the Most Popular Go Into The Story Articles from 2024

  Jump-start your screenwriting in 2025 with inspiration from these articles which generated the most buzz on my blog.

  writing

  Dec 30, 2024
• "This is the true joy of life..."

  A wise quote from George Bernard Shaw.

  creativity

  writing

  Dec 30, 2024
• Page One: "Babygirl" (2024)

  Written by Halina Reijn

  writing

  Dec 30, 2024
• 2024 Go Into The Story Highlights: Interviews with 2023 Black List Writers

  To date, I have interviewed 85 writers whose scripts were named to the annual Black List.

  writing

  Dec 29, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 54 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 29, 2024
• Page One: "The Brutalist" (2024)

  Written by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold

  writing

  Dec 29, 2024
• 2024 Go Into The Story Highlights: Interviews with 2023 Nicholl Fellows

  I have interviewed every Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting recipient since 2012 including last year's winners. Via the Academy:

  writing

  film

  Dec 28, 2024
• Reader Question: What is life really like for a beginning screenwriter?

  Some things to expect when you break into the business.

  writing

  Dec 28, 2024
• Page One: "Queer" (2024)

  Screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes, novel by William S. Burroughs

  writing

  Dec 28, 2024
• What if...

  Perhaps the two most powerful words in the creative process.

  writing

  Dec 27, 2024
• "The Story We Know"

  Reflections on a poem by Martha Collins.

  writing

  Dec 27, 2024
• Page One: "Nightbitch" (2024)

  Written for the screen by Marielle Heller, novel by Rachel Yoder

  writing

  Dec 27, 2024
• Mr. Potter and the Billionaire Class

  Current events bring to mind the Nemesis of It's a Wonderful Life.

  writing

  film

  Dec 26, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Craig Borten

  "For me, it's the characters, breaking the characters. That's what I spend most of my time with. Once I've done that, character will speak...

  writing

  film

  Dec 26, 2024
• Page One: "Hit Man" (2023)

  Screenplay by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell, article by Skip Hollandsworth

  writing

  Dec 26, 2024
• Why I keep hosting this blog... and a Christmas wish for you

  Because of emails like this!

  writing

  Dec 25, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 52 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 25, 2024
• Page One: "The Piano Lesson" (2024)

  Screenplay by Virgil Williams & Malcolm Washington, based on a play written by August Wilson

  writing

  Dec 25, 2024
• "Why It's A Wonderful Life is the greatest film ever made"

  Filmmaker Marshall Herskovitz reminds us about the remarkable power of this holiday classic.

  film

  Dec 24, 2024
• On Writing

  "Creativity — like human life itself — begins in darkness."

  writing

  Dec 24, 2024
• Page One: "Dìdi" (2024)

  Written by Sean Wang

  writing

  Dec 24, 2024
• How to Write a Marketable Screenplay

  Tips from a presentation at the Pittsburgh Shorts Filmmaker Conference.

  writing

  Dec 23, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 51 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 23, 2024
• Page One: "A Real Pain" (2024)

  Written by Jesse Eisenberg

  writing

  Dec 23, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek"

  Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and story as psychological journey.

  writing

  Dec 22, 2024
• TCM Remembers: 2024

  This year's tribute to those in the Hollywood filmmaking community who passed away is especially moving.

  film

  Dec 22, 2024
• Page One: "Emilia Pérez" (2024)

  Written by Jacques Audiard, scenario collaboration by Thomas Bidegain, collaboration by Léa Mysius & Nicolas Livecchi, novel by Boris Razon

  writing

  Dec 22, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025

  10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 21, 2024
• "Each scene must be a drama in itself"

  This advice from silent movie era screenwriter Jeanie Macpherson still resonates today.

  writing

  Dec 21, 2024
• Page One: "The Room Next Door" (2024)

  Written by Pedro Almodóvar, novel by Sigrid Nunez

  writing

  Dec 21, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 48 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 20, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 10] — Trust the Process

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 20, 2024
• Page One: "Daddio" (2023)

  Written by Christy Hall

  writing

  Dec 20, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 5 New Scripts, 46 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 19, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 9] — The Only Way Out Is Through

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 19, 2024
• Page One: "I'm Still Here"(2024)

  Screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, book by Marcelo Rubens Paiva

  writing

  Dec 19, 2024
• 2024 Black List Word Cloud Logline Challenge!

  Check out this word cloud from the 2024 Black List loglines, then write your OWN logline from those words to win some great prizes!

  Dec 18, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 8] — First Draft

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  Dec 18, 2024
• Page One: "Blitz" (2024)

  Written by Steve McQueen

  Dec 18, 2024
• Reflections of 2024 Black List Project Lab Participants

  Writers who participated in this year's inaugural Black List Project Lab reflect on their experience.

  writing

  Dec 17, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 7] — Time Management

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 17, 2024
• Page One: "Saturday Night" (2024)

  Written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman

  writing

  Dec 17, 2024
• UPDATE: 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 4 New Scripts, 41 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 16, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 6] — Schedule

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 16, 2024
• Page One: "The Outrun" (2024)

  Screenplay by Nora Fingscheidt & Amy Liptrot, screenstory by Amy Liptrot & Nora Fingscheidt and Daisy Lewis, based on the memoir by Amy...

  Dec 16, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Chris Borrelli

  "It's something you should always be doing, in my opinion. You should always be open to ideas and stories. I have an idea file. I look back...

  Dec 15, 2024
• Tarantino, Sorkin, and Dialogue as Purpose

  Analysis of long dialogue-centric scenes in The Social Network and Pulp Fiction reveals that underneath the entertaining conversations lies...

  Dec 15, 2024
• Page One: "The Substance" (2024)

  Written by Coralie Fargeat

  Dec 15, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: Aristotle and Three Act Structure

  "A whole [story] is what has a beginning and middle and end."

  writing

  film

  Dec 14, 2024
• Video: MacGuffins Aren't MacGuffins

  Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

  writing

  film

  Dec 14, 2024
• Page One: "Conclave" (2024)

  Screenplay by Peter Straughan, book by Robert Harris

  Dec 14, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 37 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 13, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 5] — Going Public

  10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  Dec 13, 2024
• Page One: "The Apprentice" (2024)

  Written by Gabriel Sherman

  Dec 13, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 8 New Scripts, 35 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  Dec 12, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 4] — Practical Matters

  10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  Dec 12, 2024
• Page One: "Gladiator II" (2024)

  Screenplay by David Scarpa, story by Peter Craig & David Scarpa, characters created by David Franzoni

  Dec 12, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 6 New Scripts, 27 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 11, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 3] — Where Do You Want To Go As A Writer?

  10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  Dec 11, 2024
• Page One: "The Last Showgirl" (2024)

  Written by Kate Gersten

  Dec 11, 2024
• 2024 Black List

  All 83 scripts listed in order of votes received including loglines, plus a link where you can download the official list.

  writing

  Dec 10, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 2] — Assessing Where You Are

  Over the next two weeks, a 10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 10, 2024
• Page One: "The Holiday" (2006)

  Written by Nancy Meyers

  writing

  Dec 10, 2024
• Writing Goals: 2025 [Part 1] — Looking Back

  Over the next two weeks, a 10-part series for writers to consider what we did in 2024 and will do in 2025.

  writing

  Dec 09, 2024
• On Writing

  "Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own. Imagination is a force that can actually manifest a reality."

  writing

  Dec 09, 2024
• Page One: "The Hole" (2009)

  Written by Mark L. Smith

  writing

  Dec 09, 2024
• Story and the Question of Self-Identity

  Every story inevitably raises this question about the Protagonist: "Who are you?"

  writing

  Dec 08, 2024
• Why You Should Write Three Pages of Garbage Every Morning

  "Freewriting forces you to keep moving forward, keep creating, without a thought given to quality."

  writing

  Dec 08, 2024
• Page One: "Hold the Dark" (2018)

  Screenplay by Macon Blair, based on a book by William Giraldi

  writing

  Dec 08, 2024
• Video: 10 Writing and Directing Tips from Michael Mann

  Advice from the writer-director of Heat, The Insider, Ali, and many other films and TV series.

  writing

  Dec 07, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 8 New Scripts, 21 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 07, 2024
• Page One: "Maria" (2024)

  Written by Steven Knight

  writing

  Dec 07, 2024
• Screenplays are stories, not formulas

  William Goldman has famously written, "Screenplays are structure." That is true in a tangible sense because at some point, a script becomes...

  writing

  Dec 06, 2024
• 2011 Go Into The Story Screenwriters Roundtable

  A conversation with Chris Borrelli, F. Scott Frazier, Jeremiah Friedman, Nick Palmer, Justin Rhodes, Greg Russo, John Swetnam

  Dec 06, 2024
• Page One: "Deadpool & Wolverine" (2024)

  Written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy

  writing

  Dec 06, 2024
• Video: Why "We're Not So Very Different, You And I"

  Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

  writing

  Dec 05, 2024
• Something is Better Than Nothing

  "No matter what you write, good or bad, it's an improvement to a blank page."

  creativity

  writing

  Dec 05, 2024
• Page One: "Red One" (2024)

  Screenplay by Chris Morgan, story by Hiram Garcia

  writing

  Dec 05, 2024
• To Write, Stop Thinking

  Think character. Think plot. Think theme. But when you sit down to write, don't think... feel.

  writing

  Dec 04, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 3 New Scripts, 13 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 04, 2024
• Page One: "His Three Daughters" (2023)

  Written by Azazel Jacobs

  writing

  Dec 04, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Jeffrey Boam

  "Ultimately, plot is of little importance, more of a mechanical contrivance against which characters come to life. Plot tries to engage...

  writing

  film

  Dec 03, 2024
• Scene Description Spotlight: Express Your Voice

  On December 9th, I'll be offering an important one-week online class. It's called Scene Description Spotlight which sounds super practical...

  writing

  Dec 03, 2024
• Page One: "Hocus Pocus" (1993)

  Screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, story by David Kirschner and Mick Garris

  writing

  Dec 03, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts, 10 Total

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Dec 02, 2024
• On Writing

  "If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor."

  writing

  Dec 02, 2024
• Page One: "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" (2013)

  Screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, novel by J.R.R. Tolkien

  writing

  Dec 02, 2024
• How to Break Into the Film Industry Without Any Connections

  The screenwriters of the smash hit movie A Quiet Place share the ins and outs of their journey to Hollywood.

  writing

  film

  Dec 01, 2024
• Go Into The Story Interview: Michael Ballin and Thomas Aguilar

  My interview with 2021 Black List writers.

  Dec 01, 2024
• Page One: "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012)

  Screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, novel by J.R.R. Tolkien

  writing

  Dec 01, 2024
• Writing Tip: Beginnings and Endings

  Remember when you first came up with the story idea you're currently writing? How great that felt?

  writing

  Nov 30, 2024
• Screenplay: The Importance of Establishing Narrative Voice

  From Page 1, Line 1, you must convey your story's tone and voice.

  writing

  Nov 30, 2024
• Page One: "The Hitman's Bodyguard" (2017)

  Written by Tom O'Connor

  writing

  Nov 30, 2024
• The Importance of Persistence in a Writer's Life

  "PERSIST on telling your story. PERSIST on reaching your audience. PERSIST on staying true to your vision."

  writing

  Nov 29, 2024
• Video: "The Christ Symbol"

  Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

  film

  Nov 29, 2024
• Page One: "A Hidden Life" (2019)

  Written by Terrence Malick

  writing

  Nov 29, 2024
• Make Words Your Friend

  When you bust it all down, writing is about choosing words. A writer can choose them well ... or not.

  writing

  Nov 28, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 2 New Scripts

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Nov 28, 2024
• Page One: "A Hero" a.k.a. "Ghahreman" (2021)

  Written by Asghar Farhadi

  writing

  Nov 28, 2024
• This is something you can do because this is something you have done!

  I get email:

  writing

  Nov 27, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Clean Break

  Searchlight Pictures acquires drama spec script "Clean Break" written by Ryan Brennan. Via Deadline:

  writing

  Nov 27, 2024
• Page One: "Heavyweights" (1995)

  Written by Judd Apatow & Steven Brill

  writing

  Nov 27, 2024
• Reflections of 2024 Black List Feature Writer's Lab Participants

  Writers who participated in this year's Black List Feature Writer's Lab reflect on their experience.

  writing

  Nov 26, 2024
• On Writing

  "Style has always been in my mind the author's Self, the creative expression of that Self."

  writing

  Nov 26, 2024
• Page One: "Blink Twice" (2024)

  Written by Zoë Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum

  writing

  Nov 26, 2024
• Negative Fear, Positive Fear

  "Fear of writing, understandable, but a negative influence. However, fear of NOT writing and what that prospect could mean, that can be a...

  writing

  Nov 25, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Mark Boal

  "It's [The Hurt Locker] the not the first war movie to be told in chapters. Apocalypse Now is told in chapters, in sort of an episodic way...

  film

  Nov 25, 2024
• Page One: "The Idea of You" (2024)

  Screenpay by Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt, novel by Robinne Lee

  writing

  Nov 25, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip : "Earn this."

  When it comes to a scene where a character makes a critical choice, it's imperative that you — as the writer — have earned that moment.

  writing

  Nov 24, 2024
• On Writing

  "A writer has to have an imagination — that's what make a writer."

  writing

  Nov 24, 2024
• Page One: "My Old Ass" (2024)

  Written by Megan Park

  writing

  Nov 24, 2024
• Write "Yes" pages

  Advice to screenwriters from a literary manager.

  writing

  Nov 23, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: How to Handle Blocks of Scene Description

  Think of each paragraph as a camera shot... with a catch.

  writing

  Nov 23, 2024
• Page One: "The Wild Robot" (2024)

  Screenplay Chris Sanders, book by Peter Brown

  writing

  Nov 23, 2024
• Screenwriting Tip: The Six Word Test

  If you're having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

  writing

  Nov 22, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Alignment"

  Fifth Season and Makeready acquire thriller spec script "Alignment" written by Natan Dotan. Via THR:

  film

  Nov 22, 2024
• Page One: "Inside Out 2" (2024)

  Screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, story by Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve

  writing

  Nov 22, 2024
• 2024 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 6 New Scripts

  It's that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

  writing

  film

  Nov 21, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: "Go into the story and find the animals"

  Writing wisdom from a three year-old boy: My son Luke.

  writing

  Nov 21, 2024
• Page One: "Heavy Metal" (1981)

  Screenplay by Daniel Goldberg & Len Blum

  writing

  Nov 21, 2024
• Video: "What is subtext?"

  Another in the excellent screenwriting series Raising the Stakes.

  writing

  Nov 20, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: "The only way out is through"

  Imagine the process of writing a story as being a journey. Perhaps as you embark on your adventure, you have a map — an outline or beat...

  writing

  Nov 20, 2024
• Page One: "Heaven Can Wait" (1978)

  Screenplay by Elaine May and Warren Beatty, based upon a play by Harry Segal

  writing

  Nov 20, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: The Spirit of the Spec

  The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.

  writing

  Nov 19, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Carter Blanchard

  "Writing a script is like running a marathon. But it's also about training for that marathon. Research, plotting, character work..."

  writing

  film

  Nov 19, 2024
• Page One: "The Hate U Give" (2018)

  Screenplay by Audrey Wells, based upon the novel by Angie Thomas

  writing

  Nov 19, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

  I know the source of this mantra. It was one of my online screenwriting students. During a weekly live-chat session. I was going on and on...

  writing

  Nov 18, 2024
• On Writing

  "There are so many different kinds of writing and so many ways to work that the only rule is this: do what works. Almost everything has...

  writing

  Nov 18, 2024
• Page One: "Harriet" (2019)

  Screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard and Kasi Lemmons, story by Gregory Allen Howard

  writing

  Nov 18, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Test Your Story Concept

  Five questions to ask about a story idea to assess its viability as a scripted project.

  writing

  Nov 17, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Test Drive"

  Twentieth Century Studios acquires action spec script "Test Drive" written by Matt Venne. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  Nov 17, 2024
• Page One: "Harlem Nights" (1989)

  Written by Eddie Murphy

  writing

  Nov 17, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Set-up and Payoffs

  One of the most important narrative elements screenwriters have available to us is set-ups and payoffs. The basic idea is this: We...

  writing

  Nov 16, 2024
• "Fear"

  A poem by Khalil Gibran describes both the Protagonist's journey ... and the writer's journey.

  writing

  Nov 16, 2024
• Page One: "The Happy Prince" (2018)

  Written by Rupert Everett

  writing

  Nov 16, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: 1, 2, 7, 14

  Here is a simple formula about three things — Read Scripts. Watch Movies. Write Pages. — you need to do to expand and deepen your...

  writing

  Nov 15, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Carter Blanchard

  "I might have been generous before, saying that they're going to read the first act. I would hope most of them do, and I'm sure no one's...

  writing

  film

  Nov 15, 2024
• Page One: "Hackers" (1995)

  Written by Rafael Moreu

  writing

  Nov 15, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Story as Psychological Journey

  "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."

  writing

  Nov 14, 2024
• On Writing

  "A character has to be ignorant of the future, unsure about the past, and not at all sure what he's supposed to be doing."

  writing

  Nov 14, 2024
• Page One: "Gunpowder Milkshake" (2021)

  Written by Navot Papushado & Ehud Lavski

  writing

  Nov 14, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: "Movies don't owe anybody a living"

  The original quote is about music, but it pertains to all entertainment.

  writing

  Nov 13, 2024
• "How can I possibly find the time to write?" Try this approach.

  You can write 2 feature spec scripts per year ... by writing 1 page per day.

  writing

  Nov 13, 2024
• Page One: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (2022)

  Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale, screen story by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins, based on the book "Pinocchio"...

  writing

  Nov 13, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: If you write a great script...

  ...Hollywood will find you.

  writing

  Nov 12, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Shane Black

  "The feeling of finishing the script, the first draft, was the high. Everything that followed — though of interest, and sometimes slightly...

  writing

  film

  Nov 12, 2024
• Page One: "The Guest" (2014)

  Written by Simon Barrett

  writing

  Nov 12, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Imagematic writing

  Good screenwriting is visual writing. After all, movies are: Motion. Pictures.

  writing

  Nov 11, 2024
• On Writing

  "Mystery is the essential element of every work of art."

  writing

  Nov 11, 2024
• Page One: "Green Room" (2015)

  Written by Jeremy Saulnier

  writing

  Nov 11, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: "Don't think. Feel."

  With writing, there are times to think... and times to feel.

  writing

  Nov 10, 2024
• Some Inspiration for You

  I rediscover the very first draft of K-9 and I'm reminded of this singular truth: Good things CAN happen!

  writing

  Nov 10, 2024
• Page One: "Green Lantern" (2011)

  Screenplay by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg, screen story Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc...

  writing

  Nov 10, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: "Beginning. Middle. End."

  Consider the universality of narrative in three movements.

  writing

  film

  Nov 09, 2024
• Report from the Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference

  Observations from an event I describe as "Woodstock for screenwriters."

  writing

  Nov 09, 2024
• Page One: "Grease" (1978)

  Screenplay by Bronte Woodard , based on the original musical by Jim Jacob and Warren Casey

  writing

  Nov 09, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Get the damn thing done!

  The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

  writing

  Nov 08, 2024
• Great Scene: "Tampopo"

  If you haven't seen the 1985 Tampopo, written and directed by Jûzô Itami, do yourself a favor and check it out. Starring the great Ken...

  film

  Nov 08, 2024
• Page One: "GoldenEye" (1995)

  Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein, story by Michael France, characters by Ian Fleming

  writing

  Nov 08, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Feet on the ground... head in the clouds

  A twist on a familiar adage speaks to the business of writing.

  writing

  Nov 07, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Shane Black

  "I studied William Goldman's writing style, especially the scripts for Marathon Man and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I found both of...

  writing

  film

  Nov 07, 2024
• Page One: "The Godfather Part III" (1990)

  Written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola

  writing

  Nov 07, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Break your story in prep

  Let me begin with this acknowledgement: There is no right way to write. Each writer is different. Each story is different. There is no...

  writing

  Nov 06, 2024
• On Writing

  "Writing is a process of discovery. The biggest enemy is being satisfied. That's when you have to be most suspicious."

  writing

  Nov 06, 2024
• Page One: "Girls Trip" (2017)

  Screenplay by Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver, story by Erica Rivinoja and Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver

  writing

  Nov 06, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Similar but different

  Or Precedent and Analogy. However you refer to it, it's how Hollywood operates.

  writing

  film

  Nov 05, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Final Score"

  Fifth Season and Makeready acquire crime thriller spec script "Final Score" written by Will Hettinger. Via Deadline:

  humor

  Nov 05, 2024
• Page One: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2011)

  Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, novel by Stieg Larsson

  writing

  Nov 05, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Living and writing in L.A.

  Let me say up front, there are advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones:

  writing

  Nov 04, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Three Hitmen and a Baby"

  Lionsgate acquires action comedy spec script "Three Hitmen and a Baby" written by Dave Matalon and Matt Altman. Via Deadline:

  writing

  film

  Nov 04, 2024
• Page One: "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" (2005)

  Written by Terence Winter

  writing

  Nov 04, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Stacking projects

  One key to the craft: Learn how to manage several projects at once.

  writing

  Nov 03, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Love of Your Life"

  Amazon MGM acquires drama spec script "Love of Your Life" written by Julia Cox. Via Deadline:

  film

  Nov 03, 2024
• Page One: "Geostorm" (2017)

  Written by Dean Devlin & Paul Guyot

  writing

  Nov 03, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Know your genre

  If you want to write in a genre, you're wise to immerse yourself in it.

  writing

  Nov 02, 2024
• Spec Script Deal: "Out There"

  Netflix acquires science fiction thriller spec script "Out There" written by Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke and Ian Levy. Via Deadline:

  humor

  film

  comics

  Nov 02, 2024
• Page One: "The Gentlemen" (2019)

  Screenplay by Guy Ritchie, story by Guy Ritchie & Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies

  writing

  Nov 02, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Facing the odds

  How to sustain creativity in the face of considerable odds against success.

  writing

  Nov 01, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Trailer Moments, Set Pieces and Bits Of Business (BOBs)

  You may have read countless screenwriting books. Attended seminars. Taken courses. But I doubt if you have stumbled across these three...

  writing

  Nov 01, 2024
• Page One: "Halloween" (1978)

  Screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill

  writing

  Nov 01, 2024
• Create a Compelling Protagonist

  Workshop and develop your story's Protagonist in my one-week online class which begins Monday, November 4th.

  writing

  Oct 31, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: When something happens... something ELSE happens

  The dynamic dual nature of a screenplay universe.

  writing

  Oct 31, 2024
• Page One: "The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)

  Written by Wes Craven

  writing

  Oct 31, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Immerse Yourself in Cinema

  If you want to write movies, you need to love movies. And that love ought to manifest itself in a thorough, longstanding, and passionate...

  writing

  Oct 30, 2024
• Great Scene: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

  Many of the best movie scenes are payoffs to plot elements that have been set up earlier in the story. Often the set-up and payoff involves...

  film

  Oct 30, 2024
• Page One: "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers" (1989)

  Written by Michael Jacobs & Dominique Othenin-Girard and Shem Bitterman, characters by John Carpenter and Debra Hill

  writing

  Oct 30, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: There are no screenwriting rules

  There are guidelines, conventional wisdom, patterns, and principles... but no rules.

  writing

  Oct 29, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Shane Black

  "I think about the audience in the sense that I serve as my own audience. I have to please myself that way, if I saw the movie in theater...

  writing

  film

  Oct 29, 2024
• Page One: "Hellraiser" (1987)

  Written by Clive Barker

  writing

  Oct 29, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Write what they're buying or sell them your dream

  There are many writing paths. Here are two of them.

  writing

  Oct 28, 2024
• On Writing

  "If you don't know what to write, ask your story, 'What are you trying to tell me?' Ask that and wait. There will be an answer."

  writing

  Oct 28, 2024
• Page One: "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" (1988)

  Screenplay by Alan B. McElroy, story by Dhani Lipsius & Larry Rattner & Benjamin Ruffner and Alan B. McElroy

  writing

  Oct 28, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: A spec script will not sell unless it has a strong story concept

  If you write a spec script based upon the first story idea that comes into your mind, that script likely won't sell.

  writing

  Oct 27, 2024
• Great Scene: "Young Frankenstein"

  One of the most inspired comedic moments in a truly inspired film: The "Puttin' on the Ritz" bit.

  film

  Oct 27, 2024
• Page One: "Happy Death Day" (2017)

  Written by Scott Lobdell

  writing

  Oct 27, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages.

  You can learn pretty much everything you need to know about screenwriting by doing these three things:

  writing

  Oct 26, 2024
• Great Scene: "North by Northwest"

  It was one of the scenes which inspired Hitchcock to make the movie.

  writing

  film

  Oct 26, 2024
• Page One: "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" (1982)

  A trailer for the movie:

  writing

  Oct 26, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Learn the craft

  Being a screenwriter is much more than just writing a script.

  writing

  Oct 25, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: They will pigeonhole you (and why this can be a good thing)

  The co-star of K-9 was a dog named Jerry Lee.

  writing

  Oct 25, 2024
• Page One: "Halloween II" (1981)

  Written by John Carpenter & Debra Hill

  writing

  Oct 25, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: Screenplays are stories, not formulas

  "If you go in with formula, you come out with formula."

  writing

  Oct 24, 2024
• Page One: "Grandma" (2015)

  Written by Paul Weitz

  writing

  Oct 24, 2024
• 2024 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference

  I'll be there moderating panels and participating in roundtables. Hope to see you there!

  writing

  Oct 24, 2024
• 30 Things About Screenwriting: There is no right way to write

  Learn all you can, but ultimately it's about your Stories and your Creative Self.

  writing

  Oct 23, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Loos & Emerson (1920)

  In my ongoing research into screenwriting, I discovered the book "How to Write Photoplays," written in 1920 by Anita Loos and her husband...

  writing

  Oct 23, 2024
• Page One: "Grace of Monaco" (2014)

  Written by Arash Amel

  writing

  Oct 23, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 4]

  "The genuine natural bent for photoplay writing is shown only in those who can write well and like to write. Before you attempt to write...

  writing

  Oct 22, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Brad Bird

  "To make something really great and different and interesting means taking risks and following these ideas in your head."

  writing

  Oct 22, 2024
• Page One: "The Good Nurse" (2022)

  Screenplay by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, based on the book by Charles Graeber

  writing

  Oct 22, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 3]

  "Many amateurs are prone to cheat their audiences by ending the story without some bit of action which spectators have been led to expect...

  writing

  film

  Oct 21, 2024
• On Writing

  "I only sleep two or three hours a day, so I'm writing all the time. I make notes wherever I can make them. I write in toilets, on planes...

  writing

  Oct 21, 2024
• Page One: "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005)

  Written by George Clooney & Grant Heslov

  writing

  Oct 21, 2024
• Great Scene: "Past Lives"

  The quiet emotionally rich ending of this beautiful movie.

  writing

  film

  Oct 20, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 2]

  "If any considerable action takes place after the climax in the 'big scene,' you will have ruined your photoplay with one of these deadly...

  writing

  Oct 20, 2024
• Page One: "Good Kids" (2016)

  Written by Chris McCoy

  writing

  Oct 20, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 1]

  "Knowing when and how to stop is as important to a photoplay writer as to an after dinner speaker, but amateur scenarists, like amateur...

  writing

  film

  Oct 19, 2024
• The Business of Screenwriting: Three Scripts

  You write, you learn. And three scripts is a good target as a baseline for studying the craft. Then keeping writing ... keep learning ...

  writing

  Oct 19, 2024
• Page One: "The Front Runner" (2018)

  Written by Matt Bai & Jay Carson & Jason Reitman, based on a book written by Matt Bai

  writing

  Oct 19, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Midway in the Photoplay [Part 7]

  "Many amateur photoplay writers are very clever in getting their characters into terribly involved situations; but they are not so clever...

  writing

  Oct 18, 2024
• Great Scene: "North by Northwest"

  It was one of the scenes which inspired Hitchcock to make the movie.

  writing

  film

  Oct 18, 2024
• Page One: "Gold" (2016)

  Written by Patrick Massett & John Zinman

  writing

  Oct 18, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Midway in the Photoplay [Part 6]

  "By showing more and more action, you will elaborate your plot in the best way."

  writing

  Oct 18, 2024
• On Writing

  "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die."

  writing

  Oct 17, 2024
• Page One: "Fruitvale Station" (2013)

  Written by Ryan Coogler

  writing

  Oct 17, 2024
• Screenwriting Advice From The Past: Midway in the Photoplay [Part 5]

  "When you are at a loss to carry on the action, cut over to the parallel line of action which is taking place in the next street or the...

  writing

  Oct 16, 2024
• Screenwriting 101: Amy Berg

  "At the end of the day, the only thing that really defines a person is the choices they make. The characters in your scripts should be no...

  writing

  Oct 16, 2024
• Page One: "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996)

  Written by Quentin Tarantino, story by Robert Kurtzman

  writing

  Oct 16, 2024