What Should You Expect From Screenplay Feedback?

Every screenwriter should get feedback on their screenplays. Always. You are too close to your material to be able to see it objectively. There are so many things to consider such as who you are getting feedback from and their credentials. What are their respective agendas? Are they well-meaning friends and family who want to…

Why You Must Kill Your Screenplay Darlings

Screenwriting is hard. Really hard. No surprises here. Shaping and telling a story takes a long time. It’s a long process of trial and error. You must write many permutations and combinations of your story during the outlining, writing and rewriting process. This process of creating, destroying and recreating your screenplay is something every screenwriter faces…

What To Do When Your Screenwriting Muse Needs Some Help

Creativity ebbs and flows. Flows and ebbs. It is finite, yet it is infinite. Sometimes there’s a story inside us dying to get written. Sometimes, there isn’t. As screenwriters, our creative juices don’t flow at will. Their will, not ours. But it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom. Embrace the messiness of the…

5 Ways To Add The WOW Factor To Your Screenwriting

There are tens of thousands of screenplays registered with the WGA each year. Many thousands more screenplays are written, but not registered. Even more screenplays than that are works in progress. That adds up to a hell of a lot of screenplays. All vying for attention. Screenwriters must be aware that this places an enormous…

Should Screenwriters Enter Screenwriting Contests?

There are as many ways to break into screenwriting as there are ways to skin a cat. One of the ways to make it as a screenwriter is to enter reputable screenwriting contests. Careers have been launched as frequently as money wasted in entry fees. It all boils down to one simple question: What Do…

What Types Of Scripts Should Screenwriters Focus On To Break In?

Screenwriting is a blessing because it requires so little equipment and expense to write a screenplay. It is also a curse because there are so many screenwriters out there clacking away at their computers. So much competition. But not all competition is created equal. Many scripts end up in the digital trash. That means you…

When Is A Genre Not Really A Genre

There are four main genres in film: action, drama, comedy and thriller (includes horror.) Scripted TV is generally broken down into drama and comedy. Sure, there are hybrids like action comedy and dramedy, but the main genres remain intact. Screenwriters should familiarize themselves with these terms. So when to these genres transcend their boundaries into…

What Format Should You Write In?

Screenwriters often wonder what format best suits their story. Is it a film, TV show or web series? So many questions. Screenwriting is such as versatile writing form, that stories can be told across multiple platforms. The key differential between them is time. FEATURE FILMS This is a full-length film typically spanning 90-120 minutes. Generally…

20 Emotions Found In Horror Films

Horror movies continue to be a staple on cinema screens and television on-demand queues. Audiences can’t seem to get enough of these films. So screenwriters continue to write them. Horror films must still follow the tropes of good screenplays in order to be successful. They need to take the audience on an emotional journey. By…

Note To Screenwriters: Audience Lives Matter

Screenwriters write both to express themselves and to emotionally stimulate an audience. Even if you write a screenplay that you never intend to show anyone, you still have an audience of one.  Audience matters. They need to feel something to continue watching. It’s vital to know your audience. Talk down to them and they’ll dismiss…

What Is The Future Of Digital TV Shows

The future of TV is sunny with a strong chance of disruption. We’re hitting the 500 new TV shows being produced each year mark. You read that correctly. Five hundred! This creates a mind-boggling array of oppportunities for screenwriters to get their work produced. Is that a good thing? Sure. There is something for everyone….

Are You Ready To Become A Screenwriter In Demand?

You’ve been clacking on your keyboard for years. Toiling. Churning out movie script after movie script. Your screenplays are piling up, but getting little traction. You start doubting your writing skills. Will you break through? In order to succeed, you need to embrace the screenwriting grind. There is no way around it. Athletes cannot skip…