Is Your Screenplay Going Off The Rails?

There is a time for freeform screenwriting free of judgment or structure. There is also a time when you need to hone your structure, especially in your later drafts. Many screenwriters fail because their scripts meander in different directions without focus, emotional resonance, or a logical plot. Here are a few writing questions you should answer…

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…

Visualize Your Scene Description To Hook Your Screenplay Reader

The scene descriptions in your screenwriting have a tricky, sometimes tumultuous, relationship with script readers. How so, you ask? Some script readers scan through screenplay scene description to speed up their reading process. I’ve spoken to studio level readers who read scene titles and dialogue. This approach tells them the story and gives them an…

Time Is Everything In Your Screenplay

It’s script o’clock. again Your story, characters and dialogue are the nuts and bolts of your screenplay. The timing represents the grease in your screenwriting. Let’s spend some time with this important structural screenplay element. TIME PERIOD This relates to the setting of your story.  Is it historical, contemporary or futuristic? This can bed demonstrated…

Are Story & Plot The Same Thing?

No sir. For starters one begins with an ‘s’ and the other with a ‘p’. Story has five letters and plot has four. Enough frivolities. Your screenplay is a delicate, finely-tuned literary instrument. Screenwriters must be well aware of these two terms to ensure the integrity of their screenwriting. Although both terms are inextricably linked,…

13 Types Of Screenplay Endings

The first and last pages of your screenplay should arguably be the most memorable. They represent the first taste of your film which draws the reader and in, and the final impression. Here are some different types of endings you may consider: BOOK END ENDING This is an unusual type of ending where the final scene…

Is There Too Much Story In Your Screenplay?

Screenwriting plots, acts, scenes, subplots… Where does it all end for screenwriters? Let’s break it down. A screenplay consists of one main story with a distinct setup, middle and resolution. How do you know if there is too much or too little plot in your movie script? Keep your screenplay lean and clean SCREENPLAY PAGE COUNT…

7 Super Effective Ways To Ramp Up The Tension In Your Screenplay

Dramatic conflict is the backbone of quality screenplays. What better ways to raise the conflict in your screenwriting than modulating the tension in your story? Tension in your writing can be defined as a period of elevated emotional intensity. Here are some ways to effectively utilize tension in your story: 1) BURSTS OF TENSION Tension can be…

How Can Screenwriters Create An Authentic Story World

Screenwriting is  more than characters, dialog and plot. Before writers even decide on the particular theme of their film scripts, they need to make decisions on the world their story is set. A story world is more than just the location. It also relates the mentality and functionality of where the story takes place. If…

When Is Your Screenplay In Distress?

Ever started writing a screenplay and ended up in knots? Determined to quell your screenwriting demons you plowed through to write 100 pages of screenplay. Then you read it and decide that you lost your way at some point. What are some of tell tale signs that your screenplay goes from nailed it to failed it?…

How To Craft Impactful Stories For Successful Screenplays

Humanity has enjoyed storytelling  since time began. It is the most powerful and enduring cultural tool. Stories not only inform and entertain us, they also allow us to process our deepest thoughts and emotions. If you want to learn how to write a movie script, every screenwriter needs to understand not only the structure, but the…

10 Key Rules For Writing For TV

According to the crew at Raindance: 1) CHARACTER CAST SIZE Consider how many characters you will feature. Typically 4 or 5 with a stronger ‘lead’ character seems to work. Pick a handful of shows and check for yourself. 2) CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT Create characters that will constantly create their own conflict, even if just locked…