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Puppies and other time challenges
At some time, your devotion to writing will be tested…perhaps more than once: a move, a wedding, a new child, a home disaster, the death of a loved one. Planned or unplanned these life intrusions may...
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Capturing Silence
Your script reads better if you avoid directional cues. Forget “pause” and “beat.” I know, each is listed in The Screenwriter’s Bible but paint a verbal picture instead. Film is visual. Give clues to...
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Watch your words: Visit a set and read your script aloud
Every scriptwriter should visit a set. You will learn that a great deal of work goes into bringing your story alive. You will experience long hours, actors with incredible durability, directors with...
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Deep into character; be a character for a day
I have read scripts from beginning writers that start out with crackerjack characters. I get settled in to read the rest of the story and then…nothing. The characters turn flat and the story turns...
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First Draft Revision : First Steps Toward Smoothing Bumps
A few days ago you finished the first draft of the latest screenplay. You put it away and now you are ready to look. The purpose of the rewrite is to clarify your vision, to solve problems and to...
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Structure Reigns: Combining the elements of the story
Structure Rules: Combining the elements of the story A time comes when you have built your character background and done as much research as feasible. It’s time to start writing the story. All of a...
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Two Exercises to help with Dialogue
If you read scripts by other writers, you will often find the same flaws that industry readers find. One of the shortcomings is flat dialogue. Boring dialogue is one of a script’s elements that will...
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Plot templates and devices, Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
You’ve seen them— the books, lists, articles—that enumerate plots. The betrayed lover, coming of age, the quest, the hero’s journey, etc. There’s nothing wrong with them—as tools. Any reader can tell...
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What makes a character strong?
When I say strong, I mean a character who grabs your attention during the story and is memorable afterwards. He or she may or may not have a strong “character.” Think of your five favorite films. Take...
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Write in increments: tackle parts of the whole
The outline is the key to writing your story. I am currently working on a script with a co-writer. Since we both know the outline we can plug in scenes no matter where in the story. We are building the...
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