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The wrong name can completely change the tone of a character. Here are a few tactics that can help you…
Discover a new alternative to the conventional wisdom of restorative three-act story structure. Craft a working draft of moments rather…
Don’t be afraid of the number three. It may seem like a tired trope, but it’s one of the most…
Just because a screenwriter writes only words—as opposed to editing film—doesn’t mean that they're not offering a cinematic experience.
Three new games to play. The whole point of this brainstorming is to generate sparks, and later you’ll see which…
Knowing your screenplay's budget range is vital to your eventual campaign to get it read by those that can purchase…
Screenwriters have love/hate relationships with third acts. For the third film in a trilogy, it’s supremely difficult at best and…
The famous screenwriters that write Hollywood’s most popular movies weren’t gifted immediate success when they embarked on their screenwriting careers.
Our "First Draft" series uses Lawrence Kasdan's The Big Chill as a case study in how to write an intro…
Kirby Ferguson defined the state of Hollywood best when he named his popular Vimeo series "Everything Is a Remix." In…
The most underrated talent in screenwriting is knowing when the script is done. Most screenwriters don’t know when to quit…
Protagonist likability is a constant concern found within pages and pages of screenplay notes across the industry - and that's…
Avoid annoying—and thus scaring away—potential Hollywood contacts that could make or break your dream of becoming a professional screenwriter.
Not too long ago, I used to have a big problem whenever I didn’t write something — anything — for…
There is a layer to effective professional writing that screenwriters often forget to consider in their scripts: the MPAA ratings.
Seemingly unnecessary dialogue can advance your plot, reveal your characters or illustrate your theme, while successfully disguised as ordinary chatter.
Learn to establish your movie's multiple characters quickly and convincingly.
Truth be told, I hate outlining because I only feel like a writer when I am actually writing, lost in…
Crafting horror screenplays goes beyond telling a story. The genre must tap into the audience’s collective fears in order to…
Cut the fat. That means cutting your script as much as you can to make it the leanest of “meats”…
"Spec scripts" or "spec screenplays," of course, refer to scripts written under the speculation that they will be sold.
What if your screenplay is good enough? A well-written yet unread screenplay is like a winning lottery ticket you’re afraid…
Suffering from rational (and irrational) screenwriting phobias? Here's how to get over them. First, down all the things you’re afraid…
Whether you love them or hate them, sequels are the bread and butter of Hollywood.