Go Into The Story Interview: Walker McKnight

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Walker McKnight wrote the original screenplay “Street Rat Allie Punches Her Ticket” which won a 2019 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Walker about his background, his award-winning script, the craft of screenwriting, and what winning the Nicholl has meant to him.

Part 1: “Part of it was me being insecure about coming to it late and imagining the only people who had success with it had been studying story and literature and writing since they were kids. Which isn’t true, and I know that now, but it was still something that affected me.”

Part 2: “Screenwriting how‑to books can be wonderful, but you can trick yourself into believing that you’re doing what the author recommends.”

Part 3: “I loved reading about the mudlark gangs in 19th century London that would troll the shore of the Thames at low tide for anything washed up they could sell.”

Part 4: “The drafts question is always funny. I don’t know if other screenwriters wrestle with this, but there’s a point during revision when I don’t know what to call an actual draft vs. just fiddling with little bits of the story.”

Part 5: “I force myself to stay in that pen-and-paper concept development phase as long as I can. It’s a ‘don’t let the cement dry’ kind of thing. I’m trying to keep it fluid so I can explore every element of the idea.”

Part 6: “As for learning the actual craft, I just say find great teachers if you can. Get through a lot of teachers, hear all their insights, get all their feedback. Off the top of my head I can think of at least seven I’ve had.”

Walker is repped by Fourward Management.

For my interviews with every Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner since 2012, go here.

For my interviews with 53 Black List writers, go here.