Go Into The Story

The Business of Screenwriting: They will pigeonhole you (and why this can be a good thing)

The co-star of K-9 was a dog named Jerry Lee.

Page One: “Living” (2022)

Written by Kazuo Ishiguro, based on an original screenplay by Akira Kurosawa

2023 Zero Draft Thirty March Challenge!

One month. Fade In. Fade Out. Write an entire zero draft.

Interview (Part 3): Sam Boyer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “On the Waterfront”

“This is my church. And if you don’t think Christ is down here on the waterfront, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Hollywood Tales

“Virginia. 1990. I’m thirty-five years old, married with two very young kids. No one’s asking, but I get an idea for a love story where the…

Page One: “Armageddon Time” (2022)

Written by James Gray

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: Unplug your Internet!

And if you don’t have the self-control to do it, I’ve got a tip for you!

Interview (Part 2): Sam Boyer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scenes: “The Natural”

“He swings — violently and perfectly — the ball exploding off his bat.”

Screenwriting 101: Chris Wu

“I started off writing specs. To my understanding, that was the preferred writing sample. Your job as a television writer working under a…

Page One: “White Noise” (2022)

Written for the screen by Noah Baumbach, based on the book by Don DeLillo

6 Old Grammar Rules That Are Finally Going Out of Style

Writers should feel free to write stories how the stories need to be told.

Interview (Part 1): Sam Boyer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “Moonrise Kingdom”

My favorite movie sequence of 2012 is this one from Moonrise Kingdom, written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola.

On Writing

“Writing simply means no dependent clauses, no dangling things, no flashbacks, and keeping the subject near the predicate. We throw in as…

Page One: “Till” (2022)

Written by Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu

“Get the damn thing done!”

The one unalterable truth about writing a first draft.

Go Into The Story Interview: Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Great Scene: “There Will Be Blood”

The last scene of There Will Be Blood (2007) is one of the most gut-wrenching finales in recent film history. Written and directed by Paul…

Interview (Video): David Magee

A conversation with the screenwriter of A Man Called Otto.

Page One: “She Said” (2022)

Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, based on the New York Times investigation by Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey & Rebecca Corbett, based on the…

2023 WGA Nominated Screenplays

Screenplays to be honored at the 75th annual Writers Guild of America Award show on March 5, 2023.

Interview (Part 6): Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Know your genre

If you want to write in a genre, you’re wise to immerse yourself in it.