Go Into The Story

Go Into The Story Resource: Writing Mantras

Some writing inspiration I have picked up along the way.

My Writing Workshop Schedule

Two online workshops this summer… my only ones in 2022!

Script Analysis: “The Tender Bar” — Part 3: Characters

A week-long analysis of the 2021 drama starring Ben Affleck and directed by George Clooney.

The Business of Screenwriting: The Path of Least Resistance

There is no right way to write. No correct way to approach your career as a writer. No single secret to success. You can take some of the…

Page One: “Magnolia” (1999)

Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Go Into The Story Resource: Writing and the Creative Life

Dozens of articles about creativity, what it is, how to nurture it, and steer our writing into the center of our creative soul.

QA: Chris Jones

The driving force behind The Impact, a feature film which was written by 50 screenwriters and 36 directors.

Reader Question: Who is the Nemesis in “character driven” films?

Is it necessary for more character-oriented movies to feature a specific Antagonist figure?

Great Scene: “Inception”

Cobb wakes up. He’s home. Finally, home. But… is it real?

Page One: “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2020)

Screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on a play written by August Wilson

Go Into The Story Resource: Script To Screen

Nearly 100 scenes from scripts compared to the their movie versions.

Real World Screenwriting: Know Movies

You hear this a lot in script meetings: “It’s like that scene in…”

Script Analysis: “The Tender Bar” — Part 2: Plot

A week-long analysis of the 2021 drama starring Ben Affleck and directed by George Clooney.

Screenwriting 101: Eudora Welty

“Greater than scene is situation. Greater than situation is implication. Greater than all of these is a single, entire human being, who…

Page One: “MacGruber” (2010)

Written by Will Forte, John Solomon, & Jorma Taccone

Happy Birthday, Go Into The Story!

Launched on May 16, 2008, here we are 5,000+ days of blogging later… but what does it all mean?

Reflections on The Write Retreat

How working with eleven writers from Europe and the Middle East inspired me… and drove home some writing truths.

Script Analysis: “The Tender Bar” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

A week-long analysis of the 2021 drama starring Ben Affleck and directed by George Clooney.

On Writing

“Artists have a vested interest in our believing in the flash of revelation, the so-called inspiration…[shining] down from heavens as a ray…

Page One: “Lucy” (2014)

Written by Luc Besson

Video: How Aaron Sorkin Creates Musical Dialogue

This 7-minute video analyzes Sorkin’s dialogue in the opening scene of The Social Network and reveals an interesting dynamic in his…

Go Into The Story Resource: Movie Script Scene-By-Scene Breakdowns

Go Into The Story followers are contributing breakdowns of contemporary screenplays to an ongoing script analysis series.

Protagonist v. Nemesis: Keys to Conflict

The simplest way to imbue a story with a strong, central conflict is to have your Protagonist confront a Nemesis.

Great Scene: “Rocky”

How budget issues helped to create the memorable ice rink scene.

Page One: “Luca” (2021)

Screenplay by Jesse Andrews & Mike Jones, story by Enrico Casarosa & Jesse Andrews & Simon Stephenson, story consultant Julie Lynn &…