Go Into The Story

Go Into The Story Resource: So-Called Screenwriting ‘Rules’

A comprehensive series on the most significant of the supposed screenwriting ‘rules,’ hopefully to put things into proper perspective…

Narrative Voice

What if you were to think of scene description as Narrative Voice’s dialogue?

Humanize Your Nemesis

We don’t need to sympathize with an Antagonist, but it we empathize with them, that makes for a more compelling character.

Great Scene: “Jaws”

It’s the antithesis of “show it, don’t say it”… and it flat out works.

Page One: “Loving” (2016)

Written by Jeff Nichols, based in part on the documentary ‘The Loving Story’ by Nancy Buirski

Go Into The Story Resource: Script Reading & Analysis Series

Movie scripts analyzed to depth including Scene-By-Scene Breakdown, Plot, Characters, Themes, Dialogue.

The Nemesis as the Protagonist’s ‘Shadow’

Want drama? Ask your Protagonist: What do you fear the most? Then put them in a story where they have to confront that fear: Their Nemesis.

Great Scene: “Good Will Hunting”

The bar scene. Will’s classic putdown. And a spin on the ‘meet cute’.

Are You a Push Writer or a Pull Writer?

Do you do your best creative work when you’re pushed… or pulled?

Page One: “The Lovely Bones” (2009)

Screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, novel by Alice Sebold

Go Into The Story Resource: Screenwriting Tweetstorms

Twitter threads uploaded by professional screenwriters, TV writers, and producers on a wide variety of subjects.

Five Stages of Screenplay Structure

In writing a screenplay, we go into the story. That’s critical in order to connect with the characters and immerse ourselves in the story…

Script To Screen: “Little Miss Sunshine”

The climax of the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine, written by Michael Arndt.

The Business of Screenwriting: Get a damn good lawyer!

The most expensive lesson I ever learned in Hollywood.

Page One: “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996)

Written by Shane Black

Go Into The Story Resource: Story Types

With movies, there are Genres. Cross Genres. Sub-Genres. Also Story Types.

Reader Question: How to approach writing a story with multiple main characters?

Exploring three keys for writing multilinear screenplays.

Writing Wisdom from Akira Kurosawa

“You need to get used to the task of writing. You must make an effort to learn to regard it not as something painful, but as routine.”

Page One: “The Long Goodbye” (1973)

Screenplay by Leigh Brackett, novel by Raymond Chandler

Go Into The Story Resource: Great Characters

Need inspiration? Here are 100+ articles analyzing great movie characters.

The Tactile Experience of Writing

Words. Created. On. Paper.

Scene Description Spotlight: “Unforgiven”

The ‘folksy’ narrative voice in sync with the movie’s Western genre and a clean read with strong bursts of imagematic writing.

Screenwriting 101: Nancy Meyers

“Movies don’t look hard, but figuring it out, getting the shape of it, getting everybody’s character right and having it be funny, make…

Page One: “Logan” (2017)

Screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green, story by James Mangold

Go Into The Story Resource: 140 Scene-Writing Prompts

At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.