Go Into The Story

Great Scene: “Dog Day Afternoon”

“Attica! Attica! Attica!”

How They Write A Script: Jay Presson Allen

“She is one of a handful of first-rank screenwriters of the post-1960s who also happens to be female. This has figured into her trademark…

Page One: “Liar Liar” (1997)

Written by Paul Guay & Stephen Mazur

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 29

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

The Heroine’s Journey

A four-part series as relevant today as it was when first published in 2012.

Great Scene: “Die Hard”

Hans Gruber turns Trickster when he meets McClane for the first time.

Writing and the Creative Life: The Incurable Disease of Writing

“In psychological terms, it seems that drive is more important than talent in producing creative work.”

Page One: “Life of Pi” (2012)

Screenplay by David Magee, novel by Yann Martel

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 28

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

Spec Script Formatting Primers

An amazing resource for TV writers provided by the Writers Guild Foundation.

Great Scene: “Casablanca”

One of the most memorable movie scenes ever… but have you read the script?

The Business of Screenwriting: Living and Writing in L.A.

Let me say up front, there are enormous advantages for a screenwriter to live in or near Los Angeles. Here are a few key ones:

Page One: “Lethal Weapon 2” (1989)

Screenplay by Jeffrey Boam, story by Shane Black & Warren Murphy, characters by Shane Black

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 27

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

Is My Screenplay Big Enough to Be a Movie?

This is a fundamental question screenwriters must ask themselves at all stages of a screenplay’s development and writing. Why? Because it’s…

5 Keys to the Screenwriting Craft

Think Concepts. Watch Movies. Read Scripts. Write Pages. Live Life.

Great Scene: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”

Butch and Sundance return to the Hole in the Wall Gang… and a challenge.

Page One: “Let Me In” (2010)

Screenplay by Matt Reeves, based on the screenplay “Låt den rätte komma in” by John Ajvide Lindqvist, novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 26

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

Great Scene: “Broadcast News”

Aaron’s dream come true of being a news anchorman is a flop… sweat.

Spec Script Deal: “Below”

Netflix acquires thriller spec script “Below” written by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock. Via Deadline:

Screenwriting 101: Joseph L. Makiewicz

“Every screenwriter worthy of the name has already directed [their] film when [they] have written [their] script.”

Page One: “Les Misérables” (2012)

Screenplay by William Nicholson & Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg & Herbert Kretzmer, based on: the original stage musical “Les…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Because the best way to come up…

The Spirit of the Spec

The creative empowerment of writing a spec script.