Go Into The Story

Black List writers on the craft: Characters (Part 5)

“I don’t care if your character is likable — I only care if he or she or it is interesting and entertaining and engaging. That’s all that…

How do I know if it’s too much or too little scene description?

Reader question via email from Anonymous:

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Staring Into Space Is an Important Strategy for Success

“In the shower we are simply staring into space, washing our hair on autopilot. We aren’t checking our messages or Twitter feed, or writing…

Page One: “Se7en” (1995)

Written by Andrew Kevin Walker

Talismans

“Any physical object which takes on symbolic meaning to a character or characters.”

Black List writers on the craft: Characters (Part 4)

“I will write act zero — what happens to a character before the story in my script begins — so I have a deeper understanding of where this…

Where Does the Creation of a Great Story Begin?

A 10-minute video excerpt featuring… me.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs

Part 14: Going wide.

Page One: “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993)

Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, book by Fred Waitzkin

Being and Writing in the Moment

Time is a mystery, especially in a screenplay. As writers, we can leap through decades from one scene to the next. Or we can stretch a…

Black List writers on the craft: Characters (Part 3)

“I approach my characters like I’m writing their biographies. I write up where they were born, what their favorite food is, all kinds of…

Writing Realistic Dialogue

Using Idioms, Slang, Contractions, and Declinations.

Great Scene: “Collateral”

Three guys, late night bar, Miles Davis… and an assassination.

Page One: “Scream” (1996)

Written by Kevin Williamson

The Power of Structured Procrastination

“The beauty of the structured procrastination method is that it recognizes the extreme challenge in changing that pro-tomorrow vein, and…

Black List writers on the craft: Characters (Part 2)

“I find that by starting with theme, you instantly gravitate towards a character who is almost at an opposite place to deal with that…

Spec Script Deal: “The Vampire Asset”

Code Entertainment acquires action spec script “The Vampire Asset” written by Jonathan Stokes. Via Deadline:

Screenwriting 101: Bong Joon-ho

“My films are always based on misunderstanding — the audience is the one who knows more, and the characters have a difficult time…

Page One: “Schindler’s List” (1993)

Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, novel by Thomas Keneally

What Type of Scene Is It?

“It is important to understand what type of scene you’re dealing with because each requires a slightly different approach when you write…

Black List writers on the craft: Characters (Part 1)

“If I’m creating a character from scratch, I’ll usually start by thinking about people I know, or I’ll use some version of myself, mining…

Reader Question: Does a writer have any control over casting decisions?

A question via email from Z.D.:

On Writing

“If you want to concentrate deeply on some problem, and especially some piece of writing or paper-work, you should acquire a cat. Alone…

Page One: “Scent of a Woman” (1992)

Screenplay by Bo Goldman, novel by Giovanni Arpino

Sundays with Stephen King’s “On Writing”

A series featuring reflections on writing from the famed author’s memoir.