Go Into The Story

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 22

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Screenwriting 101: Francis Ford Coppola

“When you make a movie, always try to discover what the theme of the movie is in one or two words. Every time I made a film, I always knew…

Interview (Part 2): Travis Braun

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

Page One: “Life Stinks” (1991)

Screenplay by Mel Brooks & Rudy De Luca & Steve Haberman, story by Mel Brooks & Ron Clark & Rudy De Luca & Steve Haberman

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 21

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Interview (Part 1): Travis Braun

My interview with the 2024 Black List writer for his script One Night Only.

On Writing

“You’ve got to be prepared to write a load of nonsense to start with and then you can tart it up. The business of getting going, getting…

Page One: “Life Itself” (2018)

Written by Dan Fogelman

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 20

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Screenwriting 101: Steve Coogan

“To write from personal experience, you also need the humility to be able to accept that whatever you think might be wrong. I think…

Scene Description Spotlight: “Unforgiven”

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

Page One: “Licence to Kill” (1989)

Written by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum, characters by Ian Fleming

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Update: 2025 London Screenwriters’ Festival

Some events added to my schedule Thursday, April 24-Sunday, April 27.

On Writing

“I keep little notepads all over the place to write down ideas as soon as they strike, but the ones that fill up the quickest are always…

Page One: “Let Him Go” (2020)

Written by Thomas Bezucha, novel by Larry Watson

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 18

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Screenwriting Mantra: Minimum Words, Maximum Impact

The origin and importance of one of the best screenwriting mantras… ever!

Writing and the Creative Life: What are you afraid of?

The single greatest inhibitor to creativity is fear. Do you recognize any of these negative voices?

Page One: “Leprechaun” (1993)

Written by Mark Jones

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 17

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Story as Psychological Journey

“To dig up diamonds in our imagination, we must plumb the depths of our own souls and enter our deepest, darkest caves, for it is there…

On Writing

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely…

Page One: “The Legend of Zorro” (2005)

Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, story by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, based on a character by…

A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 16

This is the 15th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.