Go Into The Story

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Private Eye

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,279 consecutive days and counting.

2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Writers Panel

Spend 100+ minutes watching a conversation between screenwriters Stephany Folsom, Greta Gerwig, Noah Harpster, Christopher Markus, and…

Daily Dialogue — February 1, 2020

“She’s the one who killed his daughter. We have to get her out of here.”

Great Scene: “The Matrix”

“You take the blue pill, the story ends… you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”

Interview (Part 5): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Writing and the Creative Life: Three Types of Creators

Perfecter. Innovator. Synthesizer. Which type of creative are you?

Daily Dialogue — January 31, 2020

“Karen. Karen. Poor baby.”

Character Type: Warrior

“The keys to Warrior characters is to determine who they fight… how they fight… and why they fight.”

Interview (Part 4): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs [Part 18]

“The Write What They’re Buying path is more about being similar. The Sell Them Your Dream path is more about being different.”

Daily Dialogue — January 30, 2020

“I live in my sister’s basement.”

“Aristotle”: A poem

This poem by Billy Collins conveys how three-act structure can take a story… anywhere.

Interview (Part 3): Renee Pillai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Tweetstorm: Alexi Hawley on surviving as a screenwriter in Hollywood

“This. Is. Not. Easy.”

Daily Dialogue — January 29, 2020

“Mrs. Bates.”

Screenwriting Takeaways from the 2020 Sundance Film Festival

Storytelling lessons from watching 11 new movies in 3 days.

Interview (Part 2): Renee Pallai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 20

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

Screenwriting 101: Stephanie Shannon

“Writing is so hard. To force yourself to sit down and face all your fears and doubts and just dedicate yourself to something that may…

Daily Dialogue — January 28, 2020

“Broke into the wrong God damn rec room, didn’t you, you bastard!”

Glad folks are enjoying this series.

As to Creation, De-creation, Re-creation, that echoes Joseph Campbell’s observation: Destruction before creation (in talking about a person…

Go Into The Story at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival: January 26

Notes, reflections, and screenwriting takeaways from Park City, Utah.

Interview (Part 1): Renee Pallai

My interview with the 2019 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

2020 Dialogue-Writing Challenge: Day 19

A chance for you to work on your dialogue chops and win free prizes!

On Writing

“Writing is too hard to waste on the weirdness of your daily life, or at least on mine. I love to sock the reader into some odd time and…