Go Into The Story

Black List 2019 — Live Blogging 2

Live updates of the unveiling of this year’s annual Black List.

Black List 2019 — Live Blogging 1

Live updates of the unveiling of this year’s annual Black List.

On Writing

“I believe myself that a good writer doesn’t really need to be told anything except to keep at it.”

Daily Dialogue — December 16, 2019

Forrest: [handing Jenny his medal] I want you to have this. Jenny: Forrest, I can’t keep this. Forrest: I got it just by doing what you…

On Writing

“I believe myself that a good writer doesn’t really need to be told anything except to keep at it.”

The Theology of Cinema: Evil

“The question of theodicy provides writers a starting point for a conversation about our stories: The innate nature of evil as embodied in…

Writing Goals: 2020 [Parts 1–10]

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2019 and will do in 2020.

Update: 2019 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 4 New Scripts, 33 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Daily Dialogue — December 15, 2019

“Let me touch you. Are you real?”

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Final Close-Up [Part 2]

“If any considerable action takes place after the climax in the ‘big scene,’ you will have ruined your photoplay with one of these deadly…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Bus

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,230 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Written): Greta Gerwig

An in-depth conversation with the writer-director of the movie Little Women.

Daily Dialogue — December 14, 2019

“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart.”

Ha! Whistle-blowing does have a different slant nowadays, doesn’t it?

Glad you enjoy the blog, Thomas.

Update: 2019 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 5 New Scripts, 29 Total

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

Writing Goals: 2020 [Part 10] — Trust the Process

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2019 and will do in 2020.

Writing and the Creative Life: Make More Writing Time by Organizing Work Time

Five tips to work smarter and create more time for your writing life.

Daily Dialogue — December 13, 2019

“Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.”

Script To Screen: “The Day the Earth Stood Still”

Klaatu first emerges from his space ship and is involved in an altercation with the U.S. Army… which leads to Gort. A great scene from the…

Writing Goals: 2020 [Part 9] — The Only Way Out Is Through

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2019 and will do in 2020.

The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs [Part 11]

“Most often when a script gets slipped to someone, it is an intentional move on the part of that writer’s reps. But sometimes a spec script…

Daily Dialogue — December 12, 2019

“You know you don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything, and you don’t have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe…

Pamela, as we are at the front edge of the “they” singular usage in storytelling, you raise a good…

With my university students, they just use ‘they’ without any special identifications. I have to say, they are pretty much used to it. We…

How to Handle Blocks of Scene Description

Think of each paragraph as a camera shot… with a catch.

Writing Goals: 2020 [Part 8] — First Draft

10 part series for writers to consider what we did in 2019 and will do in 2020.