Go Into The Story

Podcast: “On Story”

A look inside the creative process from today’s leading writers and filmmakers.

Script To Screen: “The Wizard of Oz”

From the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, screenplay by Noel Langley & Florence Ryerson & Edgar Allan Woolf, adaptation by Noel Langley from…

Daily Dialogue — September 15, 2019

“What you were listening to is some kind of creative, almost X-rated radio here from Eric Swan on QSKY-FM. What I did was mix together a…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 14

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

The Key to Character Introductions

What is it we need to know about a character to help us craft an effective introduction? Their core essence.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Zombie

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,139 consecutive days and counting.

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: The Denouement [Part 1]

“Working up to the denouement, or in other words, the moment of revelation when the audience sees the point of the story, unquestionably…

Daily Dialogue — September 14, 2019

“ I should hang; I’m a hypocrite. I ask for sincerity and I lie. I denounce the system as I embrace it. I want money and power and…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 13

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

Separation as a Theme in Pixar Movies

“When we step back from the movies Pixar has produced and look at them with a meta view, it is surprisingly — and blindingly — obvious how…

There is no right way to write

Learn all you can, but ultimately it’s about your Stories and your Creative Self.

Writing and the Creative Life: Three Types of Creators

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

Daily Dialogue — September 13, 2019

“And there goes the Challenger, being chased by the blue, blue meanies on wheels. The vicious traffic squad cars are after our lone driver…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 12

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

“What if I’m writing a script, but want to start another one?”

Time to stack projects… or is this simply an example of the Shiny Object Syndrome?

Spec Script Deal: “When Michael Met Carrie… and Other People”

Universal Pictures acquires romantic comedy spec script “When Michael Met Carrie… and Other People” written by Meredith Dawson. From…

The Business of Screenwriting: Do you know your stuff?

It’s one thing to write a script. It’s another thing to understand the craft.

Daily Dialogue — September 12, 2019

Air Traffic Controller: TWA 517 do you want to report a UFO, over? TWA 517 do you want to report a UFO, over? TWAPilot: [over radio]…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 11

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivity.

The Low-Down on High Concept

“In defining ‘high concept,’ we need to be specific: It’s a story idea which can be summed up in 1–2 lines.”

Reader Question: How to approach writing a villain Protagonist?

Three keys to crafting a Bad Guy who is your story’s Protagonist.

Great Scene: “The Thing From Another World”

An excellent example of visual storytelling.

Daily Dialogue — September 11, 2019

Quentin: Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you prefer? Thick Kevin: Good news. Quentin: Okay. The good news…

2019 Zero Draft Thirty September Challenge: Day 10

One month. FADE IN to FADE OUT. Creativity meets Productivit

Character Archetype ‘Masks’

Any character can don the ‘mask’ of any archetype in any scene or any relationship, but that does not change their primary archetype…