Go Into The Story

Writers on Characters

Quotes from professional writers about the importance of characters in the story-writing process.

Great Scene: “There Will Be Blood”

The last scene of There Will Be Blood is one of the most gut-wrenching finales in recent film history. Written and directed by Paul Thomas…

Go Into The Story Interview: Jeff Maysh

My conversation with the author of long-form narrative non-fiction articles of which nearly 20 have been optioned or sold for their movie…

Daily Dialogue — July 21, 2019

Jack: Now, I’m really sorry to be upsetting you, but I have to warn you. David: Warn me? Jack: We were attacked by a werewolf. David…

Screenwriting Advice From The Past: What to Write and Not to Write [Part 3]

“At the present time, the material most in demand is the story with the emotional woman as the star, good light comedies, satires upon…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Screenwriter

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 4,083 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Written): Lulu Wang

A conversation with the writer-director of the indie film The Farewell.

Daily Dialogue — July 20, 2019

Leonard: It’s quiet. Dr. Sayer: It’s late. Everyone’s asleep. Leonard: I’m not asleep. Dr. Sayer: No. You’re awake.

Thanks for your reflections, Tim.

But know this — as noted in the OP — everyone in Hollywood development circles uses three act structure when discussing stories. So writer…

Reader Question: When can you stop tinkering with a script and finally say “done”?

And for a writer, what the hell does “done” mean?

Everything You Wanted to Know About Spec Scripts

Free downloadable Go Into The Story eBook.

Writing and the Creative Life: “The incurable disease of writing”

Did you realize that writers are ten times more likely to be bipolar than the rest of the population?

Daily Dialogue — July 19, 2019

“I can’t be like this, Frankie. Not after what I’ve done. I’ve seen the world. People chanted my name. Well, not my name… some damn name…

Your story’s emotional life

When people watch a movie, they want to FEEL something.

People Don’t Actually Like Remakes, but Studios Keep Making Them

Why, you ask? This Vice article suggests the prime mover is audience nostalgia. There’s another big reason…

The Business of Screenwriting: Anatomy of a Deal (Part 1)

I’ve sold several pitches in Hollywood. This was the first.

Daily Dialogue — July 18, 2019

“It’s past ten. My daughter is in pain. I don’t understand why she has to have this pain. All she has to do is hold out until ten, and IT’S…

Three Things About Screenplay Structure

Do not let page count concerns stifle your creativity… or your story.

Script To Screen: “The Truman Show”

From the 1998 movie The Truman Show, written by Andrew Nichol.

Spec Script Deal: “The Unheard”

Burn Later Productions acquires horror spec script “The Unheard” written by Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen. Via The Wrap:

Daily Dialogue — July 17, 2019

“You and I are gonna move my father to another room.”

Screenwriting Lessons from ‘American Pie’

Specifically the scene featuring an apple pie. Yeah, that scene.

“You just muscle it out”

Advice on writing the first draft from writer-director Darren Aronofsky.

Screenwriting 101: Alfonso Cuarón

“I think as screenwriters we need to recognize that this particular art in which narrative is constraining time, that’s something I find…

Daily Dialogue — July 16, 2019

Perry: How about you, Harry, did your father love you? Harry: Ah, sometimes, like when I dressed up like a bottle. How about yours? Perry…