Go Into The Story

On Writing

“Put your notes away before you begin a draft. What you remember is probably what should be remembered; what you forget is probably what…

Daily Dialogue — November 19, 2018

Tina: Do you see that, that wheel in there? There’s like a glob of gunk. Mel: Yeah, I do. Tina: Tar. Mel: We need something to wipe it off…

Screenwriting News (November 12— November 18, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Screenwriter Roundtable: Bo Burnham, Peter Farrelly, Tamara Jenkins, John Krasinski, Eric Roth…

Part of The Hollywood Reporter’s annual sit-downs with Hollywood players.

Script To Screen: “The Last of the Mohicans”

A critical scene toward the end of the 1992 movie The Last of the Mohicans, screenplay by Michael Mann and Christopher Crowe, novel by…

Interview (Video): Tim Robbins

A 73-minute conversation with the writer-director of Dead Man Walking and the subject of the movie Sister Helen Prejean.

Daily Dialogue — November 18, 2018

“That’s a new clown.”

R.I.P: William Goldman

Interviews and articles about the dean of contemporary American screenwriting who died this week.

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 367th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Seduction

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,838 consecutive days and counting.

Interview (Video): Bob Gale

A 67-minute conversation with the co-writer of the 1941, Used Cards, Back to the Future trilogy.

Daily Dialogue — November 17, 2018

Chinese Food Intercom: And then? Jesse: And then… [laughs nervously] I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna put my foot in your ass if you…

Reader Question: How to write if you have a long commute behind the wheel?

“Talk out your story. Record your words. Transfer to your computer. You can get a LOT done that way.”

Tweetstorm: Melissa Hilfers on dealing with ego, pride, and script notes

“Pride needs to be balanced with humility. You may know what you want to say, but sometimes others have a helpful perspective that can make…

Songwriters On Songwriting: Van Dyke Parks

“I think a good melody can be evocative. It can remind you of someplace that you’ve been. And if a melody jars memory, I think it serves a…

Writing and the Creative Life: Why Creativity Thrives in the Dark

Some scientific props for all you fellow night writers out there!

Daily Dialogue — November 16, 2018

“Let me try to recap the order. A cruller, two sugar pucks, a Stanley Cup, a large coffee with cream, a raspberry jelly donut, orange…

“Why is it three act structure? The cycle of life.”

Story structure and the stock market? Read on.

Living and writing in L.A.

Should you live here to be a writer? Do you HAVE to live here?

Songwriters on Songwriting: Paul Simon

“I’m interested in discovering where my mind wants to go.”

The Business of Screenwriting: Selling Scripts and Shooting Scripts

Here are two key stages in the life of a screenplay: There is the selling script and the shooting script.

Daily Dialogue — November 15, 2018

“Get out! There’s no one in the truck!”

Reader Question: What’s the scoop on writer’s residuals?

Residuals! We LOVE residuals! It’s like free money!

Stacking projects

One key to the craft: Learning how to manage several projects at once.

Songwriters on Songwriting: Janis Ian

“Every professional songwriter I know — people who do it 100% for their living — is terrified every time they sit down to write.”