Go Into The Story

Reader Question: What about a credit sequence at the beginning of a spec script?

I explain why you shouldn’t do it. And also how to handle it in a spec.

Ways To Write (Part 3): One Page Per Day

You can write two entire spec scripts in one year if you only write one page per day. Two. Complete. Feature. Spec. Scripts.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 30: “The Great Gatsby”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

The Business of Screenwriting: Hip pocket representation

The gray area between being signed by an agent… and kinda signed.

Daily Dialogue — August 2, 2018

“This is not real enough for you, Billy? I’m not real enough for you?”

2018 Willamette Writers Conference

My schedule at the Portland, Oregon event this weekend: August, 2–5.

Ways To Write (Part 2): The Pomodoro Technique

Break up writing tasks into half-hour segments with a reward at the end of each completed one.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 30: “Saving Mr. Banks”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Script To Screen: “The Godfather”

Compare screenplay to movie: The famous horse head scene in The Godfather, written by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, based on Puzo’s…

Daily Dialogue — August 1, 2018

“Hello, Danny. Come and play with us. Come and play with us, Danny. Forever… and ever… and ever.”

“Dare to Suck”

Writers, if you suffer from perfectionism, you MUST watch this video!

Ways To Write (Part 1): Email

How writer-director Judd Apatow emailed himself notes which became the foundation for the movie Knocked Up.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 29: “Lincoln”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Screenwriting 101: Damien Chazelle

“I feel like you can tell when movies start from a theme or intellectual question, and they’re not that interesting. I want to start from a…

Daily Dialogue — July 31, 2018

Annie Wilkes: The swearing, Paul. There, I said it. Paul Sheldon: The, uh, profanity bothers you? Annie Wilkes: It has no nobility. Paul…

Darth Vader was on screen in the first Star Wars movie for 8 minutes and 6 seconds

Screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon) analyzes Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope and how George Lucas maximized Darth Vader’s screen time.

Your story’s emotional life

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

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 28: “The Spectacular Now”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

On Writing

“Writing is only one word at a time. It’s not a whole bunch of things happening at once. Various things can present themselves, but when…

Daily Dialogue — July 30, 2018

Margaret White: He’s not coming. Carrie: He is coming, Mama. Now stop it. I’m nervous enough. Margaret White: No, he’s not coming. He’s not…

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Stephen King

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,726 consecutive days and counting.

Screenwriting News (July 23-July 29, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Reader Question: How can I immerse myself in the story I’m writing?

“I find I get way too many projects on the front burner, which is overwhelming.”

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 27: “Wreck-It Ralph”

Take up the challenge! Read 30 screenplays in 30 days!

Interview (Written): Katie Silberman

Conversation with the screenwriter of the romantic comedy Set It Up.