Go Into The Story

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 7: “Amour”

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

On Writing

“Writing is like riding a bike. Everyone can write, and everyone can ride a bike. But not everyone can do the freakin’ Tour de France, and…

Daily Dialogue — July 9, 2018

Adam: Why didn’t we go to a barber? Kyle: That would have been a good idea if we paid someone to do it. Adam: Using your fucking balls…

Screenwriting News (July 2-July 8, 2018)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Reader Question: How do you go about writing a remake?

Should you really write a spec based on a preexisting Hollywood movie?

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 6: “A Serious Man”

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

Interview (Written): Marti Noxon

Conversation with prolific TV writer and producer whose latest projects include ‘Dietland’ and the HBO mini-series ‘Sharp Objects’.

Daily Dialogue — July 8, 2018

Jerry: Have I got things to tell you! Joe: What happened? Jerry: I’m engaged. Joe: Congratulations. Who’s the lucky girl? Jerry: I am!

Saturday Hot Links

Time for the 349th installment of Saturday Hot Links, your week’s essential reading about movies, TV, streaming, Hollywood, and other…

Interview: ‘Breaking Bad’ 10th Anniversary

Writers reunite to reflect on what they learned and that final season.

Great Scene: “Citizen Kane”

One of the great opening sequences in cinema history.

Daily Dialogue theme next week: Hair

Join the Daily Dialogue crew: 3,705 consecutive days and counting.

Daily Dialogue — July 7, 2018

Linus Larrabee: [slow dancing with Sabrina] How do you say in French my sister has a yellow pencil? Sabrina Fairchild: Ma soeur a un crayon…

Reader Question: Is it necessary to have scene description before dialogue?

Another supposed screenwriting ‘rule’ bites the dust!

2015 Screenwriters Roundtable

My conversation with Jessica Bendinger, Lindsay Devlin, Stephany Folsom, Liz W. Garcia, Julia Hart, and Lisa Joy.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 5: “Dallas Buyers Club”

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

Writing and the Creative Life: “The hard is what makes it great”

Wisdom about writing and creativity from the movie ‘A League of Their Own’.

Daily Dialogue — July 6, 2018

Joe Gillis: I’m not an executive, just a writer. Norma Desmond: You are, are you? Writing words, words, more words! Well, you’ll make a…

Reader Question: How to approach writing a story with multiple main characters?

Exploring three keys to writing multilinear screenplays.

2014 Screenwriters Roundtable

My conversation with Chris Borrelli, Brian Duffield, F. Scott Frazier, Chris McCoy, Justin Rhodes, and Greg Russo.

30 Days of Screenplays, Day 4: “Spring Breakers”

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

The Business of Screenwriting: Facing the odds

“You have to develop an iron stomach and steel spine: The former to fend off nerves when you take a risk, the latter to keep you unbowed…

Daily Dialogue — July 5, 2018

Ninotchka: Must you flirt? Leon: Well, I don’t have to, but I find it natural. Ninotchka: Suppress it.

Reader Question: What are the keys to a great opening scene?

How to grab the attention of a script reader right away?

2013 Go Into The Story Screenwriter Roundtable

My conversation with Chris Borrelli, F. Scott Frazier, Chris McCoy, Justin Rhodes, Greg Russo, and John Swetnam.