Go Into The Story

The Value of Working with a Mentor

Receiving professional guidance and honest, informed, helpful feedback.

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

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

Black List Writers on the Craft

Some of Hollywood’s top screenwriters share insights from my interviews.

Script To Screen: “American Beauty”

One of the most memorable scenes from the 1999 movie American Beauty, written by Alan Ball, a plastic bag dancing in the wind.

Great Scene: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”

A brilliant cinematic moment in Spielberg’s classic science fiction movie.

Daily Dialogue — November 15, 2017

When trying to get out of The Dump, Joy looks at the blue Core Memory and looks at a forgotten memory.

Tweetstorm: Eric Heisserer on the Challenge of Screenplay Adaptations

Adapting a novel, short story, or true life story may be the hardest gig of all.

Reader Question: How do you read a script?

More importantly, how does a Hollywood reader assess YOUR script?

Interview: Jessica Kaye

My Q&A with the co-writer/director/actor of the movie ‘Inheritance’.

Script To Screen: “Amadeus”

The glorious “Requiem” scene from the 1984 movie Amadeus, screenplay by Peter Shaffer based on his original stage play.

Screenwriting 101: Scott Neustadter

“I heard a story once about Jeffrey Katzenberg that he used to make his animation writers put the theme of the movie at the top of every…

Daily Dialogue — November 14, 2017

Henry: Well, kid, you beat him. Johnny: You’re right, Henry. It’s not enough.

Listen: Cinema Squad podcast

Discussion about this week in Hollywood and interview with… me.

Reader Question: How do you know when your script is ready to send out?

Tough question, especially for writers who may NEVER think a story is ‘done’.

Spec Script Deal: “Crater”

Twentieth Century Fox acquires science fiction spec script “Crater” written by John J. Griffin. From Variety:

Script To Screen: “Almost Famous”

A terrific movie Almost Famous (2000), written and directed by Cameron Crowe. One of the keys to creating drama is to put characters under…

On Writing

“I love writing, but hate starting. The page is awfully white and it says, ‘You may have fooled some of the people some of the time but…

Daily Dialogue — November 13, 2017

“Mission accomplished. Well done, men. Pack it up, we’re going home.”

Tweetstorm: Eric Heisserer on Minimalist Screenwriting Style

“Find the most powerful word and use it.”

Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work: The Six Word Test

If you’re having trouble finding the focus of your story, try this test.

Screenwriting News (November 6-November 12, 2017)

The week’s writing deals and movie project news.

Question of the Day: Why do you write?

Sometimes it’s important to step back and reflect on the Big Questions of Life. For writers, this is a really Big One.

Interview (Video): Martin McDonagh

A BUILD Series conversation with the cast of Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri and its writer-director Martin McDonagh.

Daily Dialogue — November 12, 2017

“You guys are gonna get pitch-slapped so hard, your man boobs are gonna concave.”

100 Scene-Writing Prompts

At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.