Video: Screenwriters provide writing tips

Insights into the craft from Variety’s 2018 “Ten Screenwriters to Watch.”

In November, Variety announced their annual “Ten Screenwriters to Watch” list, then gathered them all at the Whistler Film Festival. While there, they asked each to answer this question: “What’s your top piece of advice for screenwriters?” Here are sound bites from each:

Scott Beck: “Enjoy the small victories.”

Elizabeth Chomko: “It’s hard to know in the beginning which rules to pay attention to and which rules to break.”

Micah Fitzerman-Blue: “Always be writing.”

Christy Hall: “Divorce yourself from your ego.”

Jay Longino: “If it’s really what you want to do, it’s to not give up.”

Ashleigh Powell: “Write through the suck.”

David Rabinowitz: “Quantity leads to quality.”

Jac Schaeffer: “Write your voice.”

David Wachtel: “Don’t underestimate concepts.”

Bryan Woods: “Spill your guts on the page.”

For more in-depth answers, check out this video:

Collectively, these are some basic yet profound truths. Each one in my experience has merit. And sometimes, it’s the simplest iteration of a truth which holds the most power.

Missing from the video, two other writers on this year’s list: Joe Robert Cole and Sofia Alvarez.

I have interviewed six of the writers including two writing duos. Here are links to those interviews:

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods: Co-writers and producers of the hit horror movie A Quiet Place.

Elizabeth Chomko: 2015 Nicholl Fellowship for the script “What They Had”

Ashleigh Powell: Wrote and sold 2012 Black List script “Somacell”.

David Rabinowitz and Charlie Wachtel: Co-writers of BlacKkKlansman.

For my interviews with 53 Black List writers, 30 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners, and dozens more conversations with screenwriters, filmmakers, and industry insiders, go here.