All
Clear all
Cancel
Apply

Showing 119 Results

Clear all
img
img

5 Writer Hacks That Will Save Your Story

Screenwriting is an art, and it’s never easy. When we think it’s easy, we’re probably missing something. That’s not to say that it’s supposed to be hard just for hard’s sake (I mean…telling someone a story and actually making them feel something over the course of two hours or an entire season of TV is tricky business), but it i...
img
img

‘Yes, And’-ing Your Story Into Existence: The Sixth Sense Edition

Let’s do some more “Yes, and’ing” of movie stories, shall we? This time, I’ve looked at a screenplay that I originally covered on the job as a professional Reader, then watched it sell in a huge $3+ million deal for M. Night Shyamalan to write and direct the film that not only went on to become a huge hit, but at the time it bec...
img
img

‘Yes, And’-ing Your Story Into Existence: The Hunger Games Edition

When watching a movie or TV show, I’m always thinking about how and why a story works, and how and why the writer made those particular story choices. I’m also intrigued by how the concept began. How small was the kernel of the idea when they began to formulate the story and how did they go about expanding on the original premis...
img
img

The Explosion of the Creator Economy

What Is It? How Do We Utilize It? Is AI Here to Kill Us All? Is This What Will Change the World?It’s the buzzword that keeps popping up in your inbox, on social media, and in those inspirational LinkedIn posts your old college friend keeps sharing. Or maybe you haven’t heard this term at all. If you haven’t, then I highly sugges...
img
img

Moving Your Mindset From Aspiring To Professional Screenwriter

  • Staff Writer
  • .January 20, 2025
And so it goes… What you think, you become. Dream and become it. These might seem like an endless stream of feel good memes on your social media feed, but they do serve a useful purpose, especially if you seek a career in a business as fickle, unpredictable, and unstable as screenwriting.The first thing aspiring screenwriters mu...
img
img

9 Components Of The Perfect Logline (Part 1)

  • James "Doc" Mason
  • .January 13, 2025
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series "Logline."Many aspiring writers battle with loglines. Quite a few working writers struggle, too. Afterall, it’s a different skill from writing a script. The good news is crafting a logline becomes much easier when the writer knows what to include and, more importantly, what to leave on the...
img
img

Why Do We Procrastinate?

I had that moment of “gasp” last night because I’ll just be honest with you…I forgot to post my weekly Almanac! I then realized why I did such a thing…and it actually doesn’t have anything to do with the topic of today’s Substack. It actually had everything to do with basic mental and emotional health…but for good reason! I just...
img
img

Writing Exposition To Make Your Script Pop (Part 2)

VoiceoverDespite being overused and used to shortcut actual writing voiceovers can be a powerful tool used properly. I ask my students to not use these, to work harder to get across their ideas, and invariably someone will bring up Casino or Goodfellows and my argument goes right out the window.I will say that these movies are b...
img
img

A Look Inside the Christmas Movie

Because the holidays are upon us, I thought it would be fun to look at one of my favorite genres - The Christmas movie.I will start off by saying this: I do not agree that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. If you would like to stop reading right now because this tears a hole in your dark Christmas heart and makes you want to pull y...
img
img

Goals: Driving the Narrative

  • James "Doc" Mason
  • .November 18, 2024
As with every story element described in this series, the goal relates directly back to the idea of conflict. To reiterate, in its most basic form, conflict is when someone wants something and another person doesn’t want them to have it.More specifically, narrative conflict is typically when one character proactively pursues a g...
img
img

11 Writing Quotes You Should Take Notice Of (Part 2)

This entry is part 2 of 2 in a series on Writing Quotes.6) A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end, but not necessarily in that order. ~ Jean-Luc GodardNon-linear storytelling is a difficult technique to pull off and it varies greatly. From Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol which starts at an event and the rolls f...
img
img

The Truth About Contests and Education

Max Timm and The Story Farm offer all of his Substack content to ISA members for free, but a week or more after the original post was sent. If you would like to receive his most up to date Substack posts, as well as participate in a community of writers through his subscription and the Substack app, you can do so by going here, ...
img
img

Writing Morally Gray Characters, Part 2

This article is a continuation of Writing Morally Gray Characters, Part 1. Politics Is A Dirty Gray“Politics is a dirty business, but if you do not do politics, politics will be done to you.” So states novelist Will Shetterly.Many movies and TV series about politics shows the absolute compromising nature of politics. Gray charac...
img
img

Navigating Your Story

  • Salva Rubio
  • .September 16, 2024
Since its inception over twenty years ago, the methodology of Blake Synder’s Save the Cat has been as synonymous with storytelling as Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and Syd Field’s Paradigm Worksheet.Many screenwriters can’t help but spot the moment when “Bad Guys Close In”, or the “Dark Night of the Soul” whenever they sit do...
img
img

Your Screenplay or TV Pilot: How Long Should it Take to Write?

Okay, I admit it, I’ve been in denial. I did not think that this blogpost would need writing. Which, let’s face it, is nothing short of stupid on my part because, well, I have this conversation ALL. THE. TIME.Even as I write this, I think to myself: This blogpost is going to be a short one. There isn’t that much to say; the mess...
img
img

The Psychology Of Creativity For Screenwriters

Screenwriters, and all creatives for that matter, frequently grapple with the constant and tiring task of – creating. We have all suffered from writers’ block, a lack of inspiration and motivation, or a paucity of good ideas at some point in our careers. Self-flagellation and self-doubt don’t help. They cause stress and anxiety ...
img
img

The Self-Imposed Deadline

  • Roy Peter Clark
  • .April 29, 2024
The Power of The Self-Imposed Deadline:With lots of activity around the publication of my new book “Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser,” I have been fielding lots of questions about productivity. It often comes in this form: “How did you ever write six books in a dozen years?”When I h...
img
img

The Thematic Argument

  • Michael Welles Schock
  • .April 1, 2024
Theme is an abstract concept by nature, and thus has always been difficult to define or comprehend. To put things most simply, the theme is what the story “believes in.” It contains the underlying values, principles, or beliefs the story intends to express. A clear and recognizable theme will guide the choice of story content, d...
img
img

What Is a Table Read? How to Set Up a Table Read, Including Who to Invite

  • March 21, 2024
A table read is one of the most important steps in the production process for any feature film or TV series. It offers an opportunity for your cast, crew, and other members of your creative team to gather together to hear the script read aloud. Whether you’re a first-time writer or a film industry veteran, table reads can give y...
img
img

How to Write a Vomit Draft (And Why It’s So Important)

For me – and I think for many writers – the most intimidating part of the writing process is typing the first words of the first draft of a new film or TV script. It’s terrifying. I will procrastinate at that point of the writing process longer and with more steadfast dedication than at any other point.Why? Because as soon as yo...

Loading more....

DON’T MISS THESE CONTESTS
img
ENTER TODAY
REGULAR Deadline:
March 17, 2025
  • Consultant, Consultant, Connec
Add to Calendar
03/17/2025 12:00 America/Los_Angeles 03/17/2025 12:00 Action/Adventure Screenplay Festival
img
ENTER TODAY
REGULAR Deadline:
March 18, 2025
  • Cash, Connections, Cash
Add to Calendar
03/18/2025 12:00 America/Los_Angeles 03/18/2025 12:00 Horror Underground Screenplay Festival
img
ENTER TODAY
EARLY Deadline:
March 20, 2025
  • Cash, Representation, Connecti
Add to Calendar
03/20/2025 12:00 America/Los_Angeles 03/20/2025 12:00 Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday Screenplay Competition
img
ENTER TODAY
FINAL Deadline:
March 20, 2025
  • Cash, Consultant, Connections
Add to Calendar
03/20/2025 12:00 America/Los_Angeles 03/20/2025 12:00 Emerging Screenwriters Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenplay Competition
More
SUBMIT TO WRITING GIGS
PAID $$
Development Slate - New Scripts/Rewritten Scripts
PAID $$
An ISA Pro Is Looking for Prestige Television Pilots
PAID $$
Production Company Seeks Contained, Commercial Features in Any Genre
PAID $$
Dynamic Features with Thought-Provoking Narratives Wanted
PAID $$
An ISA Pro Is Looking for Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Book Adaptations
More

Top Screenwriting Info Straight to Your Inbox

Articles, Videos, Podcasts, Special Offers & Much More

Thanks for subscribing email.
img
Conversations
img
img
img
img
img
Typing....
close
Privacy Notice

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you accept and understand our Privacy Settings.