Twenty years ago, Creative Screenwriting magazine published my article below. I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see what (if anything) has changed in the last two decades. So here’s the original piece, mostly intact. Things which are no longer relevant have been edited out, and I have added new commentary in…
As you probably know, the Get Repped Now 5/31 deadline is approaching fast! If your screenplay or pilot scores  a “consider” or better for script, it will be elevated to our manager panel and hopefully open the door to representation. Want to know the #1 reason many writers don’t land that coveted “consider”? Pedestrian dialogue. We’ve…
But I’m the writer! Only I know what it looks like in my head. That’s why I need to put it all on the page. Every camera angle, every character movement. Right? HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT Part Five: DON’T ANNOY THE DIRECTOR (You can find Part One, Two, Three, and Four…
You’ve heard this buzzword — “Contained.” Everyone seems to be looking for it. But what the actual f@#k does that even mean? HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT Part Four: CONTAIN IT (You can find Part One, Two, and Three of this series right here here and here) Basically, this means:…
Of course, we all want a manager to fall in love with our script, sign us, and then sell the script and, overnight, we’re working writers. Unfortunately, that’s not the way this usually works. Getting a manager is only the first step. Now, settle in for the long haul. HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE…
Representatives want marketable scripts. It makes their jobs a lot easier. So, if you tell a rep that you’re only interested in writing period pieces set in medieval Europe, the meeting is probably not going to go well. HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT Part Two: WHAT THE F#$% IS MARKETABLE THESE…
Fellow writers! Get Repped Now! returns on 3/11/24. We want to make sure everyone is ready. And if you have no idea what GRN is, you can read all about it right here. Last week, we started our Get Prepped for Get Repped series. In case you missed the first entry, it’s on our blog….
So, another week has almost gone by, you haven’t gotten any writing done and you’re really frustrated with yourself. Yes, we’ve all been there. You need to clear the deck. In other words, remove all possible distractions. This is why you sometimes hear about writers going on a retreat for a week or two and leaving…
They always say “write what you know.” But often we hear aspiring writers say, “Eh, my life isn’t interesting. I’m an accountant,” or “I’m a plumber.” Uh, hello? OZARK? Accountant. A slightly elevated one, sure, but that’s where the writing part comes in. MIDNIGHT RUN, same thing. How about BREAKING BAD? A sad, milquetoast, high…
When seeking motivation for your next project, never forget that while movies and TV shows are entertainment, they can also be much more. They can spark conversations, expose corruption, they can speak to people and inspire and motivate them. If something you’ve written inspires water cooler chat at the office, you have done your job….