Author: Mike B

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Here’s How to Get Out of The Box for a Screenplay

Screenplay requires screen time

Here’s How to Get Out of The Box for a Screenplay

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

It is often considered that creating out of the box ideas need extra-ordinary minds. But as they say, a human’s brain has no boundaries and can leap into any creative dimension. This requires effort in the right direction and a few considerate steps can lead brains into a creative bliss. Always remember, more brains produce more ideas so it’s always better to work with a team.

This creative bliss allows people to effectively engage with each other and produce good results. This engaging further requires some common elements. You wouldn’t want people working and using their brains in opposite poles. Ideas on a certain project need to have some common elements provided. Take it like a tree. It has to have a strong stem from which multiple branches emerge. These branches are the ideas you can get from one base.

Now here are a few steps that can help develop ideas. So if you are an aspiring producer or a writer then you should definitely use them to engage your best creative teams.

Brainstorming Knows No Boundaries:

The producer must create a comfortable space for his team to ‘think’ creatively. Ambience has a huge role in triggering the right side of your brain. Once the ambience has been created and the mood dive into the wonderland has been set you must be all ears to what is being created. You must welcome all ideas so there is room for more to generate.

If the surrounding is not comfortable with all types of ideas than you are limiting the scope of brain. You must listen to every idea, appreciate accordingly and encourage to do more. A positive space is essential for brainstorming, it has to be free of judgements.

Stealing is a Big NO, Giving is a Big YES:

Don’t steal ideas, give credits to whoever came up with it first. It creates a level of trust among your team and together you all can do more. If somebody wants to add to your idea let them do it, allow people to play around your work. If you become possessive of your idea then your team will avoid sharing their minds with you. This creates a blockage and what could have been a great idea is now lying half done on your drafting pad.

Here’s how to get out of the box for a Screenplay

Take a Break and Relax:

Not only should you do it but also allow your team to do it as well. If you think you cannot find a great blockbuster idea sit down take a break and relax. You can also go out, take a walk, play with your dog, eat at a nice place or do anything that helps you think.

You can also be in the situations or places that you want to use in your masterpiece. For example, you want your screenplay to start off in a casino, you can visit one and it can help you think further on how to go about it.

Winner Gets a Prize!

If you feel that your team is all tired of the work and needs a motivation, organize small screenwriting competitions among your team. This will motivate them to do better and they will put more effort into it.

You could also hire a screenplay consulting service to do a competition. For example, there could be a Best Screenwriting contest where people can have a platform to share ideas. To further narrow it down, there could also be themes for contest where many creative brains can ponder over one subject and pour in ideas on a certain subject like LGBT screenplay contest.

This can give your firm/ production house publicity as well and can be a name known among people. The screenplay contest winners would get prizes for their writings and this could not only be a great marketing strategy but you could get multiple ideas from all the writings.

Know Your Place!

Every person in a screen play has his or her own role. The producer, writer and director see each event from their own perspective and lens. A creative piece is a combination of many things such as budget, locations, lighting, marketing etc. One must play their part from their domain. And let others play their part from their expertise. Don’t try to be jack of all trades because this then creates problems and can keep you stuck at a certain level. Others must also get a chance to use their brains and find solutions to little problems.

Keep in touch!

When you are working on an idea, your brain keeps going back at it. Sometimes, the ideas you get after a meeting are better than the ones you have during the meeting. Share them at once! Keep in touch with the idea not just in your head but practically as well by sharing it with your team mates often. It helps in moving forward and when you meet again, you don’t have to spend time in building a momentum but you already are at a place from where you might be able to just refine your idea and work on it further.

Screenplay requires screen time:

Watching other plays and movies is a great way to jump into the land of creativity. You can always look into other projects and find something that inspires you. It could be something that is not noticeable at all in that piece and can be your lead for something amazing.

You could also watch some greatest movies of all times and can draw inspiration from them. Appreciation for other person’s work is a great way to trigger your brain and push you forward into producing exceptional work.

Watching your favorite movie or TV show is also one of the ways to relax yourself and find something new that you haven’t noticed before. Your favorites could also give you a lead.

Watching something is not only a good way to produce ideas for writing but could also be a good inspiration for finding characters, locations and sometimes actions.

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Things to Remember While Researching for Your Screenplay

Better screenplay ideas

Things to Remember While Researching for Your Screenplay

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

We get a lot of screenplay ideas in a day but some ideas are not easy to write on, they could be complex, have a lot of history attached to them or we might not have any knowledge on the topic but just passionately feel about it. In such case, it gets difficult writing screenplay dialogues or just penning down the whole concept. For example I might feel inspired by the personality of Winston Churchill and would also want to write a story on him but I don’t know a lot about Churchill, extensive research would be required if I intend to draft a story based on this particular character.

Researching on a topic is an art too, surfing a few screenplay website or history articles only won’t be counted as authentic research. On the contrary one has to spend hours reading, collecting and dissecting material. There are multiple ways to conduct a comprehensive research and there are multiple platforms as well. It is upon a screenplay writer to decide which medium he wants to choose and in which manner he wants to use it. At the end of the day, the goal should be to craft a well-researched character and story, something which is based on facts rather than mere opinions.

What are some of the essential that you need to remember in all cases while doing research for your next screenplay? Well, here are a few pro tips.

1. It’s not JUST about collecting facts

A lot of writers assume that they just need to collect the correct facts if they are writing a screenplay on a historical or mythological character. Writers participating in a screenplay writing contest often choose to collect facts quickly and craft a story around them because they are short on time. This could turn out to be a grave mistake. Merely collecting facts will never make your storytelling interesting. Let’s take the example of a writer who wants to draft a story on the after math of World War 1. Just collecting facts around World War 1 such as when did it happen, how many people died, how many families were separated etc. will not make a strong story. Don’t people have enough information on this already?

If you have attended any screenplay exercises then you must be familiar with a fact that a key to writing a good screenplay is to establish an emotional connectivity with audiences. Presenting facts in a chronological order is highly boring and nobody will watch such a film therefore while researching don’t just look into the facts but understand the context, character and the environment. If you are writing a story on a certain character then explore aspects which have not been known before, this will intrigue the audience.

2. Avoid adaptation unless you have the rights

Screenplay writers read a lot of books and some books are so good that you immediately want to adapt those and make it into a film. What writers tend to forget is whether they have the copyrights with them or not. Never jump into something without getting copyrights. Conduct your research after you have acquired the rights otherwise all your hard work will go down the drain.

Many books offer exclusive rights and there could be a lot of trouble if you adapt them without acquiring proper rights. Biographies are a tricky area so be particularly careful with them.

Things to remember while researching for your screenplay

3. Organization is key

If you want the process of research to be a swift one then one easy way is to be organized. Make sure that the information is correctly segmented, there are separate files made for each chapter or each aspect. For example character traits could be one file, order of events could be other, and personal life could be another. The more organized you are while conducting your research, the easier it will for you to incorporate your research into your work. If you have written messy notes in an old notebook which even you can’t find later then you shall be wasting your effort. Organizing information is key! If you are tech savvy then you can even use some apps in your mobile to sort out the information. This way your research will be with you round the clock.

The important thing is that how relevant your information is, you can do all the research in the world but if the information you collect is not relevant then you might not be able to write a strong story.

4. Don’t undermine research

Don’t ever think that you can get away without doing research, no matter what you are writing, collecting some background information is always helpful. It opens up your horizons and makes you realize about some of the mistakes you could have conducted, at a very early stage. Most of the research you do helps you to define subtle elements of your characters and plotline. One can easily differentiate between a well-researched script and poorly researched script because the command over a particular subject is very easily visible to the audiences. Remember, you cannot fool the audiences.

5. Your story should not be driven by research, it should be backed by research

Writers often fall into a trap and that is they center their story on the research instead of just using the research smartly to strengthen their narrative.

A film is a complete experience and nobody goes to the cinema to read a history book, they go there to have a fulfilling experience. If your screenplay is purely based on research and you have forgotten to develop an attractive narrative then your screenplay is not fit for a film. Remember research is done to add strength to the script; the whole script cannot be solely based on research work! A good screenplay needs to have a lot of layers and nuances so that it appeals to people!

Hopefully, now the process of research will be a swift drive for all of you!

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Most Commonly Asked Questions for Screenwriters

Reading Script

Most Commonly Asked Questions for Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

By Jen B.

Hollywood is a busy place to be, studios and leading screenplay agents do not have the time to meet screenwriters on a daily basis and if you are an aspiring script writer than the chances of meeting a big producer are close to minimal as they hardly give you an appointment. However, there are few instances when nature favors you and by a great stroke of luck, one does actually get a chance for a rare meeting. That meeting is your defining time; those few moments can decide the future trajectory of your career. In every meeting there are some commonly asked questions and it is better to go prepared for them rather than just being overwhelmed throughout and regretting later.

What are those questions and what are some of the most apt answers to them, we’ll let you know in this new article

1. Introduce yourself

No matter where you go, the first question which will be thrown at you is to introduce yourself. Who are you? Why are you here? And why should someone consider you? Often people go blank at this question because they find it odd to introduce their own selves to others but remember the person sitting next to you has no idea where are you coming from or what’s your background and story. By merely looking at your resume it is hard for an individual to decipher an entire personality therefore it is imperative that you present yourself well. Make the other person fall in love with your personality so that he takes interest in your work too. If you appear dull and disinterested then the producer might see your work in that light too.

Even if you are going to a screenwriting contest or fellowship, then one has to give a formal introduction to the panelists or judges. Keep the introduction short but crisp; make sure to highlight a tleast one attribute which will hook them immediately. This could be anything, from a personality trait to a hobby or just something about your writing. One interesting tidbit could take you a long way so use it wisely.

2. What’s your script about

The next important thing after your own introduction is your script’s introduction. What is your story about, it’s better to share a screenplay synopsis to the producer instead of narrating the whole story because that will at least take 2 hours and nobody has the patience for it especially if you are a new writer. In Hollywood time is money so they can’t afford to lose it. Intelligently give the screenplay idea and articulate what the core of the story is. Clearly tell the producer the main hook line or the method through which it will appeal to the audiences. Will it make an emotional appeal, will it give them a thrilling experience or will it instill a patriotic fervor? What has the story got to offer? These answers need to be told to the producer because if you are able to sell the idea to him, only then will your story be able to reach the masses.

Screenwriting Questions

3. Previous experience

Whether one is an experienced writer or an amateur, people will still ask you about your past experience? What other projects have you worked on? How did you add value? Now for aspiring writers this could be a tough question to answer because they have not been featured before in a film or a drama series before thus they seem confused and nervous at this question. Don’t be scared of this question, there is nothing wrong with if your work has not been transformed into a film yet. There are two reasons this question is being asked. Firstly they want to check your confidence level and secondly they want to dig deeper into your previous projects. The previous projects could be a script you wrote for a short independent film or something which you created during your university time. Anything which seems substantial should be shared because it could prove your expertise.

4. What do you like writing?

When a producer asks you what sort of a script do you want to write, it isn’t because he shall offer you something similar but it is to gauge your interest in a particular subject. One can only write something well if he/she has interest in that subject, if you generally like watching and writing Sci-fi films then you can actually write a story which is much better than others. However, if you are pitching a idea in which you have little or no interest then there aren’t many chances that a you will write will great interest hence the overall product will be bad. While pitching a script remember to highlight your interest in the subject as well so that the producer knows that the script writer is invested in the script too and not doing it merely to earn money.

Screenplay Copyright

5. Your inspiration

This is very commonly asked during first meetings/interviews. Who is your inspiration? One can have so many inspirations in his life that we are often unable to recall one particular name but it is important to recognize that who is that one person who has made a critical impact on our personal and creative growth. A very common answer is “my parents” if you intend to impress somebody then please do not use this answer because it has been spoken to death. Producers want to know your creative inclinations therefore mention somebody apart from your parents. Ofcourse they have played a monumental part in your life but life offers so many experiences and exposure to so many people thus when in a meeting one hears an immediate answer which is my parents then it seems like a sign of complacency.

Apart from these questions, there could be anything thrown at you, just to test your knowledge and abilities. The key to success is maintaining composure and balance. It’s a game of nerves and you better win it!

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How To Write A Screenplay: Create Characters With Purpose

How To Write A Screenplay: Create Characters With Purpose

How To Write A Screenplay: Create Characters With Purpose

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

By Jen B.

The question of how to write a screenplay can be hard to tackle but one of its keysis good characters. Most screenwriting websites dedicate a lot of time and effort on characters and how to create them. That’s because writing screenplays that sell requires solid, well-written characters that carry your story and resonate with the audience.

Why are characters important?

Once you have a firm grip on your concept, premise, and overall storyline, you have a decision to make: who is going to tell your story for you?Unless you’re writing a documentary about the weatheror the aging of the earth’s crust, you need characters to come to life as fully-developed voices through which you will tell your story.

Whether your characters are dogs, animated cars, or living breathing people, you’ll need to choose those who are the primary focus of your story. These individuals are your protagonists. These are the characters we care about and root for. They’re often the “heroes” with whom the audience easily identifies.

Creating your protagonist

Once you have that character in mind—your hero or heroine—you need to be sure this is someone thescript reader will want to spend two hours with. Your protagonist has to be someone we care about or we’ll quickly lose interest in their problems. Writing screenplays that sell means you need to keep your audience engaged in your story by helping them believe in your protagonist and his or her journey.

How to write a screenplay with active characters

Successful characters don’t need to be heroic.But they do need to be active. Consider the character of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. We certainly don’t want to invite him to dinner, but he commands our attention because he’s someone who makes things happen. He’s clearly an active character who doesn’t wait for the story to come to him. He is the story because he knows what he wants and refuses to let anything prevent him from achieving his objectives.

If you’re still not sure how to write a screenplay with an active character, remember this: don’t let things simplyhappen to your protagonist. His objectives should be achieved because he acts to achieve them.

Screenwriting exercises suggest that you build within your protagonist a foundation of certainty. He or she must know exactly what they want and promptly begin doing those things that will help them achieve those objectives. From a structural standpoint, your protagonist should begin doing those things early in the first act of your script. Some of the most successful films have the hero advancing the action within the first ten minutes of the story. That means your hero should be moving forward to achieve their goals by page ten.

Screenplay Path

What does your character want?

Make sure that your protagonist has a clear want. The number one problem we see with screenplays is protagonists who don’t have clear goals. If you intend on writing screenplays that sell,your audience needs to know who, what, and why. Who is the protagonist? What is his/her goal? Why does he/she need to accomplish the goal?

Without clear goals, your script will never be made. You know your main character lacks a clear goal if:

1. You’re having a hard time knowing what your next scene should be.

2. Your story suffers from “repeat beats” and too much expositional dialogue.

3. You have no idea how to get through your third act and finish the script.

How to create a clear goal

The gist of most screenwriting websites is: simplify, simplify, simplify. Every movie that you love is simple at its core. It has a protagonist with a simple goal.

– In Catch Me If You Can, Frank’s goal is to bring his family together.

– In Argo, Tony’s goal is to get the hostages back to America.

– In American Beauty, Lester’s goal is to sleep with his daughter’s best-friend.

These are all different types of movies but they all pivot around a clear goal for the protagonist. Everything the protagonist does is anchored in their goal.


Script Goals

Most screenwriting exercises that target character development focus on goals.Make your character’s goal specific. Goals that are too vague include “finding happiness” or “finding the meaning of life.” While in theory these make sense, they’re difficult to execute and are ultimately not specific enough to keep an audience engaged.

The script reader must recognize that your protagonist knows what he wants and how he’s going to get it. He also needs to know what stands in his way and your job is to make sure there are plenty of those apparently insurmountable obstacles for him to overcome. A simple objective easily reached is not going to hold anyone’s attention. Your hero’s objective needs to be substantial and worth fighting for.

Bottom line: the goal of your main character is the spine of your story and it must be tangible so the audience can watch itsrealization. Most importantly, if you know your goal, you know where your third act is going. When you work on screenwriting exercises, practice writing the climax of your story.This is when your protagonist comes face-to-face with achieving their goal (whether he/she fails or not is up to you). Also, if you know your main character’s goal, you know the Low Point of your story: the moment between page 75-85 when your character is furthest away from achieving his/her goal.

As a screenwriter, your job is to make the script readergo through 100 pages as fast as they can by drawing him into the challenges faced by your protagonist. Just remember this: your protagonist must have greater needs and more ambition to achieve his goals than anyone else in your story. His drive will drive your story. If your protagonist doesn’t want to achieve his ends vigorously enough, your reader simply won’t care whether or not he achieves them, and your script will find its way to the rejection pile.

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How to Write Interesting Characters?

Positive Characters

How to Write Interesting Characters?

How to Write Interesting Characters?

How to Write Interesting Characters?

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

A character is the most essential component of a story. However, not many people are experts at writing an interesting character. Every writer wants to aim at writing screenplays that sell. For that a very important factor besides the plot are the characters. Believe it or not, Your characters need to be interesting to hook the viewer as well as the producers and directors so that they see the screenplay for its worth.

While screenplay synopsis and screenplay dialogue play an equally important part, characters will help you convey your message. A character will have both character and personality traits.

A personality trait is a quality or characteristic of an individual and it shows what that character thinks of themselves. For instance, characteristics like funny or bossy will be personality traits. On the other hand character traits will be an inherent value a character has, what they are and what they may not or cannot change. So before looking for screenplay consulting services and getting into screenwriting exercises, continue reading to see if your characters, specially the main characters possess these character traits.

Positive Character Traits:

A character trait can be more than an adjective. By them being positive or negative it does not mean that that they apply to the protagonist or the antagonist rather that they can apply to apply to the protagonist, antagonist and villain all combined. Positive or good character traits can drive the story in different directions for different types of characters.

For example, loyalty drives the protagonist very differently the way it will drive the villain. Nonetheless it is a strong character trait that motivates a character to spur in action. Besides that there are character traits like perseverance that shows the audience how this character is so determined to get what they want without bothering about the setbacks. It also happens to show that the character’s desire is so strong that they will get what they want. What goes along with perseverance and persistence is being fearless. Being determined for a cause requires to be fearless. When the stakes are high, your character needs to be strong and fearless.

There are also subtler character traits that give the character a personality. For instance, if a character has self-control then they will be shown restrained. Also, if they are calculating, they will be shown calm and restrained. On the other hand, if they are shown to be desperate and persuasive then they will have different personalities which can be less rational. However, all these a lot of potential for growth in a character and that gives writers the edge to evolve them over the timeline of the script.

Ambitiousness and vengefulness are two strong character traits that define how the protagonist or antagonist will have to be strong and an alpha character to get what they desire. With this character trait, there is an attached strong force that is helping the character look appealing to the audience. A desperate character trait can also look appealing if the character takes the right steps during the film and you will see the audience root for these characters throughout the duration of the film. They will support an ambitious protagonist but will also equally resent an ambitious villain. Nonetheless, they will be entertained either way because the character will be interesting. One lesser used character trait is that of spirituality. It might be used in religious films but also otherwise. Its purpose remains that if the character believes in a faith or religion then they will approach the issues or conflicts accordingly and their spirituality will shape their journey.

Negative Character Traits:

Again, here the negative character traits are the traits in a character that can apply to both the protagonist or antagonist. Hence using the word “ negative” is not to limit them to the villain but that to say that these are a little undesirable character

Traits, not obviously for the writer. Take for example, cruelty. Cruelty shown as a character trait in a villain is a progressive move to make your villain ruthless. On the other hand, it can also be shown how the protagonist is affected by someone else’s cruelty

Being unforgiving can work equally well and badly for both the protagonist and antagonist. If a character is unforgiving, the writer has many opportunities to delve on that character trait and extract important and interesting plot points from them being unforgiving. Similar to cruelty, comes greed. It will drive the character to do things and continue doing them. This can again be perceived as both bad and good but usually is used for the villain.

Contrasting to self-restraint there will be impatience. Again, a character trait usually found in antagonists and villains. Impatience would lead the character to make hasty decisions that does not benefit him, or the other characters involved. Being twisted or crazy also makes for a very effective character trait in engaging the audience. A certain section of viewers are drawn towards characters that tend to display traits that makes them unique from normal humans. For instance the Joker is a very popular twisted character and his character trait alone can generate more opportunities for the writer to instill and enhance in conflicts.

Characters need to have both the character and personality traits for them to appeal to the audience. Mostly, these character traits help writers delve deeper into the story and make their characters interesting. In a way, they make the writer’s work easy. If you have boring characters in your story, then you will have to try your best to make your plot intriguing. However, if your characters possess these traits, they will become instantly charming and the audience will cheer for them. Moreover, interesting character traits will help the writer move the story with more conflicts hence, making an enjoyable watch.

Scriptwriting

How to Write Interesting Characters?

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

A character is the most essential component of a story. However, not many people are experts at writing an interesting character. Every writer wants to aim at writing screenplays that sell. For that a very important factor besides the plot are the characters. Believe it or not, Your characters need to be interesting to hook the viewer as well as the producers and directors so that they see the screenplay for its worth.

While screenplay synopsis and screenplay dialogue play an equally important part, characters will help you convey your message. A character will have both character and personality traits.

A personality trait is a quality or characteristic of an individual and it shows what that character thinks of themselves. For instance, characteristics like funny or bossy will be personality traits. On the other hand character traits will be an inherent value a character has, what they are and what they may not or cannot change. So before looking for screenplay consulting services and getting into screenwriting exercises, continue reading to see if your characters, specially the main characters possess these character traits.

Positive Character Traits:

A character trait can be more than an adjective. By them being positive or negative it does not mean that that they apply to the protagonist or the antagonist rather that they can apply to apply to the protagonist, antagonist and villain all combined. Positive or good character traits can drive the story in different directions for different types of characters.

For example, loyalty drives the protagonist very differently the way it will drive the villain. Nonetheless it is a strong character trait that motivates a character to spur in action. Besides that there are character traits like perseverance that shows the audience how this character is so determined to get what they want without bothering about the setbacks. It also happens to show that the character’s desire is so strong that they will get what they want. What goes along with perseverance and persistence is being fearless. Being determined for a cause requires to be fearless. When the stakes are high, your character needs to be strong and fearless.

There are also subtler character traits that give the character a personality. For instance, if a character has self-control then they will be shown restrained. Also, if they are calculating, they will be shown calm and restrained. On the other hand, if they are shown to be desperate and persuasive then they will have different personalities which can be less rational. However, all these a lot of potential for growth in a character and that gives writers the edge to evolve them over the timeline of the script.

Ambitiousness and vengefulness are two strong character traits that define how the protagonist or antagonist will have to be strong and an alpha character to get what they desire. With this character trait, there is an attached strong force that is helping the character look appealing to the audience. A desperate character trait can also look appealing if the character takes the right steps during the film and you will see the audience root for these characters throughout the duration of the film. They will support an ambitious protagonist but will also equally resent an ambitious villain. Nonetheless, they will be entertained either way because the character will be interesting. One lesser used character trait is that of spirituality. It might be used in religious films but also otherwise. Its purpose remains that if the character believes in a faith or religion then they will approach the issues or conflicts accordingly and their spirituality will shape their journey.

Negative Character Traits:

Again, here the negative character traits are the traits in a character that can apply to both the protagonist or antagonist. Hence using the word “ negative” is not to limit them to the villain but that to say that these are a little undesirable character

Traits, not obviously for the writer. Take for example, cruelty. Cruelty shown as a character trait in a villain is a progressive move to make your villain ruthless. On the other hand, it can also be shown how the protagonist is affected by someone else’s cruelty

Being unforgiving can work equally well and badly for both the protagonist and antagonist. If a character is unforgiving, the writer has many opportunities to delve on that character trait and extract important and interesting plot points from them being unforgiving. Similar to cruelty, comes greed. It will drive the character to do things and continue doing them. This can again be perceived as both bad and good but usually is used for the villain.

Contrasting to self-restraint there will be impatience. Again, a character trait usually found in antagonists and villains. Impatience would lead the character to make hasty decisions that does not benefit him, or the other characters involved. Being twisted or crazy also makes for a very effective character trait in engaging the audience. A certain section of viewers are drawn towards characters that tend to display traits that makes them unique from normal humans. For instance the Joker is a very popular twisted character and his character trait alone can generate more opportunities for the writer to instill and enhance in conflicts.

Characters need to have both the character and personality traits for them to appeal to the audience. Mostly, these character traits help writers delve deeper into the story and make their characters interesting. In a way, they make the writer’s work easy. If you have boring characters in your story, then you will have to try your best to make your plot intriguing. However, if your characters possess these traits, they will become instantly charming and the audience will cheer for them. Moreover, interesting character traits will help the writer move the story with more conflicts hence, making an enjoyable watch.

Scriptwriting
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Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Boosting Exercises for Screenwriters

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Having troubles finding something to write about? Not satisfied with the content of your screenplay? Feel like you are out of screenplay ideas? Well you may be going through a writer’s block and struggling to find creativity. Staying in that state can damage your writing and the routine that you have created for your work. It is important to get out of this slump and continue on with your work.

There are many exercises that you can adopt in your daily routine to keep on writing and improve your skills as a writer as well. Read on as we help you in overcoming the writer’s block and develop your creativity.

A Small Change Can Go A Long Way

When writing screenplays, a screenwriter might create a scenario where the dialogues and situation may be too long or dragged out. To help you improve your creativity, take any scene from your script where the dialogue is the longest and completely change it around. Put your character in an extreme situation, of your choice, where they are exposed to something hard to handle. Use your creativity to portray how the character will act in that situation and the subtle reactions and feelings that they might show. After you have started to write about the change in scenario, you will notice that you do not have to put in much effort to guide the character and construct the story, the character will lead their own twists and turns to their story.

A small change in scenarios and how you approach it can make a big difference in the way your story moves forward from there on.

Go In Reverse Mode

You may be confused about what writing in reverse could mean and that is valid. Let us explain what we mean. This exercise requires that rather than writing a full script and turning it into a film, instead you choose a specific scene from a film and go on to make a script out of it with your own words and ideas.

This fun exercise can get your brain working in overdrive with the multitude of possibilities flashing through your mind. You can change your perspective and write a sample screenplay with that scene as your base and compare it to the original screenplay to see the difference.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Get Inspiration From Others’ Work For Practice

Before you go on and start copying other screenwriters’ screenplays for creating your own screenplays, you should know that stealing someone’s work is wrong and illegal. When we say that get inspiration from other works we want you to read other scripts and take a few scenes from it to create your own version of it, just for practice purposes!

Take an idea or scenario given by the writer in the screenplay and create your own screenplay dialogue, give it an alternative ending or follow the same ending scene. Do whatever you want but just make sure to have fun with it to and experience the freedom to write anything.

Don’t Tell, Just Show

A scene can get boring or too much depending upon how the character displays and expresses their feelings in situations. If a person continuously talks about how they feel, it can annoy the readers.

The best way to deal with the problem of overbearing emotions is to use your words to create a scenario where the character’s expressions, behavior and actions explains how they are feeling. Rather than stating simply that ‘I am angry’, a dialogue should be constructed where the character emotes through their actions. This exercise will enable writers to express a character’s emotions through their actions more and will immerse the reader.

Find Creativity in the Mundane

We may ignore the general routine, behavior, and even objects that we observe in our daily life because of how unimportant they seem. A screenwriter is supposed to observe their surroundings more than the normal person and find stories from the mundane objects and routines that they live.

An object, for example, an engraved pen may seem boring but in this exercise you have to take that pen as the center of your story and write details about it, describing its intricate styles and curvatures. This will improve how descriptive your scenes are and can help you evaluate your attention to detail which allows the readers to imagine scenes better. In this exercise, while observing the movement of people in the street or in a restaurant, think of the reasons behind what they did or what could have happened to them to lead them at that place at that exact time and write about it.

Give yourself freedom and space to write. Try to expand your world of writing and creativity by taking ordinary objects around you and giving them their own special story.

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Having troubles finding something to write about? Not satisfied with the content of your screenplay? Feel like you are out of screenplay ideas? Well you may be going through a writer’s block and struggling to find creativity. Staying in that state can damage your writing and the routine that you have created for your work. It is important to get out of this slump and continue on with your work.

There are many exercises that you can adopt in your daily routine to keep on writing and improve your skills as a writer as well. Read on as we help you in overcoming the writer’s block and develop your creativity.

A Small Change Can Go A Long Way

When writing screenplays, a screenwriter might create a scenario where the dialogues and situation may be too long or dragged out. To help you improve your creativity, take any scene from your script where the dialogue is the longest and completely change it around. Put your character in an extreme situation, of your choice, where they are exposed to something hard to handle. Use your creativity to portray how the character will act in that situation and the subtle reactions and feelings that they might show. After you have started to write about the change in scenario, you will notice that you do not have to put in much effort to guide the character and construct the story, the character will lead their own twists and turns to their story.

A small change in scenarios and how you approach it can make a big difference in the way your story moves forward from there on.

Go In Reverse Mode

You may be confused about what writing in reverse could mean and that is valid. Let us explain what we mean. This exercise requires that rather than writing a full script and turning it into a film, instead you choose a specific scene from a film and go on to make a script out of it with your own words and ideas.

This fun exercise can get your brain working in overdrive with the multitude of possibilities flashing through your mind. You can change your perspective and write a sample screenplay with that scene as your base and compare it to the original screenplay to see the difference.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Get Inspiration From Others’ Work For Practice

Before you go on and start copying other screenwriters’ screenplays for creating your own screenplays, you should know that stealing someone’s work is wrong and illegal. When we say that get inspiration from other works we want you to read other scripts and take a few scenes from it to create your own version of it, just for practice purposes!

Take an idea or scenario given by the writer in the screenplay and create your own screenplay dialogue, give it an alternative ending or follow the same ending scene. Do whatever you want but just make sure to have fun with it to and experience the freedom to write anything.

Don’t Tell, Just Show

A scene can get boring or too much depending upon how the character displays and expresses their feelings in situations. If a person continuously talks about how they feel, it can annoy the readers.

The best way to deal with the problem of overbearing emotions is to use your words to create a scenario where the character’s expressions, behavior and actions explains how they are feeling. Rather than stating simply that ‘I am angry’, a dialogue should be constructed where the character emotes through their actions. This exercise will enable writers to express a character’s emotions through their actions more and will immerse the reader.

Find Creativity in the Mundane

We may ignore the general routine, behavior, and even objects that we observe in our daily life because of how unimportant they seem. A screenwriter is supposed to observe their surroundings more than the normal person and find stories from the mundane objects and routines that they live.

An object, for example, an engraved pen may seem boring but in this exercise you have to take that pen as the center of your story and write details about it, describing its intricate styles and curvatures. This will improve how descriptive your scenes are and can help you evaluate your attention to detail which allows the readers to imagine scenes better. In this exercise, while observing the movement of people in the street or in a restaurant, think of the reasons behind what they did or what could have happened to them to lead them at that place at that exact time and write about it.

Give yourself freedom and space to write. Try to expand your world of writing and creativity by taking ordinary objects around you and giving them their own special story.

Posted on

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

inspiration for next script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

There are days when a writer fails to find any inspiration, there is nothing fascinating or intriguing which captures his attention and compels him to write a story. Transforming good screenplay ideas into effective narratives is a tough task. The pressure increases further if one intends to enter into a screenplay contest or has a deadline looming over his head. This makes life even more difficult because time is running out and you are still out of fresh ideas. So what can be done in such a situation? Is there any way out? Here are 5 ways through which you can find inspiration and motivate yourself to write something interesting.

Meet somebody

It often happens with writers that they are so consumed by themselves that they fail to look at the world around them. They don’t meet a lot of people; they don’t go out due to which they fail to find inspiration. The best ways to get your creative juices going is by interacting with people. Interaction is essential if one wants to learn and grow. Go out, meet people from diverse backgrounds, listen to their stories, this is perhaps the best way to draft a compelling script. We tend to see stories through our own lens but we will only grow if we begin to see stories from a different perspective and engage with people who are different from us, whether they are from different culture, different religion or different social class.

Watch films

Majority of the people watch films for entertainment but as a screenplay writer one shouldn’t watch it just for entertainment but also for inspiration. An ordinary person may miss the nuances in a film but a creative identifies it easily and this innate ability sets aside a good screenwriter. He understands the screenplay treatments, the characters and the subtle developments. This will help any script writer to draw inspiration, learn and execute a master piece once he starts drafting his own story.

For example a film like Irishman can instantly awaken the film enthusiast inside you, it’s a film few might fully understand but those who do, will definitely get a chance to hone their own skills. The characters can also compel you to make a story on your own or sometimes a small gesture of the character can spark another idea therefore if you find yourself suffering from a writer’s bloc then one easy option is to watch a good film, there can be no better exercise apart from this.

Expert screenwriting team

Read a book

If you are too tired to watch anything then reading a book can be a very productive option. A book stimulates your brain and helps you to imagine on your own. Unlike in films or drama where everything is shown on screen, a book is open to interpretation. One can imagine any character to be of any sort. There is no barrier of thought or medium. The wild imagination helps you to think of new ideas as well. Even in some of the best screenwriting schools, faculty members encourage to read more rather than watching films. At any time of the day reading Arundithi Roy’s God of Small Things can prove to be much more inspirational than watching an old classic.

Read a newspaper

If you want to write serious content or something which depicts the reality of the society then reading newspapers could be a very helpful options. Newspapers have hundreds of stories inside them. From murders to corruption to frauds, there are scores of negative stories in there which await attention. Sometimes newspapers can also help you to explore a very interesting real life story. They are great sources when it comes to lead generation because there is immense information. Now the headlines may not attract you a lot but if you check the other pages then there could be a lot in store for you. Regional newspapers are also a great source as they have more local stories hence one could enjoy a lot of variety while reading those.

Don’t think that just because you are a creative writer therefore there is no use of reading a newspaper. One should always be open to every option because a good idea could be hidden anywhere, the question is, are you ready to explore it?

Watch documentaries

Many renowned filmmakers and story tellers have discussed how watching documentaries played a monumental role in their life. It helped them to look beyond their own world and introduced them to topics and areas which were unheard of. Films portray a fantasy world but documentaries help you to connect with the subject on a much deeper level. They leave you moved thus if one is running dry on ideas then documentary could be an ideal option. There are a lot of documentaries being made on various personalities e.g. sportsmen, artists, refugees and politicians, such stories could help a screenwriter to understand the style of storytelling or could help him to pick a character trait for his own character. Thus a good documentary should definitely be on your watch list at least once a week.

These are only some of the ways through which a writer can help himself/herself to come out of the block and unleash his true potential. However, every person might have his own method. Sometimes a walk down the park or a cup of steaming hot coffee might also do the trick, there isn’t any one formula. The goal should be that stories should keep coming because that is where the power lies!

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

There are days when a writer fails to find any inspiration, there is nothing fascinating or intriguing which captures his attention and compels him to write a story. Transforming good screenplay ideas into effective narratives is a tough task. The pressure increases further if one intends to enter into a screenplay contest or has a deadline looming over his head. This makes life even more difficult because time is running out and you are still out of fresh ideas. So what can be done in such a situation? Is there any way out? Here are 5 ways through which you can find inspiration and motivate yourself to write something interesting.

Meet somebody

It often happens with writers that they are so consumed by themselves that they fail to look at the world around them. They don’t meet a lot of people; they don’t go out due to which they fail to find inspiration. The best ways to get your creative juices going is by interacting with people. Interaction is essential if one wants to learn and grow. Go out, meet people from diverse backgrounds, listen to their stories, this is perhaps the best way to draft a compelling script. We tend to see stories through our own lens but we will only grow if we begin to see stories from a different perspective and engage with people who are different from us, whether they are from different culture, different religion or different social class.

Watch films

Majority of the people watch films for entertainment but as a screenplay writer one shouldn’t watch it just for entertainment but also for inspiration. An ordinary person may miss the nuances in a film but a creative identifies it easily and this innate ability sets aside a good screenwriter. He understands the screenplay treatments, the characters and the subtle developments. This will help any script writer to draw inspiration, learn and execute a master piece once he starts drafting his own story.

For example a film like Irishman can instantly awaken the film enthusiast inside you, it’s a film few might fully understand but those who do, will definitely get a chance to hone their own skills. The characters can also compel you to make a story on your own or sometimes a small gesture of the character can spark another idea therefore if you find yourself suffering from a writer’s bloc then one easy option is to watch a good film, there can be no better exercise apart from this.

Expert screenwriting team

Read a book

If you are too tired to watch anything then reading a book can be a very productive option. A book stimulates your brain and helps you to imagine on your own. Unlike in films or drama where everything is shown on screen, a book is open to interpretation. One can imagine any character to be of any sort. There is no barrier of thought or medium. The wild imagination helps you to think of new ideas as well. Even in some of the best screenwriting schools, faculty members encourage to read more rather than watching films. At any time of the day reading Arundithi Roy’s God of Small Things can prove to be much more inspirational than watching an old classic.

Read a newspaper

If you want to write serious content or something which depicts the reality of the society then reading newspapers could be a very helpful options. Newspapers have hundreds of stories inside them. From murders to corruption to frauds, there are scores of negative stories in there which await attention. Sometimes newspapers can also help you to explore a very interesting real life story. They are great sources when it comes to lead generation because there is immense information. Now the headlines may not attract you a lot but if you check the other pages then there could be a lot in store for you. Regional newspapers are also a great source as they have more local stories hence one could enjoy a lot of variety while reading those.

Don’t think that just because you are a creative writer therefore there is no use of reading a newspaper. One should always be open to every option because a good idea could be hidden anywhere, the question is, are you ready to explore it?

Watch documentaries

Many renowned filmmakers and story tellers have discussed how watching documentaries played a monumental role in their life. It helped them to look beyond their own world and introduced them to topics and areas which were unheard of. Films portray a fantasy world but documentaries help you to connect with the subject on a much deeper level. They leave you moved thus if one is running dry on ideas then documentary could be an ideal option. There are a lot of documentaries being made on various personalities e.g. sportsmen, artists, refugees and politicians, such stories could help a screenwriter to understand the style of storytelling or could help him to pick a character trait for his own character. Thus a good documentary should definitely be on your watch list at least once a week.

These are only some of the ways through which a writer can help himself/herself to come out of the block and unleash his true potential. However, every person might have his own method. Sometimes a walk down the park or a cup of steaming hot coffee might also do the trick, there isn’t any one formula. The goal should be that stories should keep coming because that is where the power lies!

Posted on

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Secrets of Screenwriting

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Want to know some secrets that could help you in being a successful screenwriter in Hollywood? Well, we have got you covered, my friend!

There are some basic rules that are set in place that you have to follow to be able to have your screenplay given a chance. A majority of screenwriters find about these rules when they begin their work. We all know that you should follow a proper format of the screenplay, you should write it as simple as you can which means let the main idea shine through without it being muddled in useless information, have a hook in the beginning to attract a reader and show what the story is about rather than spend time explaining it to the reader. This is all well and good but this information is still a bit lacking to be greatly helpful.

Here are some secrets that would do you good in your career as a screenwriter:

• Everyone is Winging It!

There is a widespread belief in Hollywood that who you know in the industry matters a lot and can determine your success or failure. That may ring true in certain situations but that is not the case all the time. Budgets of large amounts are required for production of a screenplay, having a powerful contact may aid you in getting your screenplay noticed but will not guarantee that it will be turned into a film. In the end your script is what matters and has the power to attract people to it, you should use it to your advantage and write a compelling and effective screenplay.

There are no deep secrets to understanding Hollywood but one thing that can help you is to improve your art and refine it.

• Script Readers Evaluate Screenplays First

When you submit your screenplays to any producer or production company, you should be aware that before any producer gets to read your screenplay, a script reader first assesses it.

A script reader has the job to read through numerous screenplays that are submitted and conduct a screenplay evaluation objectively. Producers do not have time to go through tons of screenplays and scripts of all kinds, good and bad. They are too busy to waste their time on reading bad scripts so they hire script readers whose sole responsibility is to read and evaluate screenplays with no personal bias or preference being used to judge.

A majority of screenplays that are submitted are terribly written with no originality or proper storyline and screenplay format. Finding a good screenplay is like finding a needle in a haystack. Script readers will go through these screenplays and only forward the good ones to the producers to check. This saves a lot of time of the people involved from being wasted uselessly combing through meaningless screenplays. Thus, painting script readers as super heroes.

Your focus should be on trying to impress the script reader. It is highly disrespectful and unprofessional for you to send first drafts or incomplete versions of your screenplay just for the sake of getting an idea about reception of the possible script. You should send in your best work and it is never a bad idea to get your screenplay read by friends, family or mentors, to gauge out a reaction on the story and script.

Make sure to leave a great impression on the script reader!

Learn Scriptwriting

• Sometimes Luck Isn’t Enough

You are the master of your own destiny, take control of your life and make efforts to get your work out there for people to notice. Only luck will not enable you to become a successful screenwriter, it certainly does play a part but it does not completely guide your career in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

It is of utmost importance that you explore the different and unique ideas, hone your skills and create a screenplay which has not been done before by others, compelling the production companies to invest in your work. No one wants to spend large amounts of money on a screenwriter who is just following the same monotonous storylines that have been packaged as trendy, and not producing anything new.

It will be foolhardy for you to sit and wait for your luck to turn around, you need to take the first step before you can expect your screenplay to be miraculously noticed by a big production company or director.

• Great Writing Doesn’t Guarantee Success

Though many screenwriters would like to disagree with this secret or may try to deny it but great writing will not guarantee that your screenplay will be picked up by a production company and made into a successful film. The film industry does not work that way.

As a screenwriter, you can write many pieces of works where you establish great characters, dialogues and follow the proper screenplay format, but that alone may not give you the results you desire. Production costs in film-making are too high in comparison to the publishing industry, which means that the chances of your screenplay being selected for film-making are not going to be high with just good writing.

Hollywood is one of the biggest film industries in the world where art is dealt with as business, which is completely understandable and fair. A lot of investment goes into the creation of a film, making the screenplay a reality on the big screen, so no one wants to take a risk and suffer a loss by working on a screenplay that may be written well but also does not offer anything which has not been done before.

To make sure that your talents and potential as a screenwriter are not lost in the crowd of other screenwriters trying to make a name for themselves, you have to hustle hard. Write screenplays that are different from what the world has ever seen before, explore the ideas that have not yet been brought to people’s attention.

As we have said, great writing is not going to ensure you getting an opportunity, so, to put your name and stories out there participate in any upcoming screenwriting competitions and screenwriting fellowships. This is bound to get some heads turned towards you if you succeed in writing a great story with a unique idea and come out as a winner in these competitions.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Want to know some secrets that could help you in being a successful screenwriter in Hollywood? Well, we have got you covered, my friend!

There are some basic rules that are set in place that you have to follow to be able to have your screenplay given a chance. A majority of screenwriters find about these rules when they begin their work. We all know that you should follow a proper format of the screenplay, you should write it as simple as you can which means let the main idea shine through without it being muddled in useless information, have a hook in the beginning to attract a reader and show what the story is about rather than spend time explaining it to the reader. This is all well and good but this information is still a bit lacking to be greatly helpful.

Here are some secrets that would do you good in your career as a screenwriter:

• Everyone is Winging It!

There is a widespread belief in Hollywood that who you know in the industry matters a lot and can determine your success or failure. That may ring true in certain situations but that is not the case all the time. Budgets of large amounts are required for production of a screenplay, having a powerful contact may aid you in getting your screenplay noticed but will not guarantee that it will be turned into a film. In the end your script is what matters and has the power to attract people to it, you should use it to your advantage and write a compelling and effective screenplay.

There are no deep secrets to understanding Hollywood but one thing that can help you is to improve your art and refine it.

• Script Readers Evaluate Screenplays First

When you submit your screenplays to any producer or production company, you should be aware that before any producer gets to read your screenplay, a script reader first assesses it.

A script reader has the job to read through numerous screenplays that are submitted and conduct a screenplay evaluation objectively. Producers do not have time to go through tons of screenplays and scripts of all kinds, good and bad. They are too busy to waste their time on reading bad scripts so they hire script readers whose sole responsibility is to read and evaluate screenplays with no personal bias or preference being used to judge.

A majority of screenplays that are submitted are terribly written with no originality or proper storyline and screenplay format. Finding a good screenplay is like finding a needle in a haystack. Script readers will go through these screenplays and only forward the good ones to the producers to check. This saves a lot of time of the people involved from being wasted uselessly combing through meaningless screenplays. Thus, painting script readers as super heroes.

Your focus should be on trying to impress the script reader. It is highly disrespectful and unprofessional for you to send first drafts or incomplete versions of your screenplay just for the sake of getting an idea about reception of the possible script. You should send in your best work and it is never a bad idea to get your screenplay read by friends, family or mentors, to gauge out a reaction on the story and script.

Make sure to leave a great impression on the script reader!

Learn Scriptwriting

• Sometimes Luck Isn’t Enough

You are the master of your own destiny, take control of your life and make efforts to get your work out there for people to notice. Only luck will not enable you to become a successful screenwriter, it certainly does play a part but it does not completely guide your career in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

It is of utmost importance that you explore the different and unique ideas, hone your skills and create a screenplay which has not been done before by others, compelling the production companies to invest in your work. No one wants to spend large amounts of money on a screenwriter who is just following the same monotonous storylines that have been packaged as trendy, and not producing anything new.

It will be foolhardy for you to sit and wait for your luck to turn around, you need to take the first step before you can expect your screenplay to be miraculously noticed by a big production company or director.

• Great Writing Doesn’t Guarantee Success

Though many screenwriters would like to disagree with this secret or may try to deny it but great writing will not guarantee that your screenplay will be picked up by a production company and made into a successful film. The film industry does not work that way.

As a screenwriter, you can write many pieces of works where you establish great characters, dialogues and follow the proper screenplay format, but that alone may not give you the results you desire. Production costs in film-making are too high in comparison to the publishing industry, which means that the chances of your screenplay being selected for film-making are not going to be high with just good writing.

Hollywood is one of the biggest film industries in the world where art is dealt with as business, which is completely understandable and fair. A lot of investment goes into the creation of a film, making the screenplay a reality on the big screen, so no one wants to take a risk and suffer a loss by working on a screenplay that may be written well but also does not offer anything which has not been done before.

To make sure that your talents and potential as a screenwriter are not lost in the crowd of other screenwriters trying to make a name for themselves, you have to hustle hard. Write screenplays that are different from what the world has ever seen before, explore the ideas that have not yet been brought to people’s attention.

As we have said, great writing is not going to ensure you getting an opportunity, so, to put your name and stories out there participate in any upcoming screenwriting competitions and screenwriting fellowships. This is bound to get some heads turned towards you if you succeed in writing a great story with a unique idea and come out as a winner in these competitions.

Posted on

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

If you’re a young, aspiring screenwriter, you’ve probably pounced on any screenwriting agent or manager accepting unsolicited screenplays. You leap onto the first chance you get to show off your work in the hopes of getting recognized and finally breaking into the film industry. A similar scenario is when a hopeful new screenwriter submits their first script ever to some of the best screenplay contests without the blink of an eye, dreaming of winning that coveted prize. It’s understandable for aspiring writers to have an optimistic outlook but there many traps they can fall into when it comes to submitting scripts.

The following five warnings will expose some of the mistakes new screenwriters might make early on during their screenwriting journeys or careers.

The Writing Traps

To stand out as a screenwriter, you need to forge an original writing style for yourself. If you simply follow preexisting formulae or an auteur’s established style, you’re not really bringing anything new to the table. If there’s anything that can launch your career, it’s an original, fresh voice that readers didn’t know they needed.

So how do you learn from others without lurking in their shadows? Ingest different perspectives and teachings, process them, sift through various guidelines and advice, and absorb what works for you. There’s no one right way – there are many muses and many paths to create a successful script. Adopting a single point of view or following one glorified screenwriter will only limit your potential, restricting you from exploring your writing ability and where it can lead you.

No long scripts!

You’ve got the perfect screenplay idea and you’re excited to start putting pen to paper. Don’t get too excited. Many screenwriters end up with a script that is 120 pages or more and find themselves trapped during the rewriting stage. Which scenes to cut? Which pages to completely do away with? It’s a trap! By writing too much, you’re facing the challenging, almost impossible, task of cutting a lot of fat off your script. That’s a daunting mission for any screenwriter who’s poured their heart out onto the blank page.

To avoid this trap, always repeat to yourself: less is more, less is more. Whenever you’re about to turn the page or write a new scene, ask yourself: do you really need this next scene? Is that dialogue really necessary? Another helpful tip to follow is the 30-30-30 rule. This rule basically says that each act should be 30 pages long. With a total of three acts, your script should be around 90 pages. During the rewriting stage, you might add a few pages, that’s not an issue at all. But it’s not like having to cut out over 25 pages of your script because you got carried away.

professional screenwriting

Take charge!

Screenwriting feedback is one of the most valuable assets on your journey as a writer. It offers you a different perspective and opens your eyes to different aspects you could improve. BUT that does not mean you get lazy and throw in the towel. You still need to write the best script you can write. Don’t just depend on feedback to fix and polish your script for you. Whether you seek feedback from friends, fellow writers, or coverage services, you shouldn’t delegate the bulk of the writing process to others.

Another side effect of screenwriting feedback is that you may end up getting used to the idea of always having someone to lean on, someone to check on your work after every draft. Although that’s useful during the early stages, it’s more harmful later. You need to improve your skills and develop them enough to become independent as a writer. It’s only by becoming confident that you’ll be more comfortable when you eventually land a paid position where 100% of the work is on you.

The Business Traps

No wishful thinking!

The waiting, the hoping, the wishing. It’s an inevitable phase of every screenwriter’s life. You’ve just submitted your screenplay to one of the best screenplay contests. Or you’ve sent your spec script to a screenwriting agent accepting unsolicited screenplays. The suspenseful, long wait follows. What also follows are endless clicks on that refresh button, expecting an e-mail bringing good news. Or hours spent by the phone, expecting a call inviting you over to “the office.”

All this is just unnecessary pain. Try to let go of your scripts after submitting them anywhere. Instead of hanging all your hopes on that script, spend that time working on a new screenplay idea.Or simply take a break and relax a bit. But overthinking about that possible reply will just drain your energy and do nothing but harm your morale. Stay focused, set realistic goals without getting sucked into the fantasies and dreams of screenwriting success.

Market your script strategically!

The first rule of screenplay marketing: never use your first scripts. First scripts are for trial and error, experimenting with the format, making the silly newbie mistakes, and learning from all that. Even if your first script turns out to be miraculously good and you get that e-mail or that call for an interview, it’s more likely than not that your interviewer would want to take a look at your portfolio, to see your other work. What then? You don’t want to come off as a novice who just got lucky. So before going to market, have at least 4-5 scripts in your portfolio as samples of your work.

Another important marketing rule is: do your research. You have to be fully aware of your target audience (or agents, managers, producers). You need to know which buyers make your kind of movies, pitch them yours, and hope for the best. But throwing your fishing net and wishing for whatever it catches is not a reliable, effective way to do things. You must create a marketing plan, well-researched, focused, and with multiple options. Prepare yourself and your script for the market. How? Research. Reach out and explore all the connections possible. Network. Write a solid logline. Be ready for what’s coming next and don’t waste your screenplay on companies that are a bad fit or agents that don’t really work with your genre.

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

If you’re a young, aspiring screenwriter, you’ve probably pounced on any screenwriting agent or manager accepting unsolicited screenplays. You leap onto the first chance you get to show off your work in the hopes of getting recognized and finally breaking into the film industry. A similar scenario is when a hopeful new screenwriter submits their first script ever to some of the best screenplay contests without the blink of an eye, dreaming of winning that coveted prize. It’s understandable for aspiring writers to have an optimistic outlook but there many traps they can fall into when it comes to submitting scripts.

The following five warnings will expose some of the mistakes new screenwriters might make early on during their screenwriting journeys or careers.

The Writing Traps

To stand out as a screenwriter, you need to forge an original writing style for yourself. If you simply follow preexisting formulae or an auteur’s established style, you’re not really bringing anything new to the table. If there’s anything that can launch your career, it’s an original, fresh voice that readers didn’t know they needed.

So how do you learn from others without lurking in their shadows? Ingest different perspectives and teachings, process them, sift through various guidelines and advice, and absorb what works for you. There’s no one right way – there are many muses and many paths to create a successful script. Adopting a single point of view or following one glorified screenwriter will only limit your potential, restricting you from exploring your writing ability and where it can lead you.

No long scripts!

You’ve got the perfect screenplay idea and you’re excited to start putting pen to paper. Don’t get too excited. Many screenwriters end up with a script that is 120 pages or more and find themselves trapped during the rewriting stage. Which scenes to cut? Which pages to completely do away with? It’s a trap! By writing too much, you’re facing the challenging, almost impossible, task of cutting a lot of fat off your script. That’s a daunting mission for any screenwriter who’s poured their heart out onto the blank page.

To avoid this trap, always repeat to yourself: less is more, less is more. Whenever you’re about to turn the page or write a new scene, ask yourself: do you really need this next scene? Is that dialogue really necessary? Another helpful tip to follow is the 30-30-30 rule. This rule basically says that each act should be 30 pages long. With a total of three acts, your script should be around 90 pages. During the rewriting stage, you might add a few pages, that’s not an issue at all. But it’s not like having to cut out over 25 pages of your script because you got carried away.

professional screenwriting

Take charge!

Screenwriting feedback is one of the most valuable assets on your journey as a writer. It offers you a different perspective and opens your eyes to different aspects you could improve. BUT that does not mean you get lazy and throw in the towel. You still need to write the best script you can write. Don’t just depend on feedback to fix and polish your script for you. Whether you seek feedback from friends, fellow writers, or coverage services, you shouldn’t delegate the bulk of the writing process to others.

Another side effect of screenwriting feedback is that you may end up getting used to the idea of always having someone to lean on, someone to check on your work after every draft. Although that’s useful during the early stages, it’s more harmful later. You need to improve your skills and develop them enough to become independent as a writer. It’s only by becoming confident that you’ll be more comfortable when you eventually land a paid position where 100% of the work is on you.

The Business Traps

No wishful thinking!

The waiting, the hoping, the wishing. It’s an inevitable phase of every screenwriter’s life. You’ve just submitted your screenplay to one of the best screenplay contests. Or you’ve sent your spec script to a screenwriting agent accepting unsolicited screenplays. The suspenseful, long wait follows. What also follows are endless clicks on that refresh button, expecting an e-mail bringing good news. Or hours spent by the phone, expecting a call inviting you over to “the office.”

All this is just unnecessary pain. Try to let go of your scripts after submitting them anywhere. Instead of hanging all your hopes on that script, spend that time working on a new screenplay idea.Or simply take a break and relax a bit. But overthinking about that possible reply will just drain your energy and do nothing but harm your morale. Stay focused, set realistic goals without getting sucked into the fantasies and dreams of screenwriting success.

Market your script strategically!

The first rule of screenplay marketing: never use your first scripts. First scripts are for trial and error, experimenting with the format, making the silly newbie mistakes, and learning from all that. Even if your first script turns out to be miraculously good and you get that e-mail or that call for an interview, it’s more likely than not that your interviewer would want to take a look at your portfolio, to see your other work. What then? You don’t want to come off as a novice who just got lucky. So before going to market, have at least 4-5 scripts in your portfolio as samples of your work.

Another important marketing rule is: do your research. You have to be fully aware of your target audience (or agents, managers, producers). You need to know which buyers make your kind of movies, pitch them yours, and hope for the best. But throwing your fishing net and wishing for whatever it catches is not a reliable, effective way to do things. You must create a marketing plan, well-researched, focused, and with multiple options. Prepare yourself and your script for the market. How? Research. Reach out and explore all the connections possible. Network. Write a solid logline. Be ready for what’s coming next and don’t waste your screenplay on companies that are a bad fit or agents that don’t really work with your genre.

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