Screenwriting How-To Articles

Scott Pryor, the star, writer and co-director behind 'Tulsa' shares insight behind his journey and love for storytelling, the connection between being creative both in the courtroom and in film, the learning curve behind marketing and distribution as an independent filmmaker and provides very practical advice for those seeking filmmaking as their calling.

Sade' Sellers shares outlining tips for writing horror scripts that will effectively set up your scares, story and more!

There's never been a better time to break into screenwriting remotely! Rebecca Norris interviews screenwriter Ashley Hall, who's combining both modern technology and wisdom from working on 'Psych' and 'Castle' to help her break into screenwriting from her native Virginia.

Writer doldrums are usually transient and can serve as story fodder if you know how to manage them. Terri Coduri Viani shares inspirational tips from her writing tribe on how to overcome your writer blues.

Whether it’s the dialogue you want to learn more about, or the structure, or aesthetic, 'WandaVision' will be worthy of study by writers for a long time. Bryan Young examines the storytelling techniques used in the nine-part Disney+ series.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with 'PVT Chat' filmmaker Ben Hozie. The drama stars Julia Fox ('Uncut Gems') and Peter Vack.

When covering a screenplay for a studio or a production company, the analyst’s brief is to read the script, write a synopsis, and then pen an assessment. Ray Morton shares four main elements a synopsis must present and why it pays off to put in the work to make your screenplay structurally sound to avoid a PASS from a reader.

Joy Cheriel Brown compares the adaption of the Disney film 'A Wrinkle in Time' to its source children's novel, exploring which liberties the screenwriters took and left behind in adapting the novel to screen.

'Boss Level' writer/director Joe Carnahan shares his filmmaking journey with Script's Editor, Sadie Dean. Plus, what a writer should focus on when writing action films, his excitement for making movies, why it pays off to put in the time and work hard on your craft, and he sprinkles in some wisdom for writers on writing.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with writer/director Jacob Johnston.  They talk about his new Horror movie 'Dreamcatcher' (2021).

Script’s Editor, Sadie Dean, interviews ‘Shoplifters of the World’ writer/director Stephen Kijak. The two discuss how his documentary filmmaking background informed his narrative storytelling, using songs for character development, and what his writing process looks like.

Malcolm Spellman shares his journey on how he found his footing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), stepping out of his comfort zone as a storyteller and what the Marvel Studios creative system has taught him while crafting 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' for TV.

With his ever-evolving body of work, it’s safe to say that Neil Druckmann has graduated from storyteller to auteur. Neil speaks with Sonya Alexander and shares insight on world building for video games, how 'The Last of Us' strikes a personal chord and what types of stories he's inspired to write.

Script's Editor, Sadie Dean, interviews 'Film Fest' writer/director Marshall Cook. They dig deep into the spirit of his new film, the creation of the medley of characters and practical advice in navigating film festivals. Plus, Marshall shares a bit of wisdom on how to keep your eye on the prize as a storyteller.

Tom’s haul this time are all from streaming services: Who would have thought it?

You know how to write. You create compelling characters, write scintillating dialogue, and plot is your middle name. Your mother thinks you’re very talented. If only you knew the ins and outs to marketing and selling your masterpiece. In other words, how do you tackle the business side of creating?

Typically the Twitter Screenwriting Community is a positive place where screenwriters network and support one another. But if you're new to the community, it can be a little intimidating to navigate the social norms - Janese Taylor shares her social networking etiquette tips.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with the globe trotting filmmaker Hicham Hajji.   They talk about 'Redemption Day' (2021), an Action Thriller Hicham Hajji is the Writer/Director/Producer of. The movie stars Andy Garcia and Serinda Swan.

It’s a time for firsts with the writing team behind 'Last Call.' Script's Editor, Sadie Dean, speaks with director Paolo Pilladi and his co-writer Greg Lingo about how they connected over the material and story, working with an all-star cast, and more!

Make our hearts pound! Maximize Suspense in your story. Combine it with Tension and Escalation to become a powerful tool in your elevated writing arsenal. Find secrets to creating a true page-turner. Become a writer whose words engage us on the page – a writer the industry is eager to find.

Welcome to the first installment of “Ask the Coach.” In this article, Jenna Avery answers a pre-submitted question about three-act structure, how to look for a note beneath a note, and digging deeper into improving your next draft.

Script's Editor, Sadie Dean, interviews writer/director Maritte Lee Go, one of the five writer/directors behind the new horror anthology film 'Phobias.' The two discuss her approach to the anthology film, treating her writing like a day job and making it her goal to bring diverse and unrepresented voices to the forefront in her movies. Plus, Maritte shares some much needed advice that will inspire you to keep pushing forward!

For the last few decades, the industry fueling aspiring writers has been focused on ‘story is king’. Come up with some high concept moment of genius, and your path to a riches-filled screenwriting career is assured. What if that’s no longer true? What if focusing your energy on story is actually holding your career back?

Jon James Miller shares advice on understanding the value of your own work and the importance of protecting your intellectual property while navigating breaking into Hollywood.

Thuc Nguyen speaks with multi-hyphenate filmmaker Zoe Lister-Jones about her new film 'How It Ends' and writing with your 'Younger Self' in mind.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with filmmaker John Swab.  They talk about Body Brokers (2021), the Crime Drama which John Swab is the Writer/Director of. This movie deals with the dark side of the health care industry and stars Frank Grillo.

How can the intimacy of the live theatre experience sustain during the pandemic? The connection forged between audience and production is unique to each performance. Theatres are finding unique ways to develop plays within these strictures and unknowns.

Yona Deshommes is the President of Riverchild Media, a public relations firm specializing in the promotion of books by and for authors of color.

Meet Bola Ogun, a first-generation Nigerian American, a Dallas native who is on one hell of a ride through Hollywood. Since her arrival to Los Angeles in 2007, Ogun has managed to come a part of the wave pushing Hollywood to finally bring us more genres from underrepresented perspectives.

Thuc Nguyen interviews triple-threat 'Adverse' writer/director and actor Brian Metcalf. Brian and his team are making things happen and making diversity a priority in the film world.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Canadian Filmmaker Steven Kostanski.   He is the Writer/Director of movies such as the mixed-genre Horror feature Psycho Goreman (2020) and The Void (2016).

The Hollywood studio system was a unique and miraculous thing – a peculiarly American creation that combined unparalleled artistry and craftsmanship with the principles of assembly line manufacturing. Does "The Dream Factory" still exist? Ray Morton gives a historical overview of the Hollywood studio system.

Script's Editor Sadie Dean speaks one-on-one with horror writer/director Ivan Kavanagh about writing from a personal place, the journey to making 'Son', and his writing regimen. Plus, he shares some practical advice for budding horror filmmakers.

The 16th Annual Final Draft Awards Honors Aaron Sorkin, Steve McQueen and Sofia Coppola.

Cheryl Laughlin interviews multi-hyphenate, award-winning thriller writer Amy Suto of Kingdom of Ink—on writing for podcasts, memoirs, and Hollywood 2.0.

Filmmakers plan, write, enter contests, crowd-fund, shoot proof of concepts, generate business plans, design decks and pitch, to make a movie to sell to the public. Often, the major decision-makers between filmmakers and audiences are the distributors.

The opening pages of a script are very important. We all know this. Busy industry readers will tend to put a script down if they’re not grabbed right away. Multiple Emmy-winning screenwriter Erik Bork (HBO's "Band of Brothers") offers a solution in grabbing your readers right away.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with Author and Screenwriter Susie Moloney.

Suspense engages us. It puts us in the shoes of the hero. It keeps us on the edge of our seats, desperate to know: “What Will Happen Next?” Discover how to infuse your story – in every genre – with Suspense. Grab the audience’s attention and keep them hanging on until the very end!

Susan Kouguell speaks with screenwriter Jessica Goldberg about her work as a playwright, and the process of collaborating and adapting her new film 'Cherry' from the book to the screen.

Susan Kouguell speaks with 'Son of the South' Writer, Director and Editor Barry Alexander Brown, about the film that was twelve years in the making, the adaptation process, and how his background as an editor informed his work as a screenwriter.

From her interviews with more than 50 comedy screenwriters, author Paula Finn shares valuable advice for success.

Tay (Janese Taylor) and Thuc Doan Nguyen are “Tn’T Dynamite” or Hollywood’s #BlackPowerYellowPeril screenwriting duo.

This week Ashley Scott Meyers talks with the prolific Writer-Producer of TV and movies, Bob McCullough.  Just some of Bob McCullough's credits include, 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' 'Falcon Crest' and 'Soldier Of Fortune, Inc.'

Sade' Sellers interviews Mike P. Nelson, the director of 2021’s 'Wrong Turn' reboot. They speak about the pressure of writing for an established piece of I.P., John Carpenter's influence, and finding balance between script and screen.

You hear “indie movie about drug addicts”, you might think “oh, here we go again”, but 'Body Brokers' is not your typical indie with drug addicts in it. Thuc Nguyen speaks with writer-director John Swab about his new film based on his real-life experiences as a recovering drug addict who was “brokered” and who “did some brokering”.

In this monthly column, Jenna Avery will be answering your questions, anonymously, about navigating the ups and downs of writing, being a writer, and living a writer’s life, specific to your unique circumstances.

Andrew Bloomenthal interviews 'Silk Road' writer/director Tiller Russell about the real-life rise and fall of cyber drug honcho Ross Ulbricht.

The considerations that fall under the health and safety banner aren’t the most glamorous, nor the most creative or even seam the most efficient financially, but they are essential to the successful completion of a project with the barest minimum risk of life, limb and dollars in the long run. Especially in times like these, considerations of keeping a film environment as healthy and safe as possible is paramount. And how do you as the writer fit in? It depends...