1. You need to learn how to pitch effectively to be successful and have your show picked up. 2. Well-constructed pitch is visual, quick and easy to portray the show’s central characters and the core concept. 3. Think about how you could describe your show to your listeners, so they could see saleable aspects of…
screenwriting
Writing Tips From Shonda Rhimes One of the Most Successful TV Writers
About Shonda Rhimes is an American producer, writer (fiction, film and TV scripts) and showrunner. Her shows include: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Private Practice’, ‘Scandal’, and ‘How to Get Away with Murder’, just to name a few. 1. Learn how to source ideas for your stories from everything that surrounds you. 2. If your idea has an…
How to Develop Characters for Your Stories?
1. Who is the character? Who does the character want to be? What makes your character/s come to life? What sort of person is your character; you need to dig deep to see how a real person would behave and react in the circumstances you are putting your characters in. 2. Where does your character/s…
Writers on Writing: Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin is one of the most celebrated and accomplished writers working in Hollywood at the moment. He writes for film, TV, and theatre. He is the creator of “West Wing” and “The Newsroom” and the scriptwriter behind “The Social Network” and “Steve Jobs”. In 2017 he directed Jessica Chastain in “Molly’s Game”, which I…
How to Decode Screenwriting for Writers?
Screenwriting, just like writing a book, requires time and focus to find the right balance between the source material, and what should make into the screenplay. For instance, it will be impossible and unrealistic to adapt the whole book word by word and page by page into a script and expect that volume to make…
How to Make Your Screenplay Powerful?
I’m more than confident that over the years you all have read many fantastic screenwriting books full of beautiful, powerful, and useful ideas. What you will get in this article is a collection of easily accessible tips, which you can keep handy whenever you feel you need some extra help. The checklist below is what…
Scriptwriting Lingo
Do you ever wonder what means what in screenwriting language? Below you will find all the most commonly used terms by screenwriters. A-Story, B-Story, C-Story The A-story is the core story, how the character, main protagonist seeks the goal. The B-story is the story, which runs parallel and intersects at crucial points with the A-story;…
As a Screenwriter, You Should …
Scriptwriting, like any other creative process, is long, requires brain space and time to develop characters and the stories they will carry. Without the script, there is no film, and as a screenwriter, you should: 1. Like ALL your characters, not only the good ones. Don’t use judgmental words about your characters. 2. Try not…
John August Tips on Writing Scene/s
John August is an American scriptwriter, novelist, director, and producer. His scriptwriting credits include: “Charlie’s Angels”, “Big Fish”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and, recently, “Aladdin”. Website: https://johnaugust.com In one of his older blog posts, he shared eleven tips on how to write a scene. His suggestions are still valid and vital in the craft…
Storytelling Tips From Emma Coats
Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats who has worked for Pixar on many of its production shared on Twitter (some time ago) a few words of narrative golden advice for any scriptwriter or writer out there. Read, learn and remember. #1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes. #2: You gotta keep…