Story and Plot Screenwriting
A weekly screenwriting lesson from a professional screenwriter of 28 years who has been teaching the subject for almost as long.
It's the trend line in our screenwriting that matters.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. It's the trend line in our screenwriting that matters. I have been writing professionally for a long time. My career has been filled with ups and downs. Financially, creatively, and especially, my place in the business. While the levels of this vary, the up-and-down nature is not just the norm; it is the rule. Even those who have achieved total financial security still ride a roller coaster on the creative side. No one’s work just gets better and better...
The habit of making choices in your screenplay.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Want a free video lecture on scene beats? I created a video lecture where I break down a scene from Jerry Maguire into the individual emotional beats of a scene. The technique is extremely helpful for analyzing and rewriting a scene by identifying the purpose of each beat. It is now the first reward of the referral program. Just have one person use your unique referral code below to subscribe to the Weekly Email. 👇 [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE] Or the free...
What screenwriters can learn from other kinds of coaching.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Happy Birthday To The Weekly Email! Two years ago, I committed to one screenwriting lesson every Tuesday in The Story and Plot Weekly Email. I haven’t missed a week since. The goal was primarily to promote my screenwriting courses, but I also wanted my social media and The Weekly Email to be valid options for anyone who couldn’t afford to take a class with me. In short, I want my free stuff to be as good as anyone else’s paid stuff. And I want my paid...
Sequence 6: The Drive to the Finish
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Sequence 6: The Drive to the Finish Act 2 is where you should be having fun. Act 2 is where the transformation happens. Either the protagonist or those around them. It is, by nature, the least static of the acts and will often require the most problem solving. Despite this (because of it?), Act 2 is what seems to give writers the most trouble. It doesn’t have to. Don’t let it intimidate you. Remember, Act 2 isn’t really an act at all. It’s two acts...
Write your spec. But write your treatment first.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Refer Screenwriting for Beginners. You can now refer friends, family, and total strangers to enroll in my FREE email course Screenwriting for Beginners. If you know someone interested in screenwriting and they're just starting their journey (Say, from 0-4 screenplays), send them to Screenwriting for Beginners. If they're not already signed up to The Weekly Email, you can earn some very cool free stuff like video lectures, courses, and discounts. I love...
What fear is your screenplay exploiting?
Want to read this online? Click HERE. What fear are you exploiting? I am working with a development client on a horror project. She has a great concept, but the outline focuses too much on plot and doesn't leave room for enough great scenes. This rarely moves the needle for any project, but it's especially harmful for a horror film with a great concept. The solution seems pretty straightforward, right? More great scenes. But how do we do that? In this case, we do this by leaning more into the...
The relationships go the way of the story.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Relationships go the way of the story. This week's email is a natural extension of last week's dive into the structure of the scene where I used the example from A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. That email broke down the final moments of Bob Dylan's primary romantic relationship. In the film, Dylan's journey is illustrated, not just by his own actions, but the effects those actions have on those in his life. This included his lovers, his friends, his fellow artists...
Know the mini-story of each scene.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Know the mini-story of the scene. Scenes are the most fundamental element of the screenplay. At its core, screenwriting is scene work. You can get everything else right, but if you cannot write great scenes, you're sunk. And like everything else, scenes have a story. The scene's story is its purpose. Just like the larger story the scene is in, it is only when you identify the story that the real work begins. Story structure is fractal. A few weeks back I...
A nepo baby's primary advantage is something you can emulate.
Want to read this online? Click HERE. Another nepo baby succeeds, but so what? Another TikTok video about industry nepotism (Yes, I am on TikTok!) gained traction last week. The poster chronicled their emotional journey watching a TikTok sketch writer/performer get hired on Saturday Night Live. Initially excited because they liked this person's work and it was fun to see someone crossover from one platform onto another, the poster was disappointed to discover that the performer's father was...
For your screenwriting, it's show THEN tell.
Was this forwarded to you? Click HERE to subscribe. Show, then tell. Perhaps the most repeated bit of screenwriting advice is "show, don't tell." Which is, of course, good advice. Film is a visual medium. The more the audience sees action and feels like they're drawing their own conclusions, both emotionally and intellectually, the better. But there is a catch to all this. That's the final product. That's what we see on the screen. And as much as we want the reader to see the final product in...
A weekly screenwriting lesson from a professional screenwriter of 28 years who has been teaching the subject for almost as long.