2008’s Step Brothers was written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Adam McKay and the film’s costar Will Ferrell (John C. Reilly contributed to the story). In addition to some classic SNL skits, McKay and Ferrell had previously collaborated on Anchorman ...

Choosing names for your characters is an important part of the writing process. The names you choose will not only indicate what type of character it is, but also make them easier to read on the page.

Call him a lovable scoundrel or a dry wisecracker, Bill Murray has cultivated a very specific persona over the years. From his early days as Chevy Chase’s replacement on Saturday Night Live to his recent Netflix holiday special, A Very Murray Christm...

Oftentimes the new screenwriter will populate their spec with numerous characters. But how many characters are too many?

"A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order." - Jean-Luc Godard

Flashbacks can be utilized for several reasons in a script. If you want to reveal a plot point from the past or something about a character that needs illuminating, a flashback might be the best route to take. Sometimes this storytelling technique ca...

A phrase you’ll sometimes hear in development circles is “too arch”. It’s usually in regards to characters and their behavior.

I never heard the term “through-line” before I became a professional screenwriter. After I sold my first script, however, and started working with producers and studio execs on various projects, I started to hear it all the time.

Conventional wisdom says don’t. But this same wisdom also tells you never to direct in your script, nor telegraph what a character is feeling, etc. I respectfully disagree with this.