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Writing Exercise: Improve Your Story Mapping

August 9, 2016

As you know, mastering structure and having the ability to map out and plot a story is an essential part of screenwriting, which can be significantly improved through the following practical exercise.

The Art of Pacing: How to Improve Your Dialogue

August 3, 2016

Dialogue can highlight your screenwriting skills in a unique fashion. You might be a whiz at structure or writing action scenes, but those abilities tend to stand out on the page when you’re pitching a script, not necessarily in the final product. Di...

Five Things Comedy Writers Can Learn From "Step Brothers"

June 29, 2016

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 ...

A Guide to Naming Your Characters

April 18, 2016

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.

How a "Bill Murray" Type Character Can Inspire Your Writing

April 8, 2016

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...

Choosing and Introducing Your Focus Characters

April 7, 2016

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

What Is Nonlinear Storytelling?

April 7, 2016

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

The Frame Story and the Flashback

April 5, 2016

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...