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Five Things Writers Can Learn From National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

December 19, 2016

Like 1983’s Vacation, 1989’s Christmas Vacation was written by John Hughes and likewise based on one of his National Lampoon short stories (this one entitled “Christmas ’59”). A beloved sequel and holiday film, Christmas Vacation has been entertainin...

Asking Questions of Your Work

September 12, 2016

How well do you know your own screenplay? Do you know what your story is really about? What is your central idea? Can you condense these answers into a short and concise logline?

The Benefit of "Negative Space" in Your Storytelling

September 9, 2016

If you have a background in the arts or graphic design, you may already have a good understanding of "negative space" - the empty space around or between objects - and the role it can play in capturing audience attention. But what can negative space ...

Back to School: How to Get Back In the Writing Class Groove

August 29, 2016

As the blistering days of summer fade into the crispness of autumn one thing, and one thing only, is on the minds of students everywhere: school will be starting again soon. Say goodbye to lazy, hazy days and hello to study, stress and hectic schedul...

The Art of Action: Tips on Writing Elegant Action Sequences from “Run Lola Run”

August 22, 2016

Action sequences can be tricky to write. Screenwriters often struggle to strike a balance between orienting the reader/viewer and directing the scene. So how do you hit that perfect middle ground? How do you find the art in writing action sequences?

Breaking History Part II: Finding Faults in Historical Figures

August 18, 2016

In our previous post on this topic, "Breaking History: How to Achieve Truth in Historical Storytelling" we covered one of the most common mistakes made in historical scripts: an unwillingness to change the details of an event to create a strong sense...

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.

How to Capture the Essence of Summer in your Script

August 8, 2016

Ahh summertime. For many people summer means vacations, trips to the beach, and some much deserved time off. For others, it means everything stays the same except now it’s really hot and sticky. Whether or not summer means leisure time for you in you...

How To Be a Fan Of Your Own Work

August 2, 2016

It can be hard to separate yourself from your work. You try not to make it personal but, of course, it is. Your writing is the combination of your thoughts, your skills, your life experiences and your passions. To type that first sentence on a blank ...