ONE. That’s the simple answer.  A show like Entourage for example, it really does have three “acts” like any story, but if you get your hands on a script, you’ll see it’s written in standard screenplay format like a feature, not like a sitcom.  It has no act breaks because it airs for the full [...]

*Continued from yesterday’s post on how your insecurities could be causing you to write the wrong story. One of the hardest things to figure out as a new writer is what your story is about.  Sometimes it’s not that easy to see that your story doesn’t match your concept.  Some indicators that suggest your story [...]

A common problem with new writers is their script doesn’t match their concept.  Why would this happen?  I can only deduce from experience that these writers are afraid to write that story, either because: They don’t feel ready They have a fear of failure/success They’re procrastinating They’re inexperienced What do you mean I’m writing the [...]

*Spoiler alert: the endings to several popular movies are revealed in this article. Revealing the End at the Beginning Sometimes you want to reveal the ending at the beginning then explain the story through flashback.  This is a favourite temptation with rookie writers who try to resolve their story issues by putting the ending up [...]

*Spoiler alert: this article discusses the endings to popular movies The  Surprise Twist Ending Everyone hates the movie that ends with the hero waking up in bed realizing that it was all a dream.  They don’t hate it if it’s later revealed that it WASN’T a dream.  That’s an effective twist, but it’s been done. [...]