I once read a script that was about a party and the first half of the script was about introducing all the characters at the party.  One person arrived and the writer gave us his name and backstory and why he was there then moved to the next person who arrived.  This is boring when [...]

Your characters’ relationships to one another should be evident in dialogue and action.  You should show what they mean to one another in how they are with one another.  You don’t necessarily need to call it out and say ‘he’s my boyfriend’ but even if you do, it should be evident in how they relate [...]

*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 [...]

Continued from yesterday Awkward, Unnatural Dialogue We’ve all read scripts or seen movies where we thought, “Nobody talks like that.”  It takes us out of the scene, ruins the moment for us.  Sometimes it’s the result of exposition, but sometimes, it’s just awkward phrasing.  New writers are so eager to get stuff down on paper, [...]