by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) While there are many good books on screenwriting out there and tons of great advice here at LA Screenwriter, one area that gets short shrift is the art and strategy for writing shorts. This is unfortunate, because while writing and selling a motion picture or television script can seem like winning the... Continue Reading →
5 Tips to Remember When Pitching
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) When your story is finally written and the final FADE TO BLACK has been executed, you need to be ready to pitch your story to someone that is not legally obligated to tell you they like it. It can be a shock to the system when the script that your mother claimed... Continue Reading →
The Micro Storytelling Challenge: MENACE Creators Share Their Tips
by Onicia Muller (@OniciaMuller) While working on a feature film, Flavia Borges found the writing process to be very lonely. So, she searched for collaborators to help create MENACE, an intersectional feminist micro-series. MENACE is a 13-episode micro-series that will premiere in fall 2017 on Instagram. After a rollback of women’s rights triggers increased violence... Continue Reading →
5 Ways Writers Can Utilize a Personal Website
by Onicia Muller (@OniciaMuller) As a screenwriter, having a personal website isn’t obligatory. For most screenwriters, a well-managed social media account or two is sufficient for advertising your accomplishments and letting people find you. But if you already have a website or want one, here are five smart ways writers can maximize their digital real estate.... Continue Reading →
Meaning Makers: 4 Symbols That Can Strengthen Your Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Good stories are like puzzles that the audience gets to put together both individually and collectively. Some pieces require a bit more searching when looking for where they fit into the whole. These pieces often offer the biggest emotional rewards for the audience as well. Taking a common object or image in... Continue Reading →
Five-and-a-Half Ways to Become A Great Screenwriter
by Greg DePaul (@GregDePaul) 1. Read Every Book on Screenwriting. I’m gonna win your respect by not even pushing you to buy my book, which is prominently featured below this article. But you really should read every book on screenwriting ever written. Books by writers who’ve sold scripts and had movies made (Me!) and books... Continue Reading →
The Guide Character: Creating Someone to Lead Your Protagonist
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Characters most effectively develop as a result of interacting with other characters. A standard trope in storytelling is that our protagonist will not figure out solutions to their conflicts on their own. They need experiences that will teach them what works and what doesn’t. They need training that will prepare them for... Continue Reading →
Ken’s Top 10: Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters
by Ken Aguado (@kaguado) Sorry, this article is not about screenwriting. Well, some of it is, but it’s really about familiarizing yourself with some well-known tips about how to become a screenwriter. Talent is only one component of the process. Thomas Edison formulated that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. This article is about that... Continue Reading →
4 Ways to Tackle the Third Act of Your Screenplay
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) A great deal of ink has been spilled about endings – in life, in all things we begin, and certainly in writing. Most of us are interested in finishing well. But how does one accomplish such a thing in storytelling? An entire volume could be written about the connection between a good... Continue Reading →
Rewriting Your Script Like a Pro: The 3 Step Guide
by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Rewriting your script is always a daunting process. Getting to the end of the first draft is hard enough. Now you're supposed to go back through it and pick apart all of the beautiful work you just did? The very idea of starting a rewrite can be heartbreaking. And then there's the... Continue Reading →