Screenwriter-to-Screenwriter.com » how to write a screenplay

Free Screenplay Story Notes Giveaway to Oscar Picks Winner

Monica — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:13:19 +0000

I’m offering a free basic story notes package on a screenplay to any reader who can correctly predict the Oscar winners in the following categories:

1. Best Picture 2. Actor in a Leading Role 3. Actor in a Supporting Role 4. Actress in a Leading Role 5. Actress in a Supporting Role 6. Cinematography 7. Directing 8. Writing (Adapted Screenplay) 9. Writing (Original Screenplay) [...]

Q&A: On Screenplay Beats: Examples of Beats in Scenes

Monica — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:13:19 +0000

Dennis L. writes: I’m a screenwriting neophyte and if you could, please, give an example of a scene outline? I think I’m over-thinking what constitutes how a “beat” should read in a scene.

This comment is in reference to my article on the types of screenplay beats.

Monica says: Okay, so let’s discuss how a “beat,” or emotional [...]

Trusting Your Gut: Writing Passion vs. Structure

Monica — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:39:03 +0000

I’m visiting with one of my best friends now whose son, my godson, tragically died in October. This is a part of why I haven’t been writing since that time. I’ve also been trying to prioritize my own creative writing, but I’ve not had an easy time getting those pages in, either. It’s cold and [...]

CineStory: Screenwriting Mentorship at Its Best

Monica — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:13:32 +0000

CineStory is a non-profit that provides mentorship opportunities for screenwriters. This means they have a collection of working industry professionals (agents, producers, writers) and they offer non-professional screenwriters the opportunity to workshop their screenplays and ask questions in a personalized environment.

Pam Pierce is the heart and soul behind CineStory. She started it, I believe, [...]

Inside Out vs. Outside In

Monica — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:13:02 +0000

The great debate: character to story or concept to character. Face it: you’re either one or the other. If you think you’re both at the same time, I’d really love to hear from you and learn how you do it, because it seems to me there’s a huge canyon in between and I’m waiting for [...]

When in a Draft: Re-Read Your Own Pages

Monica — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:14:08 +0000

I’ve been working on a draft these past couple of weeks, so I have the writing process on my mind.

I was chatting with a couple of writer friends the other day and they both said when they’re drafting, they start the writing day by re-reading the previous day’s pages and editing them. This helps [...]

We Write to our Weaknesses

Monica — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:01:56 +0000

I’m still in the stage wherein every time I embark upon a new project, I’m teaching myself something about the technical process of writing and also about the human experience. I think the greatest gift a writer can give is in illuminating the human experience in a fresh or unique way, and in the experience [...]

Be Smart About When You Write What

Monica — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:13:10 +0000

This is intended as a follow up post to Write What You Love.

I went to AFI for film school where, I imagine distinct from USC and UCLA, we didn’t really learn much, if anything, about the entertainment business. I learned a ton about writing and the writing process – but as far as the business [...]

Write the Movies You Really Want To See

Monica — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:13:43 +0000

This is intended as a follow up post to Write What You Love.

Okay. This might sound ridiculous, but bear with me. Say a magic genie appeared tonight before you fell asleep, Shazam!, and gave you a magic ticket to the best movie ever the following day, what movie would you want to see? If it [...]

Write What You Love

Monica — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:29:52 +0000

My friend had a rough writing day the other day. She had a moment of disappointment that she wasn’t writing projects that are more high-concept and commercial. I reminded her that we can only write what we love. That’s the best we can do. Sometimes we just have to write what we love just because [...]