Don’t withhold; reveal, ...
A writer I work with as a consultant recently shared a phrase with me that came from her friend Craig Hammill (thanks, Craig!),...
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What makes a good series idea
In my work pitching series ideas and writing pilots (and on good days, selling them to networks such as NBC and Fox), I've learned a few things about what they're looking for, and what makes an idea sellable - as well as what a successful pilot script tends to include...
read moreWriting from a subjective POV
The single most devastating note I could ever hear on one of my scripts (if readers were brutally honest enough to say it), would be,...
read moreTHE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
As I watched this very enjoyable movie recently, I found myself trying to identify the main character, central story problem, and...
read moreSAVE THE CAT genres
Ever since an established producer recommended I read Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, I’ve found it to be an essential...
read moreWriting miniseries on spec
In my work as a consultant, I often meet screenwriters who are hoping to get into the marketplace with an idea for a potential...
read moreMODERN FAMILY: 4 stories in 3 ...
I found this week’s MODERN FAMILY (“Strangers on a Treadmill”) to be a good example of how bare bones a...
read moreALICE IN WONDERLAND
To me, this is a great example of taking appealing source material that doesn’t specifically meet the usual story structure...
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