Loglines and SAVE THE CAT

Oct 29, 2009 by

Most story (and series) ideas fail at the level of concept.   Sad, but true.  I’ve learned this the hard way.  Of course,...

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Creating TV series ideas on sp...

Oct 7, 2009 by

Here’s something that comes up a lot when I work with writers who have original series ideas, and spend time mapping out...

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What makes a great idea

Oct 2, 2009 by

To my mind, there are four things a concept has to have for it to really work. The first is, it has to be COMPELLING.  By that I mean...

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Twenty minutes a day

Sep 9, 2009 by

Even when your full-time “day job” is working on a writing project (as it is for me), chances are there’s something...

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Paying tribute to Blake Snyder

Aug 7, 2009 by

I never met the man in person, but ever since a producer turned me on to SAVE THE CAT a couple years ago, it has been my most-quoted...

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Having faith

Jun 25, 2009 by

I’ve been working on my primary current project, now, for nine months. That might not seem like such a long time, until you...

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"Talent" is overrate...

May 29, 2009 by

Because screenwriting is such a competitive field, and a “tournament profession,” where there are a very limited number...

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Why I pursued a writing career

Dec 30, 2008 by

I realize now, after about ten years making my living as a Los Angeles-based screenwriter, that there is really only one kind of movie...

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