Big Ideas Blog
Personal Thematic: Creating Stories That Move Us
Storytellers are artists and, as such, each of you has a unique point of view on the world, shaped by your experiences and your beliefs. You have something to say; something audiences need to hear. Find the message that you as a writer are most moved by, that...
Story Foundation: Where Great Scripts Begin
When learning how to write a screenplay, there is a lot of focus on structure. But if you want to create a truly strong script, craft a story foundation first. As I worked with seminar students during their mentorship, I wanted them to have an effective way to...
S-E-X Tips For Screenwriters: Create an Outstanding Query
Dear Dr. Paige Turner, With several completed pieces of material polished and ready to go out into the world, suddenly I’m faced with a terrifying new writing challenge – the query letter. While I’ve worked to master my craft, this bizarre half man-half beast hybrid...
Five Brain Tricks That Will Make You A Happier Writer
What do writers want? Not in the big picture – standing onstage thanking a bunch of folks for an Oscar win – but in the day-to-day struggle that is writing. I think it is to be in The Flow – that illusive sweet spot where words, sentences, and thoughts pour almost...
Don’t Write What You Love. Love What You Write!
(c) Big Ideas I was sitting in my current favorite coffee shop, working on an article for my ScriptMag column, when the guy in the seat next to me turned asked if I would look at three loglines and tell him which I thought was best. Okay, it is Los Angeles, but I...
S-E-X Tips for Screenwriters: What to say when people ask if I’m a “real writer”?
Dear Doctor T., The absolute worst part of the holidays wasn’t the travel travails, shopping stress, or even the heated family political arguments. It was the incessant questions from so called well-meaning family and friends: You still doing that writing thing? So...
How To Be (Not So) Great At Networking
I have been generous in letting Dr. Paige Turner hijack my blog, dig into her mailbag and answer writers’ questions with a suggestive nudge and a saucy wink, not to mention a bit of snark. But, I’ve been getting correspondence of late that begs for me to vent my...
Negotiations: It’s Nice To Be Important, But It’s Important Not To Be A Jerk
Dear Paige, Woman-to-woman, do you think women always get the shaft in negotiations? I’ve read about top tier actresses getting paid far less than their male co-stars and even less than male supporting actors. I want to stand up for myself and get the best deal...
S-E-X Tips for Screenwriters: Reading for Friends and Strangers “Just Say No!”
Dear Paige, I‘m a giving kind of guy, so I’m always open to reading the work of other writers. I’ve put a lot into building my skills as a writer. I think this is a great way to build relationships. But Paige, some of these scripts… umm, stink. Despite this, I’ll kill...
The Idea File – Exercising The “Is this a good idea for a movie” Muscle
Every writer should have an Idea File – preferably a whole bunch of them, a little notebook you carry around, a file on your computer, a file folder, your iPhone, a shoebox. Anything and everything that works for you. My first junior development executive job was...
S-E-X Tips for Screenwriters: Avoid Story Ideas Wipeouts
I give up. Dear Doc Turner, I can’t do it. I'm exhausted. Why are my story ideas getting shot down? I consider myself a writer, but putting together a logline has been more frustrating than writing an entire screenplay. How can a single sentence be so hard to write? I...
The Logline Dilemma – Does Word Count Count?
Loglines seem deceptively simple. A single sentence, right? A sentence that must make people in the industry eager to read your script. If you’re trying to break in, the logline may be your most effective selling tool – indeed – it may be the only one available to...