Big Ideas Blog
The Screenwriter’s Great Escape – Writing Retreats
There are two great enemies to your success as a writer. You might think it’s 1) not living in L.A. and 2) not having an agent. But you’d be wrong. Your time and creative juice are your greatest commodities as a writer. If you don’t have those, you won’t make...
Spec Scripts – Persistence Pays Off!
My friend, the talented screenwriter and director Glenn Gers, whose work includes Fracture and Mad Money has my all time favorite “Little Engine That Could” story. Glenn wrote his first spec script in 1984. First scripts never go anywhere, right? Glenn’s got him an...
S-e-x Tips for Screenwriters: Dear Dr. Paige Turner
A writer’s life is rife with uncertainty. Does the size of my screenplay matter? How much should I reveal in a logline? What really turns readers on? You deserve answers. You won’t be satisfied until you get them. So occasionally, I’ll be handing my blog over to my...
Your Cover Page Speaks VOLUMES!
Is your script turning us off before we even turn to Page 1? This cover page screams Newbie Writer! You might be surprised to learn that your cover page speaks volumes to industry pros. You can convince us you are an inexperienced screenwriter before we even open your...
Screenwriting MythBusters Part 2: Page Count
Does Size Matter? Yes and No. Back in the olden days, when screenplays existed on paper, aspiring writers devoted an astonishing amount of time to discussing how many brads a script should have. It was fodder for heated Internet debate. What a waste! As...
Screenwriting MythBusters: Loglines and The Fast Read
Part One: Loglines, Tigers and Bears! Oh my! Ah, the Internet. The heck with sliced bread – this is the most incredible invention of our lifetime! I wouldn’t dream of writing an article or blog without Wikipedia and Thesaurus.com open in my browser. Plus Facebook for...
Foot In The Door
Can your First Script Sell? Getting Your Foot In the Door You've finished your first script! Now what? According to Wikipedia, Foot-In-The-Door isn’t just a moniker applied to pushy salesmen and census canvassers; it’s an actual behavioral phenomenon. “FITD technique...
What to write next? Eenny, Meeny, Miney, NO!
How do you decide what to write next? It's the single most important decision you will ever make as a writer. Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall building in a single bound, a great idea is the most powerful thing in the film business. A terrific idea...
Secrets From “The Other Side of the Desk”
The Other Side of The Desk: The Inside Scoop on Pitching As a producer, I've been in every pitching situation imaginable, on both sides of the desk. I’ve heard thousands of pitches from writers. I’ve brought pitches into every studio, often with A-list writers,...
Damn, I wish I’d thought of that!
The "Damn, I wish I'd thought of that!" Idea You wouldn't play darts blindfolded? Target Hooky Ideas! In industry meetings, we're constantly asking writers, "What's Next?" eager to hear about their next project, hoping it's a terrific idea. Screenwriting is about...
THE PITCH DOCTOR IS IN
THE PITCH DOCTOR is IN: SAY "Ahh-HA!" What to write next is the single most important decision a writer will ever make. People pay me BIG bucks to get my Pitch Doctor services. But with my PITCH ME FOR FREE button you can get a thumbs up or a...
Spinach or Kryptonite? Using your Screenwriting Superpowers!
Superman, Courtesy of Warner Bros. Are you a superhero or a mild mannered reporter? Understanding your strengths as a screenwriter turns them into your superpowers. Avoiding your personal Kryptonite and learning your Screenwriting Strengths means you can choose ideas...