Hollywood advice you can use

The business side of Show Business can be tough for writers, because I know many of you are introverts. But networking is a necessity if you want to have a successful career.

7/24/19 7/24/19

How to Create a Killer Personal Pitch That Will Help You Sell Your Project

Even before you start pitching your project, the buyer is deciding if they want to be in business with you. Even though writers hate to hear this, you have to sell yourself before you can sell your project.

7/17/19 7/17/19

4 Ways to Start a Script that a Reader Can’t Put Down

It’s heartbreaking, but it’s true: many decision makers (agents, producers, and executives) will decide if a writer is good or a project is compelling after reading only the first ten pages of a script. And in TV, it could be as little as the first threepages. This is why the beginning of your script is so important: its life or death often depends on its first few pages.

7/10/19 7/10/19

How to Write Better Dialogue

Writing great dialogue is what makes your story come to life. Some of the most beloved writers are revered for their masterful dialogue, like Nora Ephron and her iconic character banter in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, or Aaron Sorkin’s rapid-fire dialogue style in THE WEST WING and THE SOCIAL NETWORK.

7/3/19 7/3/19

5 Common Mistakes First-Time Indie Filmmakers Make

Finally producing your first movie is very exciting. You’ve nailed the script (which can take years), you’ve secured financing, and you’re ready to finally (finally!) shoot and sell it. You’ve crossed many difficult hurdles to make it this far. So why do so many first-time filmmakers fail? Read my tips below to avoid common first-time filmmaking mistakes that will help set you up for success.

6/26/19 6/26/19

It's Never Too Late to Have a Screenwriting Career

Want to be a screenwriter but you’re not 22? Don’t panic. Smart showrunners and decision makers are often looking for grownups and will open the door for someone with talent, enthusiasm, and great personal stories. Your work needs to be contemporary, but your life experience can make your writing richer and lend authenticity in meetings and pitches.

6/19/19 6/19/19

What Successful Screenwriters Know About Using Social Media

If you’re hoping to build momentum in your writing career, social media can work in your favor. But it can also be a double-edged sword. Read on for the good, the bad, and how to do it right.

6/12/19 6/12/19

4 Classic Scripts that Deliver on their Promise

Every script makes a promise, and it’s inherent in its genre. If you’re writing a comedy script, it must be funny. If you’re writing horror, your script must be scary. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many writers fail to execute the promise of their genre on the page.

6/5/19 6/5/19

3 Ways to Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths

Entertainment is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and it has a knack for testing the strengths – and weaknesses – of everyone brave enough to try to break in. To stay resilient, it’s important to practice accurate self-appraisal and identify what your weaknesses are.

5/29/19 5/29/19

What Does True Success Look Like?

As a writer, your days can fill up quickly. As you spend your time not just writing, but prepping for meetings, navigating notes calls and hustling to get ahead, the bigger picture can become smaller and smaller until you forget what you were looking at in the first place. It’s important to take a moment away from the everyday business of writing to remember why you started, where you’d like to go, and what true success looks like to you.

5/22/19 5/22/19

It's Hollywood! What Could Go Wrong?

Execs that love your project leave their jobs. Companies get bought and dismantled. Your showrunner gets fired. YOU get fired. The network gets a new President with entirely different taste. A project just like yours gets sold or picked up first. This is why you need a Hollywood Game Plan.

5/15/19 5/15/19

5 Ways to Get an Agent

The one question I get asked most often from up-and-coming writers is how do I get an agent? Most people will tell you not to worry; if your work is great, the agents will find you. Frustrating, but true. But there are other strategies you can use to land that all-elusive rep.