Fascinating on X: "Kurt Vonnegut's 8 rules for writing: 1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. 2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. 3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a… https://t.co/sfKAMgUIit" / X
1. HOW TO WRITE HORROR FOR TV. (A thread!) I've said a lot of things on the topic of scary movies, but what about scary TV shows? For the most part, everything I've posted about movies carries over, the obvious difference with TV is how you use TIME to your advantage.— Seth M Sherwood (@SethMSherwood) February 18, 2023
1. advance the plot; 2. deepen a character; 3. exemplify the genre (comedy- get a laugh; horror- have a scare, etc.); 4. build the world. So a scene between people, existing as people, int he world they live in, INSIDE your story, is legit even if there's not a plot point. BUT--— Seth Sherwood (@SethMSherwood) February 4, 2023
If you've got a great spec, treat it that way. Get it to the person or people who are closest to producers and execs and agents and managers––ideally people who like you and want to help get your great script the attention it deserves. 14/18— Jonathon E. Stewart (@JEStew3) November 21, 2022
The Process of Screenwriting by Clive Frayne on Twitter
If you want to know whether your scene is bland visual description rather than compelling visual storytelling, make a list of the verbs you've chosenOpens, enters, looks, uses, takes, notices, sees, walks, sits...these are RED FLAGS because they're emotionless observations— The Process of Screenwriting by Clive Frayne (@clivefrayne) November 12, 2022
Make a timeline. Write down all the major events that have happened to you from 2012 - now. It’ll help your psyche grasp all that has happened these last 10 years. It’ll feel grounding, and it could help you decide how you want to move forward.— 𝖙𝖆𝖍𝖓𝖎𝖆♡𝖇𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 (@brujabitchh) November 2, 2022
Sometimes when I don't know how to approach a scene, I think of the absolute worst thing I could write — the worst bit of dialogue, the worst thing a character could do next — and it often cracks me up. Then I think, well, anything is better than that, and suddenly it's easier.— Anna Klassen (@AnnaJKlassen) October 4, 2022
28 short pieces of life advice:1. Block off 90 minutes in your calendar every morning to work on the most important thing. Wake up early if you need to. Don’t compromise.— David Perell (@david_perell) October 3, 2022
I've slowly been compiling a catalogue of the best Twitter screenwriting advice. Now, I'm finally ready to share what I feel is the best of the best... 🧵— 🇺🇦Jonathan Melikidse🇺🇦 (@jmelikidse) September 23, 2022
After my tweet about #Query Letters I received many DMs. Is shocking how many #screenwriters dont know how or havent tried to query.So it's 🧵 time!Disclaimer: Theres no ONE right way to query! These are just MY tips/advice as someone who's read thousands & written hundreds...— Danny Manus (@DannyManus) August 31, 2022
If you want help or advice from someone who gets a lot of requests. Don’t ask for a call. Don’t send a long email. 3 lines of email: Who you are? What you want? How best for the person to respond/help? Simple. Way higher conversion than a call request.— Harry Stebbings (@HarryStebbings) July 17, 2022
“99% of books should be blog posts.
99% of blog posts should be tweets.
99% of tweets should never be written.
(Multiple layers to this tweet, literally).”
I’ve worked with many people who have great ideas, terribly communicated. They ask—how are you so good at communication? (I am.)My secret: it’s the v. little things.Here’s a list of 9 comms tactics I use often (aka cheat codes to get my point across & influence others) 👇— claire vo 🖤 (@clairevo) June 12, 2022
I took your comments on business writing, read the books you told me to read, and have summarized it all in two pages because no one has time to read all that. (This is to give my students.) First draft, suggestions welcome. pic.twitter.com/RZYINYwqYV— Jerry Neumann (@ganeumann) February 11, 2020
Friendly script-reader here again. Want to know the five notes I give most often on dialogue? As always, case-specific, use only if it helps.— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) June 5, 2022