Luke Skywalker faced his most challenging moment in all of Star Wars... in backstory. What should have been an entire movie's worth of story showing us how he arrived at nearly killing his nephew in his sleep, was described in exposition. Fans revolted. Take from that what you will. #scriptsky

"Know the rules before you break them" isn't some rule about rules, tricking you into following at least one. If you want to challenge story conventions, it helps to know why they are the way they are. That way you aren't just breaking story craft, you're expanding on what it can be. #scriptsky

Aside from my few years writing for tv, I’ve spent decades as a video editor. Cutting entire scenes in post that could have been cut from the script is a powerful lesson in the demands of storytelling. What’s an eye opening experience that taught you a valuable lesson in screenwriting, #scriptsky?

Audiences are Newtonian minded. They experience story by way of cause and effect. If the cause for your character’s action happens offscreen, or is referenced in backstory, they aren’t going to feel its effects as strongly. Show the cause to expose the effect. #scriptsky

Sorry to keep banging this drum but this is survivor bias. For anyone trying to break in, Readers doing coverage will pass on your script if you waste their underpaid time with words *they feel* don’t absolutely have to be there. I don’t like it but it’s what many Readers have told me. #scriptsky

What’s a trope/convention that bumps you #scriptsky? A few for me: Character looks themselves in mirror *dramatically* Two characters in a car? *Q&A!* Character lets carefully guarded secret slip *advances plot* Bonus: “Gotta run!” *leaves 5 star breakfast untouched* Got your own? Let ‘em out!

Happy Saturday #scriptsky! I don’t know about you, but as a dog, I feel very strongly about this.

This is so frustrating. There’s a kernel of truth, but misses the point. New screenwriters fear the rules because Readers are so strict on them. Mainly because it makes their underpaid job easier. Break one too many and they can just stop reading. Scriptnotes, check your survivor bias. #scriptsky

Quick bit about me: I have TV writer credits but I’m not a pro. Sounds like a riddle, I know. It was a long time ago. I wasn't represented. The shows were very small. And I pivoted to a job in tech when they were done. I'm back at it but still have a ways to go. What's your story #scriptsky?

Happy Friday #scriptsky! What's it gonna be this weekend? Finish that WIP, or get cracking on that fresh new idea you've been tossing around all week? Hot take: all writing is good writing, so do whichever you want and feel good about it!

Testing out the mobile version of Screenwriter can be like that. Super excited to share more soon. #scriptsky

This happens a lot. Big idea comes to mind. Checks internet, hasn't been done. Excitement. Screenplay is written. But it falls flat. Here's why: movies are not about big ideas. They are about people going through big changes. The idea is just a vehicle. The passenger is everything. #scriptsky

Some writers are big picture minded. They have grand visions bolstered by unexpected developments. Others are detail oriented. They capture moments with delicate assurance and restraint. Find your strength. Thank it. Then focus on developing the hard stuff. Unlock your true potential. #scriptsky

I sometimes wonder how many first time screenwriters are thrown off on page one because a cinematic description of their protagonist just isn’t coming. It’s ok to keep going and come back when you‘ve got a better feel. And it’s never too late to pick back up again if that stopped you. #scriptsky

I can’t release the next version of Screenwriter. Industry professionals fear it is too powerful. The current version is widely considered safe, but may cause hand strain due to prolonged uninterrupted screenwriting sessions. Write 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

Meanwhile, Screenwriter stops working the minute you're too famous to keep #scriptsky as a feed, so there's that.

Most screenwriters, most people, never reach their true potential. Some achieve what they think they’re capable of. That’s a pretty good feeling. If you can take your craft past what feels good, embrace the discomfort, really push yourself… you’ve maybe got a chance. I say go for it. #scriptsky

I have literally one scene left to rewrite before finalizing this draft, so of course I'm tackling every little task in my life that might need doing to avoid it. So yeah, if anyone wants to know how to properly clean your apple watch wrist strap, DM me for details! #scriptsky

S1 100% S2 100% S3 98% S4 98% S5 100% I don’t know if there’s ever been a show as consistently on the mark as Hacks. Every screenwriter should watch and study this series. It’s an homage to what we do as much as it is a demonstration of how to do it. #scriptsky

If everything in life came easy, you’d be unsatisfied. Granted, we all could use a break to get ahead, but if you never had to earn your advancements, they’d end up feeling hollow. Advancements in the plot are no different. They must challenge the protagonist or your reader won’t care. #scriptsky

Be thought provoking. Not thought providing. When I see a character state with perfect clarity my exact thinking on anything, my eyes glaze. It’s like the screenwriter wrote down their intentions, then just shoved it into dialogue rather than building a story from it. Give 2+2. Not 4. #scriptsky

A mobile version of Screenwriter is in the works, but in the meantime, you can use the notes app on your phone. Text copy/pastes perfectly into Screenwriter, no extra steps. Just paste and preview your formatted screenplay in an instant. 3 screenplays for free: app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

Feather, meet cap. The instructor of an always sold out screenwriting workshop in Toronto tried Screenwriter and is including it as a resource for his students going forward. And he's switched to it for his own work. It's the Script Development Studio from LIFT if you're interested. #scriptsky

Your first draft is an experiment. You will write a lot of words that will end up deleted. But those words were not a waste. They helped inform what's needed and what isn't. They helped shape what your story will become. Don't wait for the perfect words. Write your way toward them. #scriptsky

Pushing through the doubt and getting writing out… there really is nothing quite like it. #scriptsky

The advice, show don’t tell, has become popular to criticize lately. Scenes must advance the story, is another. The criticisms are often very nuanced. The question is, when writing a screenplay are you trying to win an online argument or win over an audience? #scriptsky

Best Star Trek crew, wrong answers only.

Over 20 years of screenwriting and I’m just now writing my first comedy. I’m writing it in Screenwriter, and the ability to just focus on the words and keep my fingers pulsing over the keyboard is a delight. No link to try this time. I’m sure that’s getting tiresome. Just had to share. #scriptsky

Imagine if you could write entire scenes, sequences even, without interruption. Not a thought toward formatting of any kind. Then when done, see it all convert with the click of a button. Stop imagining and try it for yourself with 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

Classic new screenwriter move: Everything is a secret. Everyone is more than meets the eye, cards close to their chest, playing a dangerous game only they know they’re playing. Sounds pretty cool until you realize the reader isn’t in on any of it. Secrets are cool. Clarity is cooler. #scriptsky

Project Hail Mary dispels the notion of bending the truth for dramatic effect. One of the most dramatic, funny, tense, exciting, joyous moviegoing experiences I’ve had in some time. And it’s not just grounded in hard science. It relies on it to move the story forward. Keep it real. #scriptsky

Struggling with structure? See Rental Family. It’s a masterclass in how it both adheres to and uses story structure to (you’re not gonna believe this) tell a story. That’s why structure exists. It’s not some arbitrary rule that must be followed. It’s a tool. And a powerful one at that. #scriptsky

Outlines and treatments and loglines, oh my! These are all tools, not requirements. Every writer’s process is unique unto themselves. Anyone can tell you what they believe works best, and it’s all worth taking under some consideration. But only you can decide what works best for you. #scriptsky

I’m as proud of Screenwriter for all the nifty things it can do, as I am for the myriad things I made sure it doesn’t do, so you can stay focused on the one thing you need it to do: Screenwriting. Write 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky #screenwriting

Loglines come last. They are the distillation of what you have written, not what you are going to write. What you’re going to write can change. Should change. Must change. Starting with a logline is like dropping anchor before setting sail, rather than when you reach your destination. #scriptsky

No one can read your screenplay with your eyes. Or see the details your mind fills in. If it’s not on the page, they won’t see it. Sometimes they’ll even miss what is on the page. This is why less is often more. Your reader’s attention is precious. Their time limited. Use both wisely. #scriptsky

Is your dialogue too long? People are terse. Back and forth. There’s a rhythm. Writers write in full sentences, paragraphs. Make cohesive, elucidating arguments. Dialogue can’t be written. It has to be etched and scratched and scribbled. Dialogue isn’t heard. It’s felt. Like a pulse. #scriptsky

Danger alone isn’t enough. Walking Dead was a hit for 5 seasons on the hope there might be a way out. That hope ended in s5e5, and ratings steadily declined. Threats escalated, but without a goal the story's propulsion was gone. As were its viewers. Goal = propulsion = viewer interest. #scriptsky

Never worry about what the audience wants. Or producers want. Or critics. Worry about what your protagonist wants. Put all your focus there. The rest of us don’t know what we want, but we will climb mountains to follow a hero on their journey. So let them lead the way. #scriptsky #screenwriting

“We’re not so different, you and I” is a cliched line for the villain to say to the hero, but the underlying concept still stands. Protagonists and antagonists should share something vital in common. It’s what they do with it that makes them such worthy opponents. #scriptsky #screenwriting

Final Draft has convinced the world you need complicated software to do real #screenwriting. What you need is a tool that helps you stay focused and in your flow. That shouldn’t cost hundreds of dollars. Turns out it doesn’t. Write 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

Love it or hate it, Titanic sold a kabillion tickets not because of the spectacle of a giant ship cracking in half. Titanic is a story about star crossed lovers. The entire movie is centers around that small, personal tragedy. If you want to make us care, start small and stay focused. #scriptsky

The blank page can be intimidating. Defeat it by importing your latest screenplay into Screenwriter so you can pick up right where you left off. Write three screenplays for free without distractions or interruptions at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky #screenwriting

Forget about formatting and let yourself just write Formatting happens quietly, politely out of sight Hit preview any time to see your masterpiece displayed There’s nothing quite like Screenwriter for writing your screenplays Write 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

"I've used every major screenwriting program of the past 20 years and I've been perfectly happy with zero of them. Excited to try yours out!" That about sums up the initial response from sharing Screenwriter's launch with my network. Ready for something better? app.forscreenwriters.com #scriptsky

Screenwriter is everything you need, and nothing you don’t, to write industry-standard, professional screenplays. We’re talking pure uninterrupted screenwriting, at a price anyone can afford. Write 3 screenplays for free at app.forscreenwriters.com Give it a try. You’ll see. #scriptsky #filmsky

The better way to write screenplays is finally here. Focused, intuitive screenwriting Formats in the background Saves every keystroke Just $3/month You can try Screenwriter for free right now at app.forscreenwriters.com Once you start writing this way you’ll never go back. #scriptsky #filmsky

Last call to save 25% ~for life~ on Screenwriter before we launch in a matter of days... maybe even sooner! Screenwriter is my love letter to screenwriters everywhere. It's everything you need to write, and nothing you don't. forscreenwriters.com to join the growing waitlist. #scriptsky #filmsky

Exactly. We mustn't limit our character's actions based on protocols. But breaking protocol is a choice, and it must be done deliberately. As must be the consequences. If your character's actions don't have consequences, then why are they in your story? #scriptsky

Anyone can bring a gun to a scene. Anyone can stage a chase. Drugs, sex, violence, are at any screenwriter’s fingertips. They are the bold, italics, and underline of screenwriting. Only you can write characters with hopes, fears, flaws, unlike any other. Your words alone have power. #scriptsky